I just received a used copy of Talisman 2nd Edition, which I just purchased from NobleGames. The entire game is in mint condition. Whoever owned it took great care of it. The problem that I am having is that there appears to be some kind of expansion pack added to the game. This became evident when I counted up the adventure cards and came up with 140 cards instead of 104. The rest of the cards seem accurate. There also appear to be well over forty, possibly sixty, character cards. I have a list of all of the cards from the base game, so I just have to make the time to sit down and sort them all out. Oddly enough, the game came without dice, but that is fine by me because I can buy dice from any Dollar Store or Walmart for cheap. The game comes with tons of these paper chits as counters; I can see why Games Workshop replaced them with plastic cones in every edition starting with 3rd.
The game board is also in perfect mint condition. It comes in four pieces that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. The thing that I am the most grateful for is the fact that all of the board's printed text is perfectly legible and easily scanable. Once I get the cards sorted out, I will make scans of the cards, board, and rules, so people can use it as a template for making homebrews and custom editions.
I do have a few complaints about the game. First, the cards are way too small. I am no spring chicken, and I can barely read the fine print on the cards. I would definitely recommend enlarging the cards by 25% before printing. Looking at the game's components makes it all too clear how cheap the game was to produce. If the game was released today, it would not sell. To be honest, no manufacturer would release such a product to the market today. However, 1983 was a different time period, and modern gaming was unexplored territory. Games Workshop made the right decision by replacing the character cards with minis and replacing the paper chits with plastic cone markers in the third edition. Fantasy Flight even replaced the cardboard toad tokens with toad minis in the fourth edition; I do not know why the fifth edition by Avalon Hill took a step backward by ditching the toad minis. I guess they were trying to cut costs by ditching two of the characters and the four toad minis.
The good news is that the 2nd edition rule book is also in mint condition and looks way better than the other online scans. The original rules make the game a lot harder in the beginning because there are no fate re-rolls. You get strength points for every seven enemy points that you turn in, but the same rule does not apply to craft. Ouch! This game is pure brutal, but it also makes the game all the more rewarding when you level up. Having played 4th edition, I know that the game changes after you pick up that fifth red strength token because monsters start going down a lot easier. Having a suit of armor helps a lot when you lose a battle.

I was a damaged person. But I was on the mend.
I had a pretty traumatic break up with my childhood best friend, turned girlfriend. I had known her since we were 8 years old. We had been boyfriend and girlfriend since we were 13 and had been so for 9 years until my junior year of college when she cheated on me in a very cruel way. It came to light that she had cheated on me many times before as well.
I loved her so god damn much! I thought we were one of those stories where two souls were knitted together from eternity to eternity, or some hallmark card bullshit like that.
I was emotionally shattered and it took me a while until one day about 2 years later, I woke up and thought about her, but then realized that I hadn't thought about her at all the previous day. It was glorious and I knew then that I was on the mend. After that, my healing process sort of exponentially snowballed and I was back in the saddle as far as relationships went. I started going on dates and meeting up with women.
I was a software engineer working for a large corporation. Because I was good at my job, and because I didn't have a family, I was given the opportunity to move to Singapore and lead a project there for what would be a couple of years but turned out to be 7 years.
The great thing about Singapore is that they speak the "King's English" when they're not speaking "Singlish" (a patois of mostly English with funky grammar, but with Malay, Chinese, and Hindi thrown in). So I didn't have to learn a whole new language to fit in. I just had to learn how to translate Singlish to English, which wasn't too hard after a couple of months of trying. I even learned the lingo and it would amuse my coworkers a whole lot when I spoke Singlish. They thought it was hilarious.
I was a good looking guy (still am!!) but I really let myself go in my depression. I was a tall, muscular 210 pounds when I broke up with my ex, but I had ballooned up to over 300 pounds. I started a workout regimen and lost it all but the workout regimen became sort of an obsession. It was the one thing that grounded me. After I went to Singapore, one of my business perks was a gym membership at "Fitness First", a local gym franchise. I was down to my previous weight, but I had to practically camp out at the gym because the best thing about Singapore is the FOOD. The food is incredible! However, you WILL pack on the weight if you don't get your ass to the gym.
The meet cute
I was working out one day much later than normal due to some overtime on my project and I saw a girl on a treadmill. The treadmill was the one I usually use because it was in the back and kind of out of the way. The girl was stunning! The thing that stuck out to me was that she was had her hair in a pony tail through a ball cap, which is a look I find very attractive. I was a little nervous because, even though I was fairly confident about the way I look, I was definitely batting out of my league with this girl.
I went to her and chatted her up after she got off of the treadmill. She didn't look me in the eye and didn't really engage. I figured that I had acted like what is now known as a "gym creep" and I figured it was a "swing and a miss!" I apologized and said I wouldn't bother her anymore. I stuck out my hand and said "I'm OP, by the way. What's your name?"
She hesitated and looked at me for a bit and said "Lilly" (not her real name).
I remember this exactly because she later said that it was what intrigued her about me. At the time, she was an actress/model who had done some print/public billboard type ads, product demo booths at expos, and even a bit part in a local tv (Mediacorp) series. She had started to attract public attention because of these (mainly the TV show and the ads that were hanging all around town at that time) not just from men but from women too and it was super uncomfortable for her.
The fact that I had no idea who she was relaxed her and made her think that I was attracted to her for her and not because her face was everywhere at the time. After she told me about it, I did notice her face everywhere. But photoshop was a thing even back then, so I didn't recognize her from her ads and I really don't look at ads, tuning them out. I also didn't watch her TV show because it was in Mandarin Chinese and I don't speak or understand any Chinese, and I wasn't in a position where I was required to attend or arrange trade shows.
In the years prior to meeting me, Lilly had undergone a lot of plastic surgery (breast, eyelid, facial contouring, nose job, lipo, etc). She said it got to where she didn't recognize herself in the mirror and it disturbed and depressed her. She hadn't particularly wanted the surgery but she got the procedures done at the behest of her family who wanted her to bring in more money and the people in charge of her career development (don't know the term). It was all very expensive and she felt like she owed her family and the talent people who managed her.
Later, I found out that she hated the public recognition. Not just from men, but mostly from women who were really catty about her plastic surgery. The people in charge of her were pushing her to start singing but she didn't have a good voice and would need a bunch of training for that. She was depressed due to not recognizing herself in the mirror any more and didn't want to follow the career track that she had been on. They were pushing her to do more figure/body modeling which was why she was in the gym. She was SUPER uncomfortable with that and constantly hungry and pissed off.
She was afraid that she would do some more modeling and then get married off by her parents to some rich mainland Chinese man that she would be ambivalent about (she preferred Caucasian men) and she'd be forced to be a traditional pampered Chinese wife living in Beijing.(Doesn't sound that bad to me. Some of those Chinese businessmen live crazy luxurious lifestyles.
Since I was working a lot of overtime, I kept going to the gym later at night and we saw each other and I would wave and smile and she would smile and wave back. OK I was kinda hoping to meet her regularly. I spotted her on a couple of exercises and we began to chat with each other a bit. A couple of times I had to steady her because she was fainting from being hungry and working out at the same time. I used that as an excuse to take her out to a hawker center, which like a mall food court but with delicious local food (not chain restaurants). We chatted and got along really well. It became a regular thing until I confessed I had a crush on her. We started dating after that until it got to a point where she practically moved into my place.
She, of course, had her share of guys interested in her. She was on livejournal at the time (remember livejournal??) and she was doing that and posting pictures of herself for her career mostly, but I'm sure she did enjoy the attention. She had one guy from Belgium who was really after her. He actually bought her 800 thread count sheets, which is an oddly practical but vaguely inappropriate gift. He actually visited Singapore on business (he was a tech sales guy) and wanted to meet up with her in a public place, a hawker center. I still had trust issues from my previous "love of my life" betraying me. To this day, I cringe at my behavior at the time, but I laid down a clear boundary. She could absolutely go see and hang out with this guy if she wanted to, but if she did, she'd be doing it as a single available girl and we would be through. She said she saw my face "turn to stone" and it was clear that she would lose me if she went to meet up with that guy. That honestly gave her pause about our relationship and she really considered ending it at the time. I didn't know that until much later, though. Certainly, I'm glad that she didn't. She didn't go meet up with the guy. To this day, we call the incident "The Belgian Waffle". OK so I call it that, she thinks it's stupid.
Meeting her family
Eventually, Lilly asked if I could have dinner with her parents, saying that they wanted to meet me. I bought some gifts, basically Japanese cookies in really nice packaging, and then we met. I did the traditional thing and formally introduced myself and asked them about their family and history.
At the time, Lilly got some criticism from her extended family because I am a white guy. There was a certain stigma attached to local girls who liked white guys. They called those girls "SPGs" which stands for "Sarong Party Girls", a derogatory name for the prostitutes who would entertain British expats at after hours parties "back in the day".
Over the next few months, I won over her family mainly by eating their food and being accepting of their culture. I grew up in Texas, so pickled jalapenos were common in my house...like salt and pepper, we put them on everything. Later on, I was the kind of guy who put tabasco or sriracha on everything. So eating their spicy food was no problem for me. I remember us both going shopping at an open air market and seeing an older woman cutting up cili padi. I asked if I could try some. She looked at my pale face and then at Lilly and she said I could. I bit into one and chewed it up as the woman looked at me with an amused look on her face. She was waiting for me to jump up and down with fire shooting out of my mouth, I guess. I disappointed her, but she and Lilly were impressed. She later told her mother and she was impressed too. She wanted me to eat one for her as well. Oh well, trained monkey time I guess.
The real test came when I tried Durian for the first time. This is the same food that "defeated" Andrew Zimmern, the "Bizarre Foods" guy. I actually liked it. I had a D24 durian, which admittedly is like the "beginner version" of durians. There are like 16 different types. When you get past the smell and actually taste it, it doesn't smell that bad any more. It's very sweet and creamy. It's like the taste overwrites your disgust of the smell. I think that's what really impressed them to an extreme degree. They started calling me an "egg", because I was "white on the outside but yellow on the inside."
I would visit her grandmother with her. In true Chinese fashion, Lilly and her brother Johnny were raised by their paternal grandparents while their parents worked full time jobs, so her grandmother was like her mom. She was in an elder care facility at this point, though. She didn't like living there, but it was all they could afford. We would visit her every week and she'd be very happy. She didn't speak any English at all so she and Lilly would just chat speaking Hokkien Chinese while her grandmother would pet my hairy forearms like I was a dog. She was absolutely smitten with my hairy forearms.
Meeting my family
After a little over a year, I took her back to Texas to meet my family. It was quite the culture shock. Lilly was amazed by red barns and hay bales, black and white Holstein cows, things she saw in movies about the USA. She particularly was impressed by the cluster mailboxes lined up on country roads ("So cute, leh!") We actually had to stop the car and take pictures of her standing next to them, smiling goofily for the photo. I made sure to take her to the Texas hill country during spring, when the hills are covered with soft green grass and festooned with bluebonnets, sunflowers, indian paintbrushes, black eyed susans, daisies, etc. I had to practically hold her down to keep her from picking them. It's not illegal or anything, it's just frowned upon and tradition to leave them alone. OK, I let her pick some. Give me a break, I was in love with the girl.
Driving was also something that kind of boggled her mind. Texas is huge, and traveling from my parents' place to visit my brothers and their families was a seemingly endless trek. Driving from Houston to Austin, to Corpus Christi was crazy long, even with the stops to visit my relatives.
Lilly was practically agoraphobic at the big sky in Texas. She was used to being in a forest of tall concrete and steel buildings, with only strips of blue sky available at the top. In Texas that sky went from horizon to horizon. She was also amazed at the uncountable numbers of stars at night away from the city lights. She later told me it was like visiting Narnia or something.
In Texas, she got her share of looks from guys, especially in the bigger cities. I wasn't jealous. I've never been a jealous guy, although my experience with my ex "love of my life" really put my radar up, I still was proud that other guys were attracted to her. My attitude was "go ahead and eat your hearts out, she's with me!"
When she met my oldest brother, it was like a cultural thing with her, so she was very deferential and respectful. I knew that my oldest brother was attracted to her because he was stumbling and stuttering when he was speaking to her, looking at her but kind of avoiding looking at her. I wasn't too concerned because he was a married guy with 2 sons and not a scumbag, but it was still pretty amusing to see "Mr. Smooth-don't-let-em-know-you-want-em-kid" at a loss for words.
My parents met Lilly finally (she was super nervous but she did really well) and later my mom brought me aside and asked me if she should re-set her mother's diamond engagement ring. I thought about it a bit, and then told her "yes". My mom's eyes started sparkling with images of unborn grandchildren and she smiled bigger than I had ever seen her smile (kind of unsettling actually). My dad later brought me aside and basically told me I couldn't do any better and I would be a "god damn fool" if I let her get away from me. I agreed. My dad then told me something that remains with me to this day: "She will make your life sparkle, son." (she has).
Before our time in the US was up my mom gave me the ring and I asked Lilly to be my wife in a field of wildflowers, which had become her favorite place to be in Texas. She said yes. Looking back, that was one of the happiest days of my life. It was up there with losing my virginity to "the love of my life" (who turned out to be a duplicitous crazy person but at the time it was really special), my wedding day to Lilly, and the births of our children.
The Engagement
When we got back to Singapore we had to pretend we weren't engaged because I had to ask her parents for their daughter's hand in marriage. I spoke with them and explained how my prospects in my career were good. I told them that I loved their daughter and that my family also loved their daughter. We had to schedule a phone call between my parents and her parents.
I had clued my parents in as far as the traditions go. In Chinese culture, the groom pays for the wedding rather than the bride. The groom also has to give the bride's parents certain auspicious gifts. My parents luckily had done a tour of China a few years before and knew all of this beforehand, having befriended their local tour guide who was saving up money for his own wedding at the time. On the call, they agreed upon a pinjin, which is basically "betrothal money". We started to plan the Guo Da Li ceremony which would take place in 3 months time, and 3 months before the wedding.
Unfortunately life threw us a curve ball and Lilly's grandmother died. It was bittersweet because, while Lilly missed her, her grandmother had become very old and infirm to the point where her quality of life was pretty low. All wedding stuff was put on hiatus until the funeral was over plus 100 days for mourning.
After that, we were able to do the Guo Da Li ceremony. I gave my future in laws a red packet of money plus special cakes and 12 mandarin oranges and gold jewelry. It all went very well.
Wedding planning started in earnest. I got some money from my dad (who insisted) but the lion's share was out of my pocket. During this process I was able to meet some incredible people. The stand outs were Richard and Jimmy. Rich and Jimmy were tailors and dressmakers. They were a couple and they gave my fiancée a really good deal on a wedding dress and cocktail dress if she agreed to do some print modeling for their business. They also made me a tuxedo and a suit. I offered to model for them as well and we all had a good laugh at that prospect (OK they were doing most of the laughing - ego still hurts from that one, guys).
The venue we were using was Chijmes. It's the same one used in the move "Crazy Rich Asians". It was back when they had first started offering it up as a venue so it wasn't crazy expensive at the time. Plus, it was a smaller venue for weddings. Usually weddings are held in large hotel ballrooms and are huge affairs (this is what I was told). The families both invite everyone they've ever met to come: Neighbors, business contacts, everyone. They all bring red packets filled with cash. We opted for the "small" wedding.
The Bachelor Party
We had planned bachelobachelorette parties on the same night (separate venues). Lilly's MOH threw hers while Rich and Jimmy threw mine. My best man was my dad (because he's the best man that I know) and so cigars and brandy would have been disappointing to my work friends and my future brother in law and cousins. I don't think anyone was prepared for what happened.
We had the party at the sushi restaurant of a friend of Rich and Jimmy's. It was after hours. We had some incredible sashimi and rolls. I even tried fish sperm. Didn't like it. I asked Jimmy are you sure it's FISH, sperm?? He said of course he'd never do that to me. To be fair, it did taste and smell very fishy. I don't know how human sperm tastes like (or maybe I do now, I don't know).
After the sushi was done, it was time for the entertainment, and oh boy. Rich and Jimmy hired a trans entertainer who sang show tunes. The thing is, she had an incredible voice. She was obviously biologically male, but she really carried herself with a lot more femininity than I've seen from biological women. She sang and told jokes and roasted me pretty thoroughly. My dad was there and he thought it was funny as hell. My friends from work, especially the Aussies and Brits, thought it was great, my future BIL and most of my future cousins did too. Other cousins politely excused themselves and left. I think the free flowing booze and beer kept most people there, though.
After her thoroughly entertaining performance, it was time for the dancers. This is kind of where it went off the rails. Rich and Jimmy hired exotic dancers...but they were all male or trans. Now, to be fair, it wasn't like they didn't tell me about it beforehand. They did. Personally, I thought it would be hilarious to announce that the strippers were here and then have male dancers come out. I have a twisted sense of humor, I suppose. I certainly wasn't going to cheat on the most beautiful woman in the world mere weeks before our wedding, so prostitutes and female dancers were completely out of the question for me. They jokingly suggested male dancers it and we laughed. I thought about it a bit and I guess I'm "take-the-joke-too-far" guy so I encouraged it. Lilly knew about it and thought it was funny as well and wanted me to video tape it while it happened. ("Yeah right you just want to ogle the dancers" "Of course, lah!")
What I wasn't prepared for was the PLATOON of banana hammocks that marched out into the restaurant. Smooth greased up Asian chests everywhere! My dad was of course shocked at first and then looked at me and we started laughing and the ridiculousness of it. My dad stood up and clapped his hand on my shoulder and put a mock serious look on his face. The people immediately around me witnessed my dad telling me that he loved me and accepted my life style choice and that nothing I could say or do would ever change the fact that he and mom loved me and accepted me. Thanks, dad. I was laughing during the whole thing and my future BIL and work buddies who were around me were laughing as well. My dad excused himself and said he had to go find my mom and tell her the "bad news about her future grandchildren" and left ("Can adopt, lah! Can surrogate, meh!" Thanks for the support, guys). My future BIL laughed and said that since all of the available male dancers were at my party, there were none available to attend his sister's party, so she was "safe".
Among the highlights of the evening is that I discovered that a few of my co-workers and future cousins were in fact gay. I was told to stay out of the ladies' room no matter what. I wasn't planning on going in but thanks for the warning. I was proud that we all only vomited in the trash cans and not on the floor (what a waste of some damn good sushi....and fish sperm). Rich and Jimmy stayed next to each other all night. I even saw them holding hands and looking at each other lovingly. To my shame, I was under the common misconception that all gay men were very promiscuous and I kind of expected them to pair off with the dancers. What I saw that night was a very loving monogamous relationship.
The Wedding Day
The day of the wedding came a few days later and I had the good fortune of being the first one in my family to experience the fun and interesting experience of a groom going through a Chinese-style wedding. I say "Chinese-style" because while we did do a lot of the traditions from a Chinese wedding, we did say vows to God before a Christian minister. This was something she insisted on as her family had converted from Taoism to Christianity (but still kept the Taoist traditions and festivals).
First up was the gatecrash. I went over to the her family's apartment and the MOH and bridesmaids stood at the door refusing to let me in unless I gave them $9999.00. Nine is a significant symbol to them. It means "longevity" I think. So the whole idea is for me to haggle the price down by doing challenges and games. I had to do a handstand and walk with my hands. I had to answer trivia questions ("What is her nickname for you?" "Cranky old man" "What is your nickname for her?" "Baby"). BIL and I had to do "the worm". I haggled them down to $99 which I paid to them in a red packet. My BIL and wife chided me for not going lower but my dad was there and was in his 70s and couldn't do any feats of strength.
After I "secured" my bride, we did the traditional tea ceremony with her parents and my parents. Lilly was dressed in a traditional red silk qipao, tailor made by Rich and Jimmy. I gotta tell you people, the qipao really does it for me! Not gonna lie, it was like cupid gut punched me when I saw her dressed in it . My parents were pretty stoic throughout but my mom sympathy cried with Lilly's parents when she tearfully did the tea ceremony with her mother and father. We received red packets from each set of parents. I was told the red packet her parents gave us had most of the bride price we paid in it. Her mom gave her her grandmother's jeweled antique watch and my mom gave her a sapphire ring (sapphire is my birth stone). As we left her home to go to Chijmes, I told her "we're keeping that dress, understand me??" She laughed.
We got to Chijmes, did the photos and she walked down the aisle in a beautiful white dress with a small train behind it with sequins on it. My dad gave me the ring. He was my best man. He was my best man because he's the best man I know. After the wedding, she changed into a champagne colored strapless cocktail dress another Rich and Jimmy original. THREE wardrobe changes, people! THREE! All with different hair and make up and she did it super quick. I don't know what wizardry was invoked but we may be indebted to the hoary netherworld.
We honeymooned at the Fullerton Hotel. The old British colonial Post Office was converted to a luxury hotel in 2001. We stayed there for 3 days ordering overpriced room service ("Go to hawker center, lah! Much cheaper better food, meh!).
Emigration and Immigration
So a little bit before this time, a little event happened in New York. You might have heard about it. Anyway because some sexually repressed incels decided to murder thousands of people, USA's immigration was all jacked up. The INS went bye-bye. Then we had the BCIS for a brief moment, followed by the USCIS. I saw that my project was ending and my company helped me with her immigration. It was a pain, though. It seems like we had new forms to fill out every week while the old ones became obsolete. That's how I remember it, anyway. It was a pretty frustrating time and I almost had to leave her behind (it wouldn't have been permanent but it would be a long time). Luckily we were able to make it time.
For explanation purposes, we didn't get LEGALLY married in Singapore. We had the religious ceremony but no "government contracts" were involved. This is because, at that time at least, it was easier to bring over a fiancée than a wife, for some reason. So Lilly was a "90 Day Fiancée"!! We got married at the county courthouse when we finally were able to go to my new project. We didn't wait 90 days. We did in three (jet lag).
Unfortunately for her, we moved from Singapore, a 24 hour international class city, to a sleepy seaside town in the USA near a military base. Lots of fun was had with that. A total fish out of water story for another time (What is this "coin laundry"? Do you Americans have a place to wash your coins?).
My BIL got married to a beautiful girl and moved to Australia and opened a Bait and Tackle store in Surfer's Paradise on the east coast of Australia. He has 2 daughters. In 2012 he was caught cheating on his wife and lost everything. She moved back to Singapore with his kids, and he kind of struggled for a while. He got another bait and tackle store eventually and tries to see his daughters whenever he can. They don't have a good relationship.
Rich and Jimmy celebrated the decriminalization of homosexuality in Singapore in 2022, but they still can't get married. We still talk from time to time. Writing this, I find myself missing them. I had some really fun times because of them. I've never had better conversations in Singapore than with them while at Lilly's dress fittings (and my suit fittings).
We have been married for 21 years. She has never given up being a Singaporean citizen. She keeps her passport current. She's a "permanent resident" here in the USA. We have three kids, two boys and a girl. We are still married. She still wears her hair in a pony tail with a ball cap when she works out. She still wears that qipao on special occasions, which I try to achieve as often as possible. She's still my Baby and I'm still her Cranky Old Man.
Thanks for reading.

I recently visited Japan with my family, splitting off from them for a week to ride coasters while they went home. I probably planned too ambitiously, paying the consequences in some cases, but had a great trip. I increased my credits from 185 to 209, gaining 8 new top 50 rides in the process.
Universal Japan - I went to this park with my family to ride most of the dark rides, but had to go again by myself to ride the coasters as Flying Dinosaur was down for maintenance when I went with my family anyway.
Flying Dinosaur (#14) - This towers over Tatsu as my favorite flying coaster. Its barrel roll into half pretzel loop into pretzel loop goes crazy. There is a smidge of airtime throughout the ride which is great in the flying position. The inversions don't seem as whippy as I remember them on Tatsu, but I think that is due to my inability to choose my seat in Japan.
Hollywood Dream (#44) - This is exactly what you think a small B&M hyper would be like. However, your music choice does make a big difference as some of the choices are, in my opinion, a cacophony of garbage (whether you understand Japanese or not).
Hollywood Dream Backdrop (#29) - Going backwards is significantly better as it is both more disorienting and more forceful. The restraints on this ride are designed to work with the trains facing forward, leading to bigger airtime going backwards, with you slamming a good distance from the restraint to the back of the seat with even the smallest drops.
Nagashima Spa Land - I was disappointed to find out that it was raining on the initial day that I had planned to spend here, which closed all the coasters for the entire day. I had to readjust my schedule to enable me to visit, but did get to eat at one of my favorite restaurants in Nagoya instead.
Hakugei (#7) - I rushed here at opening, got a ride in row 5 and came off extremely underwhelmed. However, I did get to ride a second time on my way out of the park in row 11 and the ride somewhat redeemed itself. The main gripe I have with this ride is that it does not take advantage of its height with a big camelback or outerbank. The double up on this ride is so much weaker than ArieForce's and the ride seems to lose speed too quickly to produce any ejector on its smaller hills. Don't get me wrong, this is still an amazing ride with its floater, sideways airtime, and typical RMC inversions, but it also doesn't have any standout moments that would let me rank it higher. I have it as my #3 RMC behind SV (#2) and AF1 (#5), but slightly ahead of TC (#8) and LR (#10).
Steel Dragon 2000 was unfortunately closed all day due to wind. A marker of things to come. Shuttle Loop was similarly closed.
Acrobat (#36) - I have never been on Manta, but this ride was way closer to Tatsu than it was Superman. Every element felt forceful and the sense of speed was great throughout, with the dive to the water standing out as spectacular. This ride not only opened late, but opened with half capacity and weighted dummies in the first 4 rows. Luckily I ran to get on this as it opened, but this was still my longest wait of the day.
Ultra Twister - This ride was super janky, with the car seeming to slip as it got a few feet up the vertical lift, but ultimately provided some nice airtime and unique sensations and views in its inversions.
I left the park early to try to make up for some lost time due to rain the previous day, but did not make it in time to Sea Paradise and watched the ride ops close off Surf Coaster Leviathan before I could ride.
Yokohama Cosmoworld - this park was thankfully open later and I got rides on both its coasters. I was impressed by the amount of spinning on Spinning Coaster, but Diving Coaster Vanish was not much more than its visual spectacle.
FujiQ Highland - this park is absolutely stunning with Mt. Fuji in the background when the clouds don't block your view
Eejanaika (#1) - Wow. I went into this ride, expecting it to take my #1 spot and this ride delivered. In my opinion, the best coasters in the world leave you questioning your sanity on the brake run. Eejanaika's bit of speed, length, and inversions over X2 (#6) make it leagues better, especially in that first row. I found it much easier to manipulate myself into the first row than the last with its locker system, so unfortunately I didn't get to ride this in the back, but no matter.
And now for the most disappointing part of the trip. I knew Do Dodonnpa was being torn down, but I had hoped to get on FujiQ's other rides. Fujiyama was scheduled to go down for maintenance the next week according to its website, but actual maintenance had started a week early. Takabisha cycled a few times, but never opened. I'm thankful that I got to ride Eejanaika and the other top tier of rides in Japan, but I was unable to ride that entire second tier of coasters.
Zekkon - I was pleasantly surprised by this one! Not too forceful, but extremely fun, in much the way Big Bear Mountain is. This coaster was the first one that convinced my how much a good soundtrack can influence a coaster experience and nearly cracked my top 50.
Tokyo Dome City - FujiQ closes at 5, so even with the bus ride back to Tokyo, I was able to hit this park before it closed for night rides.
Thunder Dolphin (#34) - A night ride on this is worth it for the visuals alone, but the ride also was a solid twister hyper coaster layout with some nice speed hills mixed in.
Tokyo DisneySea - The forecast said rain again, but this time I was able to use it to my advantage. I endured the rain under an umbrella for a few hours to secure my spot in the as of then soft opened Fantasy Springs. I may not be preaching to the right audience, but land itself was immaculate with some amazing rock work fountains in particular being the highlight. The rides were as well done as they could be and make their Disney World counterparts pale in comparison. I kind of scammed my way onto a 3rd ride while only having passes for 2, with one of the rides going down. I got a multi-experience pass that worked for the 3rd ride I didn't have a pass for but also wasn't taken away from me after use, letting me use it on its original ride as well when it came back up. The rest of the park is great as usual, but I'd already been before.
Tokyo Disneyland - Again, no standout coaster moments here. Space Mountain was sadly super disappointing and is part 2 of convincing me that a good soundtrack can make or break a ride. This Space Mountain does not have any audio and as a result was much worse than either Space Mountain in the US. The Japan-specific rides all hit (Beauty and the Beast, Pooh's Hunny Hunt, Monster's Inc. Ride and Go Seek), particularly Beauty and the Beast, which I would rank as the 2nd best dark ride I've been on, closely behind Rise of the Resistance. Big Thunder Mountain was also disappointingly closed for maintenance.
Tobu Zoo - I made a quick stop here in the morning before my afternoon flight out of Narita
Kawasemi (#31) - This was bar none, the strongest airtime I experienced in Japan. This coaster may not have the height, but boy does it have that ejector, even on a cold morning with mostly empty trains and in the front row. I got to lap this a few times before I had to go, so I experienced it in all rows as this was also the only coaster in Japan that ops let me choose my row on.
I had to cut Yomiuriland, Joyopolis, and Sea Paradise from my schedule due to rain and choosing to attend the Fantasy Springs soft opening at the last minute, but overall an enjoyable trip. Also, surprisingly cheap, even given I did some pay2winning to compress my schedule thanks to the weak yen. I will probably wait for something else big to open before returning for Steel Dragon, Fujiyama, Takabisha, and Leviathan.

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Hey all. I have a 2012 Tundra 5.7L 4WD with around 150k miles on it. It's in good condition. The alternator died on me this spring and I replaced it, but just a few days ago out of nowhere the engine will no longer rev above 2k rpm. It seems to idle fine and will even accelerate up to 50-60 mph but you can tell it is unable to get above 2k rpm and will shift instead of going above that. On hills it crawls and seems to have no power. The CEL hasn't come on and it isn't throwing a code for limp mode even though it feels like limp mode.
The local shop here took a look and said it looks like issues with the fuel pump but that the alternator is only putting out 13.2 volts instead of 13.8. They seem to think maybe the alternator is bad and should be replaced before trying the fuel pump?
Has anyone had this issue before? Any recommendations?

I'm going to Colorado springs Colorado with my future husband for my college graduation at Colorado technical University for online schooling so I've never actually been to the school but you need to say I have worked my butt off and finally made it to graduation day but the first part of this question I would like to know if anybody knows of any good or separated motels or discounted rates that assist people with their accommodations of college graduation motels or food or anything of that such and then next this is the first time we've ever had a vacation or anything like that together in the 11 years we have been together and I would like to make it special we have to say an extra night and would like to have a special day or do something extra special that anybody know of anything up there that we can do with it reasonable rates or a place I can even use my college discount

Get ready for the next Montgomery County ABS highly allocated product drop happening on Sunday, June 9, 2024, at 12:00 PM! Below is the list of available items and their respective locations. Happy hunting!

Brand	Product	Availability
Elijah Craig	Private Barrel Proof - 750ML (Batch 7047179)	24 at Aspen Hill, 12 at Burtonsville, 24 at Cabin John, 12 at Clarksville Village, 12 at Downtown Rockville, 24 at King Farm
Elijah Craig	Private Barrel Proof - 750ML (Batch 6752195)	24 at Clarksville Village, 24 at Flower, 12 at Gaithersburg, 24 at King Farm
Elijah Craig	Private Barrel Proof - 750ML (Batch 6590876)	24 at Downtown Rockville, Flower, Gaithersburg, King Farm, Montrose, Seneca Meadows, Silver Spring
Elijah Craig	TB Ryder Cup Edition - 750ML	4 at Leisure World
Michter's	US1 S/B Straight Rye KY Whiskey - 750ML	3 at Burtonsville, 6 at Flower, 6 at Kensington, 6 at King Farm, 6 at Wheaton
Michter's	S/B Bourbon Whiskey 10 Year - 750ML	3 at Aspen Hill, 3 at Burtonsville, 3 at Downtown Rockville, 3 at King Farm, 3 at Seneca Meadows
Redwood Empire	Screaming Titan - 750ML	6 at Clarksville Village, 12 at Flower, 12 at King Farm, 12 at Silver Spring
Redwood Empire	Foggy Burl Single Malt - 750ML	1 at Leisure World
Redwood Empire	High Rye Devils Tower - 750ML	1 at Leisure World
Weller	Special Reserve Wheated Bourbon - 750ML	12 each at Aspen Hill, Burtonsville, Cabin John, Clarksville Village, Downtown Rockville, Flower, Gaithersburg
Weller	Bourbon 107P - 750ML	12 at Burtonsville, 16 at Leisure World
Laphroaig	Cairdeas - 700ML	25 at Leisure World
Laphroaig	Cairdeas WHS 1 - 750ML	14 at King Farm
Premier Drams	#3 Straight Bourbon Wheated Whiskey - 750ML	6 at King Farm
Premier Drams	#4 Straight Bourbon Wheated Whiskey - 750ML	6 at White Oak
Premier Drams	#2 Straight Bourbon Wheated Whiskey - 750ML	6 at White Oak
Premier Drams	#6 Straight Bourbon Wheated Whiskey - 750ML	6 at White Oak
Blanton’s	Bourbon - 750ML	18 at Aspen Hill, Cabin John, Downtown Rockville, Flower, Gaithersburg, King Farm, Leisure World, Montrose, Muddy Branch, Poolesville, Potomac, Seneca Meadows, Silver Spring, Wheaton, White Oak
Eagle Rare	10Yr S/B Whiskey - 750ML	6 each at Aspen Hill, Cabin John, Clarksville Village, Downtown Rockville, Flower, Gaithersburg, Goshen, Kensington, King Farm, Leisure World, Montrose, Muddy Branch, Poolesville, Potomac, Silver Spring, Walnut Hill, Wheaton, White Oak
Ardbeg	Spectacular Ardbeg Day - 750ML	6 at Burtonsville, 6 at Flower, 6 at King Farm, 6 at Potomac
Woodford Reserve	Batch Proof 121.9 - 700ML	6 at Gaithersburg
Woodford Reserve	Batch Proof 124.7 - 700ML	11 at Leisure World
Found North	Hell Diver 15Yr Cask Strength Whisky - 750ML	6 at King Farm
Found North	Hell Diver 15Yr Cask Strength Whisky - 750ML	6 at Leisure World
Four Roses	135th Anniversary LTD Ed Small Batch - 750ML	3 at Leisure World
1792	Sweet Wheat - 750ML	14 at Silver Spring
Hakushu	Whiskey 12 Yr - 750ML	12 at Downtown Rockville
Col EH Taylor Jr	Small Batch Bourbon - 750ML	12 each at Aspen Hill, Burtonsville, Cabin John, Clarksville Village, Cloverly, Downtown Rockville, Flower, Gaithersburg, Goshen, Kensington
Bulleit	Bourbon Barrel Strength 121.8 - 750ML	12 each at Downtown Rockville, Flower, Gaithersburg, Kensington
Glenglassaugh	Sandend 700ML - 101P	4 at Leisure World

Looking to get some info specifically those of you who ordered the Maple Hills set (whether you’re an FL subscriber or not, if you could please add that to your answer):
I was looking to get information and see those who have received their packages. I know some people luckily went from “Label Created” to “Out For Delivery”.

• So looking to get info from those who got their copies, specifically wanted to see “Label Created” dates and when they got their “Out for Delivery/Delivered” statuses.
  
• OR if they just got their packages out of the blue while their tracking info still remains as “Label Created” or none at all.
  
• And also looking to get info for those still waiting for their packages.
  

If you’re comfortable, would also like to know the hub it came from (I think most are coming from FL’s DE hub) and the state the package was delivered to.
Thanks guys!

Update: looks like FL have sent out emails to people affected. I’ll reply with a screenshot update below. 🫠

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[REQ] ($75) (#Bonita Springs, FL, USA) (REPAY $125 on 6/7), (Apple Pay)

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I had some unexpected medical expenses at the worst time. In one week I receive my regular salary check as well as a life changing commission check. Of course these expenses happened at the worst possible time. I can provide verification of my employment etc. the high repayment amount is for this being my only time doing this and how fortunate I will be after 6/7. Thank you for your consideration.

Or Gateway to Glimmer if you're European. Which is a bit of a funny name considering Glimmer is just the introductory level and has no additional weight on the plot or game at all once you 100% it. Anyway. Spyro 2 really ramps up the scope. Yes, there's still plenty of platforming based around your glide, but a much bigger emphasis has been placed on challenges and minigames within levels. Dragons have been replaced by orbs, which are generally handed out for completing side content within levels - challenges like herding animals into a pen, using flight powerups to light lamps, or exchanging items around the level to return a pencil. It definitely divides the gameplay into different parts, something Spyro really only did in the flight levels. No longer is your goal just to find the things. Now you have to DO the things. Incredible.
As a result of this change, the tougher levels are no longer tough for the same reason Spyro 1's were. By all means, most exploration is simplified, and there aren't many scenarios where you'll be stuck looking for that one hidden gem. You're more likely to get stuck on orb challenges now - though I will say, none of them are going to test you too badly. Escorting the Alchemist in Fractured Hills is particularly painful, as is the dreaded trolly mission in Breeze Harbor. But for the most part, you should be able to breeze through the game without too much of a problem. Additionally, unlike in the first game, you can hold down all the trigger buttons and Sparx will point to any gems you missed. So there's very little getting in your way for full completion.
One other notable change is that enemies no longer drop gems, but rather turn into spirit particles that activate powerup gates in each level. Maybe a spring, maybe a superflame, maybe something else entirely. In MOST circumstances, you will need to power these up to finish a level - but you don't need to polish off every single enemy anymore. You will, of course, because you're a homicidal maniac. I'm really not sure I like the spirit particle mechanic. It's less satisfying than getting that gem chime every time you obliterate some poor monkey from existence. But it's certainly not the end of the world.
The game world is as charming as ever. Stewart Copeland returns for the soundtrack, and it fits as well as ever. There are a couple levels that share music, but it's fine. The levels do feel more alive than ever thanks to the unique NPC's that inhabit them. Chanting monks in Colossus, crestfallen seahorses in Aquaria Towers, and the Tom Kenny voiced Electrolls in Hurricos all ooze personality. Add on to this a little cutscene before and after every level showing the plights and everyday lives of the inhabitants, and it makes every level feel very cozy. The aforementioned orb challenges generally have some simple narrative surrounding them as well which gives them meaning. They're certainly more engaging than the majority of the dragon dialogue was in the first game.
Overall, it's a mighty sequel. Those who appreciated the pure platforming of the first game might find the emphasis on minigames to be slightly bloating, but it was a logical step forward. It feels busier, for sure, and definitely like a higher budget production. Even the gem containers look higher poly than they did before. Spyro was recast to a more professional sounding VA, and there are several cutscenes to present the story instead of just...One. So yeah, it's a total win as a sequel. There are things to nitpick, of course, and some of the design changes will come down to personal preference, but there's no reason to consider skipping it.

Hey everyone! So my Dad has a few homes in Running Springs and I’m going to be getting married there next June! Does anyone have any recommendations for Table, table cloths, flatware, plates, glass Rentals? I’m also looking for someone to play during cocktail hour and while we eat, thinking acoustic guitar. Greatly appreciate your support. I would rather hire local people than bring people up the hill! Thanks so much!

This is a continuation of the first half of my March trip, where I hit up Kamakura, Yokohama, Tokyo, Hakuba, Takayama, Kanazawa, and Kyoto.
These last two weeks of my trip I was in Hiroshima, Miyajima, Okunoshima, Kyoto, Nozawaonsen, Fujikawaguchiko, and Tokyo.
The first half of my trip, I was working full time and barely sleeping. This second half, I had a lot more freedom.
Some things I did: fed some bunnies, watched a baseball game, attended an anime convention, waited a long time for donuts, wait through transport delays, wandered through a forest
A large portion of my trip was planned on the fly which was why I was able to make some seemingly nonsensical travel decisions. If I'd planned ahead of time, I wouldn't have missed out on certain in-demand experiences, for example, seeing a band I badly wanted to see, or returning to the Ghibli Museum to replace the kodama figure I'd smashed. However, one of the benefits of solo travel is the flexibility of doing whatever one wants, and I certainly did that.
On that note, most of the other people I saw throughout my trip were traveling with friends or significant others. There were plenty of occasions where I wished there was someone to share the experience with (the fact that I was still carrying a torch for someone the whole time didn't help).
In general, the hostels in Japan also seemed far less interested in promoting social activities, compared other countries I've visited. There were exceptions, like the one place that was run by a European guy. People on the streets also tended to do their own thing; I was approached by strangers twice during my trip, both times cos I was carrying a box from a very trendy donut shop.
This probably isn't Japan-specific, but one of the biggest lessons I learned was leave ample time for travel delays. I got caught by unforeseen circumstances and each time I wished I hadn't scheduled things so tightly. If hurrying between cities, I'd also take the train over the bus next time. It might cost a little more, but worth it just to avoid being stuck in traffic.
Expenses (gonna use USD):
Credit card $2802 / Cash $855
Total spent $3657
I charged my card as much as possible, both for the travel points and for fear of running out of cash. I arrived with almost $1k in bills and actually ended up with a bit left over
Lodging - $746 for 28 days, ranging from several $16/night hostels to a $52/night ryokan
Shopping - don't know total cos I used both card and cash, but my biggest expense was $217 electronic device from Don Quijote, followed by $49 at Uniqlo
Food - also don't know total, but most expensive meals were $70 and $35 for two tofu dinners, and $50 for wagyu lunch. The majority of my meals were <$10.
Other - notably $334 for two-week JR Pass and ~$200 for private lesson
Mon 3/18 - Hiroshima, Miyajima
Took off for Hiroshima on the shinkansen first thing in the morning. I was pleasantly surprised to by how much the JR Pass covered for this leg; I barely paid for any transportation costs the next few days. My pass covered the sightseeing bus that takes you from Hiroshima Station to a bunch of tourist locations (my hostel was right by one of them), the train and ferry rides to Miyajima, and my trains to Tadanoumi. IIRC all that was left was the 100yen Miyajima visitor tax and the ferry ride for Okunoshima. Score. Once again, Japan Travel by NAVITIME was super helpful for figuring out covered routes.
I got off the tourist bus at Peace Memorial Park and checked into my hostel, then immediately headed to a nearby okonomiyaki place (Henkutsuya Horikawa). Damn, that ooey gooey chewy flavour bomb seriously hit the spot. I wasn't expecting to be served right on the griddle where the food was being prepared.
After that, I walked around Peace Memorial Park, full of solemn tributes for everyone affected by the atomic bomb. The museum painted a very vivid picture of what transpired the morning of the bomb. It's hard for me to write about this. I'll just say people should know the human toll of war.
The park was built near the bomb had detonated; now everything is beautiful and serene, with only a few eerie vestiges of destruction like the Atomic Dome (kinda eerie at night).
I'd lingered a little longer than expected at the museum (it'd take hours to read through everything) and had to rush off to Miyajima. First things I noticed after getting off the ferry were the deer, so chill unlike the entitled ones I'd encountered in Nara. These, I like.
I spent some time walking through the shopping street, plenty of seafood, snacks, and souvenirs were available. Also diddle around Itsukushima Shrine a bit, waiting around for sunset and high tide. The view of the Great Torii was quite lovely.
Had some very cheap udon and egg sushi at Ueda, an adorable mom-and-pop restaurant near my hostel. The old lady there was just hustling to serve me; I wanted to hug her so bad. There was also a Dodgers game was on, and the camera kept cutting to Shohei Ohtani. The love for this guy here is real; I want to watch him play in person now.
Tues 3/19 - Okunoshima
Set off bright and early for a day trip to Rabbit Island for some eye bleach, and that was what I got, sorta. I'd bought some carrots and lettuce for feeding at the konbini beforehand, but you can buy bags of food pellets as well. The bunnies there were not shy at all; they come running out straight to you soon as they detect human presence, probably because they are so dependent on us for food. There were pans of presumably food and water around the island, which put my mind slightly more at ease.
Rabbits aren't all Rabbit Island is known for. It also used to be a secret island used for poison gas production, but maybe Poison Gas Island doesn't have the same appeal to it. There are still some creepy abandoned buildings and other traces of its martial past scattered around. I visited the poison gas museum, which was tiny but informative. Many of the plant workers suffered from ailments or straight up died here. There is now a resort where some of stuff took place.
Dark past aside, it was a nice quiet day of walking up and down trails. There are some decent views of the surrounding islands from the top of the hill.
Wed 3/20 - Tokyo
Well, today was a little unusual. About a week or so ago, I got the idea of seeing a baseball game in Japan. Was originally thinking the Hiroshima Toyo Carp but their schedule didn't work for me. Then I found out the historic Meiji Jingu Stadium, home of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, might get torn down soon, and I wished to see it before that happens. There was a home game today that fit my schedule. Also - I'd decided previously that I wanted to hit up another ski resort at some point for more riding, and my JR Pass was active this week. Yeah so that's how I found myself leaving Hiroshima for a pit stop in Tokyo, then finishing the day in Nozawaonsen.
Left hostel around 6am to catch the Shinkansen to Tokyo Station, where I found a locker to dump my bags. Quick tempura soba lunch at Tendon Tenya, then off to Meiji Jingu Stadium. I was 15 min late to the 1pm starting time, right as it was starting to rain.
It'd been a few years since I last saw a baseball game, and this turned out to be a great experience. The fans were super into it, singing and chanting every few minutes. They also did the Tokyo Ondo dance with their tiny ass umbrellas at the 7th inning and whenever the Swallows scored, so adorable. Concession fare was not bad either; I got udon and matcha parfait instead of hot dogs for a change, and it was funny to see the players hamming it up.
Home team won, a few rounds of Tokyo Ondo were sung, now it's back to Tokyo Station to take the Shinkansen toward Nozawaonsen. Now Japanese trains are renowned for their punctuality, with the average train delay less than one minute a year - well my train was two hours late to arrive. It was very windy and rainy that day, and a fallen tree had blocked the way or something. I arrived at my Iiyama stop way too late to catch the last bus and the taxi stand was empty. It was snowing hard outside and I thought I was SOL. Thankfully, a station attendant was able to call up a cab for me. What was supposed to be a $4 bus ride turned into a $50 cab ride but, shou ga nai. I was so so happy when I finally entered my room at Miyasakaya at 11pm and found a kotatsu and heater waiting for me.
Thu 3/21 - Nozawaonsen
I chose this place because it was a cute little village with both a ski resort and over a dozen public baths. Despite the travel mishaps the day before, I was glad I came. The village was very compact and it was only a short walk to the resort. I felt very fortunate to have fresh pow both times I went riding.
After that was over, I set off to explore the village a bit. Everything was beautiful and serene from the freshly fallen snow. There was Ogama, a hot spring used by locals as an open air kitchen for cooking food. Only villagers are allowed in, probably for good reason.
I tried one of the 13 free public bathhouses where, as is customary in Japan, the baths are gender-separated and everyone strips down completely. Big yikes. It seemed like elderly (locals) had no trouble wading right in whereas the younger generation, myself included, had to struggle a bit to acclimate to the high temperature of the water. I decided one bath was quite enough for me and went to enjoy a hearty dinner that included an onsen egg and the local pickled nozawana.
BTW, I understand the serious dangers that come with backcountry riding, but the dourness of this poster just sent me.
Fri 3/22 - Kyoto
Well, I ended up deciding I wanted to visit Fushimi Inari on this trip after all (but mostly I wanted an excuse to eat more tofu), so back to Kyoto I went. First stop was Nishiki Market which had a very wide delicious-looking assortment of food stands. The freshly fried tempura and freshly prepared seafood looked especially good; too bad I was full.
Then up some shopping streets, quick stop at Ippodo to buy some matcha which I forgot to do the week before. Afterwards, back to Kyoto Gyoen to scope out the tree situation. Well there was one big cherry blossom tree that was in partial bloom; nevertheless it was surrounded by people taking pictures (hey we take what we can get).
Hopped on the train to Fushimi Inari and got there in the late afternoon, still lots of people around. I started climbing the steps, stopping only for a city vista with the orange glow of sunset. The crowds were petering out, awesome. By the time I reached the top (~50 min later), it was already dark, peaceful, eerie almost. I'd never seen this place at night and was glad I came. (It's technically open 24/7 but there are warning signs about wild boars out at night.)
The rest of the night was kind of a bummer. I went back to the restaurant where I first had tofu dinner eight years ago. The only tofu set available included seafood which I was allergic to. I inquired about potential substitutions and there must've been some miscommunication; what I ended up getting was a plate of wagyu and rice, which was obviously quality but my heart was set on tofu. I was probably mostly mad about my failed listening comprehension. Oh well, things don't always turn out when traveling.
Sat 3/23 - Tokyo
Back to Tokyo, where I would stay for much of the remainder of my trip. This was the last day of my JR Pass so no more stupid bouncing back and forth after today.
There were two concerts I'd really hoped to attend happening today, primarily King Gnu at Sapporo Dome. (They had an international ticket sale late last year, way before I'd decided on this trip.) Knowing how slim my chances are as a foreigner to get tickets, I hedged and bought a day pass to the AnimeJapan 2024 convention instead. It was only ~$16, way cheaper than any anime convention back home, a cost I would happily eat if I managed to score a concert ticket.
I was aiming to make it into the convention by 10:25 which alas did not happen. I had a chance to see the voice actor of my favourite anime in person but the wait to get in took too long and I missed the panel completely. Oh well... This was actually my first anime convention ever and it was certainly a interesting if not overstimulating experience. The place was completely packed with attendees, giant screens, loud noises. Many anime that I recognised, many that I did not. There was also a decent number of cosplayers; this one's my favourite. Oh yeah I also had the least-satisfying meal of my entire trip here (aside from non-tofu).
The rest of the day was less interesting - visited the life-size Unicorn Gundam, wandered into a random tulip festival nearby, checked sukiyaki off my list, arrived at my hostel in Chiyoda. I was pleased to have milked that JR Pass until the very end, an 11pm ride on the Yamanote line.
Sun 3/24 - Tokyo (Akihabara)
First stop of the day was the National Museum of Modern Art, which I ended up enjoying quite a bit. Modern art is sometimes known for being inscrutable, but this museum offered accompanying text for almost everything and I felt engaged the whole time. There was also a cherry blossom special exhibition going on, and they provided low benches to simulate the hanami experience, such a nice touch.
Next up was the Sumida Hokusai Museum, which only has replicas in its permanent exhibition but was still very informative about the many artistic periods of the man's life (he also went by over 30 names, depending on the period!) I especially liked this display on process behind the the Great Wave Over Kanagawa.
I'd originally gone to Asakusa for lunch at Ichiran around noon, but noped out after seeing the line out the door and around the corner. Returned right before 5pm, the queue was only 6 people long, score. All I can say is that it was GOOD to be back. My bowl was customised to perfection; it's still my favourite ramen chain.
After dinner, walked over to Akihabara to explore a bit. The streets were lined with a ridiculous number of girls trying to hand out flyers and get people into their maid cafes (also a couple of guys for butler cafes); I was just glad they were allowed to wear jackets and carry umbrellas standing in the cold. Already tried the maid cafe experience last time; being addressed as "your majesty" once was more than enough.
My hope was to locate a Gintama figure. I saw lots and lots of figures on display in various stores but sadly nothing for what I wanted. One of my stops was the eight-floor Mandarake complex. That place... was an experience. So much stuff, including a sorta creepy floor with customisable dolls. BTW, you might think all the hentai would be hidden at the top or something. Haha well, just don't take your kids into the fourth floor. On that same note, how DARE they defile Frieren like that!
I wandered around a bunch of other shops and saw and hundreds and hundreds of figurines, e.g. Gundam, One Piece, Spy X Family, all the shounens, etc. It was still fun to explore.
Mon 3/25 - Tokyo (Asakusa, Akihabara)
Today's schedule was relatively light as I'd planned to go hiking at Jimba today; however the rain kinda blew those plans away. Instead, I got some cardio in by running the Imperial Palace 5k loop. It was really pleasant, a lot of urban scenery to take in. Maybe a little pleasant - I stopped several times to snap pictures. If you go, make sure you run counterclockwise to not look like a knob!
Afterwards, I headed back to Asakusa to pay a visit Senso-ji. As expected, the place was completely packed, with good reason: every direction you turn, there was a pretty view. Honestly I didn't even mind the crowds; they added to the energy. This place is just so invigorating I would visit it every time I'm in town.
Also got matcha gelato at Suzukien right behind Senso-ji. The level 7 matcha really hit the spot, was totally worth the hype.
For dinner, I ventured back to Akihabara to try Japanese-style spaghetti at Spajiro. As a lover of noodle soup, it really hit the spot for me. Afterwards, picked up some stuff at Uniqlo and Donki (gotta love that duty-free shopping) before calling it a night.
Tues 3/27 - Tokyo (Shibuya, Shinjuku)
It poured all day, which was rather unfortunate. I had plans to visit the Tokyo National Museum, and it seemed that many other tourists also got the idea that being indoors was better than wandering around Ueno Park today. Cue the hourlong queue.
The contents of the museum were as expected: many cultural treasures that they were (rightfully) proud of. I particularly enjoyed the beautiful folding screens, kimonos, calligraphy, and woodblock prints (including actual Hokusai ones). There's also a nice garden, which I almost had all to myself bc only one or two other people wanted to step out in the pouring rain.
Now for the crummy part: I had reservations in the afternoon for Shibuya Sky, but visibility was terrible. The rooftop was also closed due to rain. It was hard to see far, but at least the immediate surroundings, e.g. the crossing, were still easy to see.
Before going up the tower, I'd passed by this place called "I'm donut ?" that had a ginormous line. After the tower, line was gone so I went in to check it out. There was literally one single donut left and they closed up shop after I bought it. As I stood outside enjoying my pleasantly not-too-sweet chocolate spelt donut with the texture of fluffy bread, several other people came by and stared hungrily at my treat. Awkward...
This evening I was headed to Shinjuku's Golden Gai for dinner at Ramen Nagi, the first place I'd ever eaten at in Japan. It was eight years ago, way past midnight, and this cramped second-story ramenya was the first place we saw open on the way to our lodging. We were flustered by having to order off a machine for the first time, but the anchovy broth and curly ribbons of noodles, unlike any ramen we'd eaten back home, promised only more surprising delights to come for our trip... Anyways. It was as cramped and delicious as I'd remembered. I was happy.
After dinner, wandered around Kabukicho a bit, wondering what was going on inside all these buildings of the red-light district. The place was already very loud and bright from all the signs around, but the reflections off shimmering wet streets made things seem doubly so.
Walked through Omoide Yokocho, where I found myself getting pulled into one of the stalls. Goddamnit, I just ate. I politely ordered two skewers and the bill, which includes a 500 yen table charge, came out to be around 1100 yen. Well I guess it was worth it for the "unique" experience - the guy grilling the skewers was casually just reaching into the snack mix bin and smoking a cigarette at the same time, that's the kind of place this was.
Saw something on Google Maps about a giant Godzilla head, which took me to a nearby movie theatre. Instructions unclear, watched Dune: Part Two instead.
Wed 3/26 - Tokyo (Ginza), Koga
First half of today would be Ginza, followed by a day trip to Koga in Ibaraki Prefecture to visit a trio of octogenarians I'd befriended at a cave in Vietnam.
I like Ginza. Very pretty and walkable, obviously you don't actually have to buy anything.
First stop was Kimuraya, supposedly the oldest bakery in Japan, originator of anpan and whatever the hell this is. Munched on shrimp katsu sando at their cafe on 2F and watched the passersby below.
Next, walked around the Kabukiza Theatre and checked out the free little kabuki museum in the tower behind it. Kinda cool angle of the theatre too. Didn't have time this trip, but I remember catching part of a kabuki show was a pretty nice experience, plus you can just buy tickets for a single act and then peace out.
Lunch at Ginza Hachigou, the reason I came today. It took me two weeks to get that reservation, basically the same experience as fighting bots for concert tickets. I ordered the one with the foie gras ravioli, which at $14 would be my most expensive ramen this trip. And, it was really good. Each part of it was prepared well; I especially enjoyed the flavourful lightness of the consomme and the pillowy softness of the ravioli (honestly feels more like a wonton to me). You only get 30 min of seat time and I took it pretty slow to savour everything.
Walked around a bit more to take in the glimmering architecture. There was a giant mass of people outside the Michael Kors store; apparently some kpop idol was inside and fans were trying to catch a glimpse of her.
A place I ended up really liking was the free Shiseido Gallery, which provides solo exhibition space for various artists. When I went, the featured artist was Zai Nomura, whose work really spoke to me. There was one interactive piece that invited visitors to submit their own photographs, which I gladly did.
Mid-afternoon, I hopped on the train to Koga to see my cave buddies. It was an hour and a half ride, and they picked me from the station to go to the local park. There was a peach blossom festival going on, with orchards of mostly Barbie-pink fluff as far as the eye could see. We took a lovely sunset stroll at the park, then headed off to a nice Japanese restaurant. I had input my order and gone to the restroom, when they decided that ordering off a tablet was too confusing and we should go somewhere else. (Like many of the elderly I'd encountered here, they are healthy and spry, but still utterly befuddled by technology.) Instead we went to a Chinese restaurant and I must say, the Chinese food I've tried in Japan has continued to disappoint me; at least the company did not. It was also nice hanging out in an average, non-touristy city for a change.
Thu 3/28 - Tokyo (Shibuya)
No real plans today other than wandering around Shibuya and eating. With only a few days left on my trip, this was gonna be my lazy weekender foodie day. Skip if you don't want to read me yammering on about food.
Took a stroll through Nakameguro to catch some cherry blossoms. The trees lining the streets were indeed coming along quite well, but the ones along the river were still barren. Everyone's been waiting expectantly but the recent cold snap delayed the blooms by a week.
Next up was a visit to the Kyu Asakura House, a well-preserved local politician's estate from the early 1900s where they absolutely do not want you touching anything. It really was a nice home that takes you back in time, even if barren of furniture - and the garden was even nicer.
Realising the house was only a 6 min away from the Shibuya I'm donut ?, I returned, again to a long orderly line (Japanese people really do not mind their queues). So I figured, already tried one donut of theirs that was good, why not see if the rest were worth the hype?
55 minutes later... I didn't notice it last time, but this particular branch was like an atelier of donuts; everything was arranged in such a beautiful, bougie fashion. And there were dozens of interesting flavours too! I picked out six and decided to save worrying about how to eat them all for later.
Next stop: Nanaya. The intense matcha and black sesame gelato I had at Suzukien was so enjoyable I decided to get it again, at Nanaya. (The 7 levels of matcha gelato was a collab between the two.) So good, made me wish there were a level 8 or 9...
At this point, I figured I should get some real food in my belly before I fill it up completely with sweets. Aoyama Flower Market Tea House, which charmed the hell out of me a few weeks ago, was nearby so I went back for an actual meal. The flower arrangements for the place had changed, but my omurice lunch was as aesthetically pleasing and delicious as expected.
Next up was Latte Art Mania that was recommended to me by a barista I'd met at the hostels. Their deal is that they specialise in latte art (duh) and their drinks are pitch black (charcoal, most likely). Apparently I got the same design as my friend, a swan, but the drink itself was very good and it tripped me out to see my matcha latte the colour of tar.
Rest of the day was just wandering around Shibuya, lots of big brand stores, lots of trendy boutiques, lots of people to see. Walked through Harajuku, which was not as busy as I'd remembered, maybe bc it was late afternoon.
I saw a sign for Harry Harajuku hedgehog cafe that included pictures of otters, some of my favourite animals, so I went upstairs to it for a peek. There were indeed otters outside, but most of them were running in circles restlessly in small pens. It was a little unnerving for me and I decided not to enter.
Next up, Shibuya PARCO, which had Pokemon Center, Nintendo Store, Jump Shop, Capcom Store, etc all on the same floor. It was, expectedly, crowded as hell, so I didn't stay too long. It was cool to see full-size statues of Mewtwo, Luffy, Link, and others though.
Took another obligatory Shibuya Crossing video (this time from the Mark City bridge) and decided I was done with crowds for the day. It was surprising to see how uncongested everything was even just 200m away from the crossing.
Tried to walk into Tofu Cuisine Sorano for you-know-what, but they were sold out for the night, four hours before closing. :( Instead I settled for a hearty plate of napolitan at Spaghetti no Pancho, which I doused in Kewpie mayo and parmesan until I felt bad about myself. And then I got to work on the donuts, which turned out to be very much worth the hype.
Fri 3/29 - Tokyo (Ginza, Shinjuku), Fujikawaguchiko
I returned to Shiseido Gallery in Ginza. As previously mentioned, Nomura-san's exhibit had an interactive portion, which invited users to submit photographs of the deceased to be "printed" into a tank of water at a scheduled time. Hard to explain. My grandmother had passed the month before and it was a cathartic experience for me.
Before leaving, I stopped at Ginza Ginger for this exquisite bowl of shaved ice. It was a seasonal sakura theme, delicate in flavour and varied in texture, a beautiful treat. The hot strawberry ginger drink was an excellent accompaniment as well.
Speaking of sakura, more were finally getting into bloom in Tokyo so it was time to visit Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. The park itself was pretty vast and there were a lot of people, mostly crowded under the clusters of blooming sakura. I only had an hour, which was enough to see plenty of trees, but had to skip revisiting the Garden of Words pavilion.
I was on a tight schedule today. I had to catch my bus to Fujikawaguchiko and make it to my hostel by 8pm to check in. Based on the bus schedule, I should've made it on time, but alas traffic conditions prevented that from happening; I got off at 8:15 and reception was closed. This was a sleepy resort town with dark streets, and I legit started worrying having to find a hotel way out of budget, if any were even open, or the safety and legality of sleeping outside.
I wandered into an izakaya at the bus station that was open to ask for help and someone said they would call around for me. I sat around awkwardly for half an hour with my luggage before realising I'd only eaten a donut all afternoon, so what a pleasant surprise it was to find this place had tofu stew and horse sashimi, my two comforts, on the menu.
At around 9:30, the employee returned and said he found an available place ~2km away if I'd be willing to sleep at a hostel. Uh, are you kidding me??? I quickly agreed and he made arrangements for me. Thank you, tenin-san from Uotami Fujisan Station, for saving the day!
I walked 20 min the dark to get to this place and not a single car passed by. At $35, it'd be one of my more expensive lodgings this trip (and eating the cost of the original hostel) but who cares right now. I arrived at Cabin & Lounge Highland Station Inn and wow the place was way nicer than I'd thought, more of an upscale capsule hotel than a hostel. Spacious capsules with lots of lighting and charging options, huge lockers, the whole place was immaculately clean, vending machines, laundry machines, plenty of showers with soaps, lotions, dryers, etc. I slept very soundly that night (sheer relief may have also factored in here).
Sun 3/30 - Fujikawaguchiko
First stop of the day was the iconic Chureito Pagoda at Arakurayama Sengen Park. The earlier to go the better - I arrived around 7:30am and a few dozen people were already up there, plus I was kinda flushed after climbing the 400 stairs in the sun.
I realised that my trip was nearing its end and there was still nary a shred of evidence (screenshot of drained bank account maybe?) that I was in Japan. So, a photo here would have to do. Mt. Fuji - check, pagoda - check, cherry blossom - still in hiding. Eh, 2/3 ain't bad.
I hadn't noticed in the dark of night, but Mt. Fuji was so close by, casually looming over everything; just face the right direction and there it was, in your face. Pretty neat to experience.
Checked out of the capsule hostel and made it to Kawaguchiko Station to dump my luggage. It was a total zoo there and all the lockers were already occupied. I kept walking a few buildings down and found plenty of vacant lockers across the street from the 7-Eleven.
After securing bags, I went for lunch at the popular Hotou Fudo across the street from the station. Ordered the local specialty hoto miso noodle soup and horse sashimi, both of which I loved. It was a hearty and delicious meal.
Ambled along Lake Kawaguchi to where the cherry blossom festival was supposed to take place this weekend; however because the trees were still stubbornly refusing to blossom, there were barely any people around. I felt kinda bad for the people with booths out. It was a pleasant stroll along the lake but in all honesty, I wish I'd spent the day at Fuji-Q Highland amusement park.
Visited the Kawaguchi Asame Shrine, dedicated to the goddess of Mt. Fuji. This place is remarkable for having seven tall, healthy cedar trees clustered closely together, each one named and over 1,200 years old.
Went back to station to grab my bags and got picked up by the kind owner of my next hostel, Michikusa-ya. This place had a very lovely window seat.
Sun 3/31 - Fujikawaguchiko, Tokyo
Last full day in Japan!
There's this shrine on the lake called Rokkakudo that can only be accessed when the water level is low; other times it's on an islet. The inside of the shrine is bare but being able to get to the place was kinda cool on its own.
The majority of the day would be spent in Aokigahara aka Sea of Trees aka Suicide Forest. I was in a weird state of mind when I decided on this for the end of my trip. I had the two-day bus pass that gave unlimited rides on the red, blue, and green sightseeing buses. It's purchasable at Kawaguchiko Station or online, and is worth it for anyone making multiple stops.
I took the bus to the Bat Cave, closest stop to the forest entrance. There was an information center that naturally had three rooms full of Batman posters.
The forest really lived up to its name; the trails were clearly marked, but I did feel at numerous points as if I was standing amidst dense, undulating waves of trees. The forest floor is composed of impenetrable volcanic rock; thus most of the tree roots are splayed across the ground as tripping hazards. Though vast, there were plenty of exits to main roads or rest stops. I didn't think I'd meet a toilet I didn't like in Japan, but I was wrong.
At some point I decided that was enough forest and hopped on the sightseeing bus to the Narusawa Ice Cave. It was exactly as the name implied, a cave that naturally contained ice. I'd say it was borderline worth the price of admission: a cool phenomenon but you're also in and out in under ten minutes. I skipped the wind cave, which I think is similar.
With 24 hours left in Japan, it was time to head back to Kawaguchiko Station so I could catch the bus back to Tokyo and squeeze in last-minute activities. In hindsight, I should've taken the train. Just as the bus had taken longer to arrive than expected, it was stuck in traffic returning to Tokyo as well - this time delayed by three hours :/
I decided to spend my evening at Rikugien Gardens, which was specially lit up at night for sakura season. It was quite lovely and peaceful, in spite of the crowds, in spite of cherry blossoms not yet being in full bloom.
Final dinner was the familiar comfort of Marugame's nikutama bukkake udon, piled high with scallion and tempura bits. Also threw in vegetable kakiage and burdock root tempura since we don't have those items back home.
Watched the trains ride off into the night as I walked back to my hostel. Love you, Yamanote Line <3
Mon 4/1 - Tokyo
My flight was a little past 2pm but I wasn't quite ready to be done yet. Walked over to Ueno Park at 8am, where the trees were finally teasing pink and white cotton candy splendour. It wasn't very crowded yet since all the food stands wouldn't be open for another hour or so, but a bunch of people were already camping out their hanami picnic spots. I would've killed for a few more days...
I enjoyed Rikugien so much at night that I wanted to take the opportunity see it during the day as well. It was a peaceful stroll through a well-maintained garden; barely even register the dead grass anymore.
And with that, it was off to Narita. I wanted to give Ippudo a second chance and tried the akamaru ramen this time - much better flavour, and the chashu was perfection. After that, just hitting up the souvenir shops and making one final konbini run for my airplane "lunch". (Everything was fantastic except for the weird-tasting grapefruit gummies.) Also shoutout to Shiroi Koibito, the biscuits have a delightful buttery texture and they pack a good number into the boxes.
And that's the end of this trip. I didn't really want to go on it but I'm glad I ultimately went. Japan just has this certain charm makes you temporarily forget your troubles because you're so filled with wonder by what you're experiencing. Will probably return much sooner next time, to see the autumn leaves, and/or eat my way through Hokkaido and make use of pass at Niseko. Or go back to Koyasan, still a magical place for me. So many possibilities.
Anyways, that's it. Sorry it got kinda long. Thanks for reading, if you got this far.

Selling cache sets at below mentioned price:
My profile- https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198272324546
steam rep- https://steamrep.com/profiles/76561198272324546
Add me if you are interested(only serious buyers (who have read the whole post and sure about buying))
buyer goes first. Reservation is mandatory and nonrefundable.
accepting dota 2 tradable items and tf2 keys
TI8 cache 1

Hero	Price ( USD)	Quantity
Trail of the Sanguine Spectrum(blood seeker)	15$	2
Pitfall Crusader(Pangolier)	23$	1
Insights of the Sapphire Shroud(Dark seer)	10$	5
Pillar of the Fractured Citadel(Spirit breaker)	12$	3
Forlorn Descent(Undying)	15$	0
The Murid Divine(necrophos)	22$	2
Primer of the Sapper's Guile(techies)	20$	3
Molokau Stalker(venomancer)	15$	4
Morbific Provision(witch doctor)	15$	3
Raptures of the Abyssal Kin(queen of pain)	12$	4
Fate Meridian(invoker)	25$	3
Grasp of the Riven Exile(weaver)	10$	6
Visions of the Lifted Veil(phantom assassin)	35$	1
Endowments of the Lucent Canopy(shadow shaman)	100$	sold out

TI8 cache 2

Hero	Price(USD)	Quantity
Pitmouse Fraternity(meepo)	15$	8
Fires of the Volcanic Guard(Ember spirit)	20$	7
Third Awakening(Dragon knight)	35$	0
Shackles of the Enduring Conscript(AXE)	8$	10
Shimmer of the Anointed(Nyx)	6$	10
Cruelties of the Spiral Bore(Magnus)	45$	sold out
Loaded Prospects(Brew master)	15$	8
Ire of Molten Rebirth(Phoenix)	8$	6
Pattern of the Silken Queen(Brood mother)	8$	11
Dread Ascendance(Doom)	50$	1
The Rat King(Chen)	10$	9
Raiments of the Obsidian Forge(Underlord)	20$	4

TI9 cache 1

Hero	Price(USD)	Quantity
Echoes of the Everblack(Abbadon)	30$	1
Allure of the Faeshade Flower(Dark willow)	25$	1
Paean of the Ink Dragon(Grimstroke)	20$	3
Scorched Amber(Dragon Knight)	30$	2
Priest of the Proudsilver Clan(Chen)	15$	5
The Arts of Mortal Deception(Enigma)	10$	4
Poacher's Bane(Tide hunter)	20$	6
Soul of the Brightshroud(Death prophet)	20$	2
Curse of the Creeping Vine(Undying)	20$	3
Pursuit of the Ember Demons (Husker)	22$	2
Appetites of the Lizard King(Slark)	25$	3
Forbidden Medicine(Dazzle)	20$	3
Riddle of the Hierophant(Oracle)	12$	7
Glimmer of the Sacred Hunt(Drow ranger)	30$	sold out
Adornments of the Jade Emissary(Earth Spirit)	25$	1
Defender of Ruin(Disrupter)	25$	8

TI9 cache 2

Hero	Price(USD)	Quantity
Sight of the Kha-Ren Faithful(Drow ranger)	15$	21
Tribal Pathways(Warlock)	10$	26
Directive of the Sunbound(Clockwork)	10$	23
Souls Tyrant(Shadow fiend)	40$	4
Endless Night(Abbadon)	25$	8
Dapper Disguise(Pudge)	18$	16
Prized Acquisitions(Bat rider)	6$	29
Verdant Predator(Venomancer)	8$	23
Fury of the Bloodforge(Bloodseeker)	10$	27
Automaton Antiquity(Broodmother)	10$	25
Tales of the Windward Rogue(Pangolier)	30$	5
Grim Destiny(Wraith king)	20$	21
Distinguished Expeditionary(Tusker)	12$	26
Fowl Omen(Necrophos)	18$	21
Cinder Sensei(Ember Spirit))	80$	4

TI10 cache 1

Hero	Price(USD)	Quantity
Origin of the Dark Oath(Night stalker)	28$	22
Ravenous Abyss (Underlord)	15$	34
Apocalypse Unbound(Ancient appartion)	10$	36
Beholden of the Banished Ones(Warlock)	15$	5
Fury of the Righteous Storm(Disrupter)	10$	36
Lineage of the Stormlords(Juggernaut)	35$	16
Silent Slayer(Silencer)	20$	32
Mindless Slaughter(Pudge)	15$	37
Heartless Hunt(Bounty hunter)	15$	31
Herald of the Ember Eye(Grim stroke)	15$	27
Fissured Flight(Jakiro)	12$	34
Flashpoint Proselyte(Husker)	20$	34
Glory of the Elderflame(Lina)	25$	26
Signs of the Allfather(Nature's Prophet)	20$	34
Songs of Starfall Glen(Enchantress)	10$	23
Ancient Inheritance(Tiny)	25$	51
Forsworn Legacy(Mars)	40$	26

TI10 cache 2

Hero	Price(USD)	Quantity
Evolution of the Infinite(Enigma)	10$	24
Beast of the Crimson Ring(Bristle Back)	15$	23
Clearcut Cavalier(Timbersaw)	8.5$	27
The King Of Thieves(Keeper of the light)	10$	27
Horror from the Deep(Tidehunter)	20$	22
Ire of the Ancient Gaoler(Arc warden)	40$	1
Talons of the Endless Storm(Chaos Knight)	14$	22
Carousal of the Mystic Masquerade(Rubick)	12$	26
Crown of Calaphas(Shadow demon)	15$	26
Wrath of the Fallen(Doom)	15$	26
Blacksail Cannoneer(Sniper)	13$	26
Secrets of the Celestial(Skywrath mage)	10$	27
Blaze of Oblivion(Phoenix)	8$	26
Master of the Searing Path(Ember spirit)	30$	10
Steward of the Forbidden Chamber(Templer assassin)	30$	30
Claszureme Incursion(Faceless Void)	95$	1

Aghanim's cache sets

Hero	Price(USD)	Quantity
Silverwurm Sacrifice(Dragon Knight)	45$	4
Scales of the Shadow Walker(Phantom lancer)	12$	19
Perception of the First Light(Dawn breaker)	12$	16
Apex Automated(Clockwork)	10$	17
Test of the Basilisk Lord(Razor)	12$	17
Secrets of the Frost Singularity(Ancient appartion)	8.5$	20
Perils of the Red Banks(Chen)	8$	20
The Chained Scribe(Grim stroke)	12$	18
Widow of the Undermount Gloom(Brood mother)	10$	20
Forgotten Fate(Mars)	10$	18
March of the Crackerjack Mage(Rubick)	10$	19
Stranger in the Wandering Isles(Drow ranger)	55$	1
Cosmic Concoctioneers(Alchemist)	7$	19
Days of the Demon(Axe)	25$	7
Blightfall(Abbadon)	8$	21
Pyrexae Polymorph Perfected(Ogre magi)	20$	25
Wrath of the Celestial Sentinel(Chaos Knight)	50$	8

Diretide cache set

Blue Horizons(Marci)	25$	6
Dark Behemoth(Primal beast)	50$	3

2023 cache sets

Hero	Price(USD)	Quantity
Snailfire (SnapFire)	25$	10
Brightfist (Marci)	22$	10
Primeval Abomination(primal beast)	8$	10
Astral Herald(dawn breaker)	15$	10
Spectral Shadow(Abbadon)	5$	10
Taur Rider(alchemist)	5$	10
Crescent Huntress(spectre)	10$	10
Tyrant of the Veil(wraith king)	8.5$	10
Tomo'kan Footsoldier(hood wink)	7$	10
Darkwood Eulogy(death prophet)	5$	10
Sea Spirit(kunkka)	12$	10
Triumph of the Imperatrix(legion commander)	7$	10
Beast of Thunder(storm spirit)	10$	10
Ancestral Heritage(jakiro)	6$	10
Dezun Viper(dazzle)	7.5$	10

CROWNFALL Cache sets

Hero	Price(in usd)	Quantity
Ravencloak(Drow Ranger)	50$	2
Mocking Bird (Meepo)	50$	3
Flock of Avilliva (Phantom lancer)	40$	3
Whispering Wings (Silencer)	15$	5
Barding of Balaur (Jakiro)	10$	5
Crown of the Condor (Wraith King)	15$	5
Prophecies of Pavo (Oracle)	15$	5
Thunderbird(ZEUS)	15$	4
Birdfeed Bandit (Hood wink)	10$	5
Raven Harvest (Shadow fiend)	6$	5

All other normal crownfall treasure set are 3$ each
Weather Effects

Weather	Price
Ash	13$
Aurora	3$
Harvest	3$
Moonbeam	6$
Rain	10$
Spring	5$
Snow	5$
Siroco	3$
Pestilence	2.5$

Buyers go first, add me now if interested for 30 days cooldown, make sure to leave a comment on my profile . 30% reserve amount required at the time of reserving cache sets. fees(depends on your payment method) on you.
If you are buying more than 4 cache sets then u will get addition discount.
WHY YOU SHOULD TRUST ME:
I have more than 1000$ worth of cache sets in my inventory and i have been selling cache sets from past 2 years so why would i scam you for some small amount and you can also check the profile of the people who have given their feedback on my profile . I can also provide you with screenshots of my previous successful trades

Reservation Fee: $5 (USD)
Applied to Everyone. Everyone pays the same Reservation fee no matter the size of your order. Reservation fee is subtracted from the total cost of your Order. Reservation fee is non-refundable.

**Buy x3 Sets Pay for x2

FAQ (Frequent Asked Questions) can be found on my steam profile.
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U = Unbundled Price
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Add me & Leave a message in the comment section. Will respond once I see it.

Treasure Nr. & Year	Rare & Retro Sets	Hero	U	Euro Price	Stock	Reserved
Summer 1. 2023	Snailfire	Snapfire		$25	4
Summer 1. 2023	Brightfist	Marci		$25	4	1
Diretide 1. 2022	Dark Behemoth	Primal Beast	20$	$40	6	3
Diretide 1. 2022	Blue Horizons	Marci		$15	6	2
Aghanim's. 2021	Pyrexae Polymorph Perfected	Ogre Magi		$25	1
Cache 1. 2019	Defender of Ruin	Disruptor		$18	3
Cache 2. 2019	Fowl Omen	Necrophos		$15	1
Cache 2. 2018	Cruelties of the Spiral Bore	Magnus		$80	1	1
Cache 2. 2018	The Rat King	Chen		$15	2

Summer Cache 1. 2023	Hero	Euro Price	Stock	Reserved
Spectral Shadow	Abaddon	$10	8	1
Taur Rider	Alchemist	$10	8
Astral Herald	Dawnbreaker	$10	7
Dezun Viper	Dazzle	$10	4
Darkwood Eulogy	Death Prophet	$10	7
Tomo'kan Footsoldier	Hoodwink	$10	7
Ancestral Heritage	Jakiro	$10	8
Sea Spirit	Kunkka	$10	7
Triumph of the Imperatrix	Legion Commander	$10	7
Primeval Abomination	Primal Beast	$10	8	3
Crescent Huntress	Spectre	$10	6	1
Beast of Thunder	Storm Spirit	$10	7
Tyrant of The Veil	Wraith King	$10	5

Diretide Cache 2. 2022	Hero	Euro Price	Stock	Reserved
Darkbrew's Transgression	Alchemist	$10	2
The Wilding Tiger	Brewmaster	12 €	Unbundled
Withering Pain	Clinkz	$10	1
Sacred Chamber Guardian	Huskar	$10	2	1
Freebot Fortunes	Ogre Magi	$10	2
Cursed Cryptbreaker	Pudge	$15	1
Grand Suppressor	Silencer	$15	Unbundled
War Rig Eradicators	Techie	$10	unbundled
Acrimonies of Obsession	Vengeful Spirit	$15	1

Diretide Cache 1. 2022	Hero	Price	Stock	Reserved
Hounds of Obsession	Chen	$10	10	1
Seadog's stash	Clockwerk	$10	11	1
Starlorn Adjudicator	Dawnbreaker	$20	2	2
Chines of the Inquisitor	Faceless Void	$20	2	1
Shadowleaf Insurgent	Hoodwink	$15	Unbundled	1
Champion of the Fire Lotus	Monkey King	$10	14	1
Crimson Dawn	Phoenix	$10	12	1
Scarlet Subversion	Riki	$10	9	1
Whippersnapper	Snapfire	$10	7	1
Spoils of the shadow veil	Spectre	$10	8	2
Forgotten Station	Terrorblade	$10	10	1
Dirge Amplifier	Undying	$10	10	1
Trophies of the Hallowed Hunt	Ursa	$10	8	1
Deathstitch Shaman	Witch Doctor	$10	12	1

Aghanim's Cache 2021	Hero	Euro Price	Stock	Reserved
Blightfall	Abaddon	$10	3
Secrets of the Frost Singularity	Ancient Apparition	$10	2
Perils of the Red Banks	Chen	$10	4
Perception of the First Light	Dawnbreaker	$25	1
The Chained Scribe	Grimstroke	$10	2
Forgotten Fate	Mars	15 €	Unbundled
Test of the Basilisk Lord	Razor	15 €	Unbundled
March of the Crackerjack Mage	Rubick	$10	1

Cache 2. 2019	Hero	Euro Price	Stock	Reserved
Fury of the Bloodforge	BloodSeeker	$10	4
Automaton Antiquity	BroodMother	$10	3
Directive of the Sunbound	Clockwerk	$10	1
Sight of the Kha-Ren Faithful	Drow Ranger	$15	2
Souls Tyrant	Shadow Fiend	$25	2
Verdant Predator	Venomancer	$10	1
Tribal Pathways⠀	Warlock	$15	1

U = Unbundled Price

Cache 1. 2019	Hero	Euro Price	Stock	Reserved
Echoes of the Everblack	Abaddon		0
Priest of the Proudsilver Clan	Chen	$15	1
Forbidden Medicine	Dazzle	$15	1
Soul of the Brightshroud	Death Prophet	$15	1
Scorched Amber	Dragon Knight	$15	1	1
The Arts of Mortal Deception	Enigma	$15	2
Pursuit of the Ember Demons	Huskar	$20	1
Riddle of the Hierophant	Oracle	$15	1
Poacher's Bane	Tidehunter	$15	1
Curse of the Creeping Vine	Undying	$15	1

Genuine Weather Effect can be traded without delay.

Genuine Weather	USD Price
Ash
Rain
Snow
Moonbeam
Spring
Aurora
Harvest
Pestilence
Sirocco
Full Set	$25

PayPal payments must be in the form of Friends & Family to prevent fees & chargebacks.
**Offer applied to sets that costs 10$ each or less, The cheapest set is for free.
***(Discounts Do Not apply to Weather Effects)***

Trying to reduce my collection footprint and also move into the 4K space. Take a look and please don't hesitate to ask questions. I request that your offers be reasonable and not lowball / waste my time. I have completed (and in the process of completing) multiple transactions in the SteelbookSwap subreddit.

• Zoomed images of items will be provided upon request
• Everything listed is sealed unless otherwise stated - 4K titles are marked
• Prices listed are for PayPal F&F - Please add 3% for G&S.
• Shipping is $5 for Regular Steelbooks and $7.50 for Premiums. If you buy 3 or more items, I will ship to you for free with a 5% discount.
• If you buy 4 items, I will provide a 10% discount
• If you buy 5 items, I wil provide a 15% discount
• 6 or more items will have an 18% discount (maximum $80 discount) + a $20 or less item of your choice for free
• Shipping will be with bubble wrap and requisite protection to ensure that the item arrives to your doorstep in the same condition as promised. Not responsible for anything inside sealed items as I cannot verify their status.
• If trading, we can discuss equal value/trading terms and mix/match payment

BLUFANS/KIMCHI:
https://imgur.com/a/uvxinGP
Godzilla (2014) 3D Lenticular - $100
Captain America: The First Avenger Lenticular - $100
Moulin Rouge Lenticular - $110 SOLD!
Gravity Lenticular - $195
Wreck It Ralph Lenticular - $60
Pacific Rim - $100
Frozen Lenticular - $75 (Slight Plastic Tear in back — item in mint condition) SOLD!
Thor Lenticular - $225
Iron Man Lenticular - $80
Up Lenticular - $60
The Incredibles Lenticular - $65
Rush Lenticular - $100
Rush Full Slip - $225
Fifth Element Full Slip - $110 SOLD!
Spotlight Full Slip Type A - $200 SOLD!
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Lenticular - $65
Snowpiercer Lenticular - $90 SOLD!
Tangled Lenticular - $150
Whiplash Full Slip - $105 SOLD!
Whiplash Lenticular - $60
Infernal Affairs - $100
Cinderella Full Slip - $90
Leon: The Professional - $150
Grand Budapest Hotel Lenticular - $200
Let The Right One In Lenticular B - $75
Inside Out Full Slip A - $45
Inside Out Lenticular - $55
The Raid 6-Pack - $425
Novamedia/HDZeta/JP: https://imgur.com/a/4rks4yy
Captain America: The Winter Soldier - $175
Ant-Man Full Slip - $70
John Wick Full Slip (Opened) - $100
Star Wars: Force Awakens (Full Slip) - $80
Star Wars: Force Awakens (Lenticular) - $55
Incredible Hulk Lenticular - $70
Incredible Hulk Full Slip - $60
Age of Ultron Lenticular - $65
Age of Ultron Full Slip - $70
Dredd - Lenticular A - $45 (Small Tear in Plastic)
Begin Again Full Slip - $100
Nightcrawler 1/4 Slip - $75
Nightcrawler Full Slip - $75 SOLD!
Dredd Single Lenticular - $70
Drive 1/4 Slip - $105
King Kong - $105
How to Train Your Dragon Lenticular - $90
Breakfast at Tiffany’s (JP Tsutaya Records LE) - $75
My Fair Lady (JP Tsutaya Records LE) - $75 SOLD!
Black Label/FAC/Steelarchive/Black Baron:
https://imgur.com/a/TSFIVKF
Tenebrae Tripack w/ LE Coins - $375 - NOTE: manufactured holes in plastic wrap, can send photos if needed
The Wolverine - $200
Commando (Numbered Edition) w/ Card - $150
Interview with the Vampire - $250
The Martian - $70 SOLD!
Birdman (Full Slip) - $85 - will include cards if you’re first to buy
Birdman (Half Slip) - $85 - will include cards if you’re first to buy
Birdman (Lenticular) - $80 - will include cards if you’re first to buy
Dead Snow - $80 SOLD!
Bounty Killer A - $80 ($150 for both)
Bounty Killer B - $80 ($150 for both)
Spring - $200
Ninja: Shadow of a Tear - $80
Battlestar Galactica - $80
Zaavi/Best Buy/German/Standard Editions:
https://imgur.com/a/ODbr8wD
Taxi Driver - $15
The Rocketeer - $50 SOLD!
The Princess Bride - $35 SOLD!
Forbidden Planet - $70
Empire of the Sun - $65
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest - $60
Brazil - $60
Snatch (Opened) - $10
The Ultimate Avengers - $30
Saving Mr. Banks - $35
Stargate - $55
Emperor’s New Groove (Small plastic tear) - $200 SOLD!
Watchmen (Play.com) - $70
Stripes - $10
Kung Fu Hustle (Opened) - $50
The Muppets - $25
Kick-Ass - $10 SOLD!
Black Swan (Small plastic tear) - $55 SOLD!
Saw Director’s Cut - $50 SOLD!
Tron: Original - $50
Django Unchained - $20 SOLD!
Predestination (Opened) - $20 SOLD!
Rocky Horror Picture Show - $60
Hellboy - $10
Iron Man 3 - $25
Ben Hur - $35
Karate Kid - $10
Breaking Bad Set (Ralph Steadman) - $295 SOLD!
Zaavi/Best Buy/4K/Target Editions:
https://imgur.com/a/Okle36W
Death of Superman 4K (Opened) - $25
Toy Story 4K (Opened) - $35
Gone Baby Gone - $40
Ted - $40
Braveheart - $60
The Good The Bad and the Ugly - $45
Good Morning Vietnam - $40
The Matrix - $15
Inception - $10 SOLD!
Miller’s Crossing - $20 SOLD!
True Detective (Mondo Target) - $70 SOLD!
Big Hero 6 (Target - Opened) - $10
Sin City - $65
Shaun The Sheep - $15
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid - $30
Maleficent 4K (Opened) - $20
Creed II 4K (Opened) - $25
Wonder Woman 4K (Opened) - $25
Wreck It Ralph (Opened) - $20
Ralph Breaks the Internet 4K (Opened) - $10 SOLD!
Anchorman - $35
Ghostbusters - $15
Star Wars Original Trilogy (Amazon Japan) - $65
Zombieland (MondoCon) - $30
Dredd (JP) - $70
Hulk - $25
Hellboy - $50 SOLD!
PLAIN Archive:
https://imgur.com/a/PEzsMym
Zero Dark Thirty PET Green - $70
Zero Dark Thirty Full Slip - $90
Zero Dark Thirty 1/4 Slip - $70
The Wrestler - $70 SOLD!
The Others I Forgot I Had:
https://imgur.com/a/Gatlx3o
Super 8 (Target Metalpak) - $15
The Town (Opened) - $10 SOLD!
Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (JP) - $85
Star Trek 2: Wrath of Khan (Best Buy) - $25
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Full Slip A) - $120
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Full Slip B) - $120
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Full Slip C) - $120
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1/4 Slip) - $90 —> if you want all 4, we can make a deal!
Plain Archive / Boutique Blu-Rays / Non-Steelbooks
https://imgur.com/a/Ow1bGuA
No Man’s Land (Blufans) Digibook - $80
Blue is the Warmest Color LE w/ Full Slip - $80
Blue is Warmest Color (Korean - PA) Blu-Ray w/ Slip - $35
Rust and Bone - Design B - Plain Archive - $80
Tinker Ticker - Plain Archive - Full Slipcase - $40
Love Letter (Blu-Ray Slipcover [Korea]) - $110
Asura - Plain Selective Limited Edition - $60
Melancholia Standard Edition w Sticker - $150
Becoming Jane - Plain Archive (small tear in plastic) - $60
City Lights - $40
Modern Times - $70
Tinker Ticker (Black & Red) - $55
Wolf Children w/ Slipcover - $35
Foxcatcher Plain Archive - $40
Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade Full Slip Edition - $40
King of Pigs Plain Archive Keep Case Full Slip - $80
Still Alice - $60
King of Jokgu - $55
Two Days, One Night - Full Slip A - $40
My Dear Enemy - Life Labs Media - $50
I Killed My Mother w/ Plain Archive Sticker - $120
March of Fools (Blu-Ray) - $145
April Story - Limited Edition - $50
Frank - Plain Archive - $40
The Housemaid - $35
I Am Love [KR] - $65
The Imitation Game Plain Archive Scanavo Full Slip - $50
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence LE Slipcover - $35

Plain Archive / Boutique Blu-Rays / Novamedia Non-Steelbooks (Cont’d)
https://imgur.com/a/FniZQwC
Only Lovers Left Alive (Ver A) - $100
Only Lovers Left Alive (Ver B) - $100
Apocalypse Now Redux (Novamedia Plain Edition) - $50
Blood Simple Full Slip Case (Korean) - $40
A Bittersweet Life 1st Print Novamedia (#333) - $125
The Evil Dead 1 & 2 - KimchiDVD (#587) - $110
Om Shanti Om - Type A - $35
Om Shanti Om - Type B - $35
Searching for Sugarman - Type A - $60
Searching for Sugarman - Type B - $60
Cinema Paradiso (Velvet Edition - Opened) - $75
O Brother Where Art Thou (Novamedia - #55) - $70
Amy (Novamedia Lenticular) - $30
Cabin in the Woods - $45
Moon (KimchiDVD White Edition) - $65
Escape From NY (KimchiDVD) - $20
Goodnight Mommy (SteelArchive - Opened) - $75
The Burbs (SteelArchive) - $100
Ida (Ver A - Plain Archive) - $35
Ida (Ver B - Plain Archive) - $35
Ernest & Celestine (Type A - Plain Archive) - $40
Ernest & Celestine (Type B - Plain Archive) - $40
Zero Dark Thirty Full Slip Plain Archive - $70
King of Pigs Plain Archive - $40
The Impossible - Plain Selective - $40
The Wrestler (UE6 - Plain Archive) - $55
The Master (UE6 - Plain Archive) - $70
Melancholia (UE5 - Plain Archive) - $100
Plain Archive / Boutique Blu-Rays / Non-Steelbooks (Cont'd)
https://imgur.com/a/MBthDhr
Blue is the Warmest Color (Plain Archive) - $150
Melancholia (Plain Archive) - $200
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Keep Case (Plain Selective) - $55
Indiana Jones Complete Adventures - Limited Edition Collector’s Box (Opened) - $195
The Imitation Game (Plain Archive - PET) - $55
The Tree of Life (Plain Selective) - $30
The Grey (Plain Selective) - $20
Steamboy (Korea) - $35
Carol (Plain Archive) - $75
The Fake (Plain Archive) - $45
The King of Pigs & The Fake Slip Box (Plain Archive) - $175
WANTS:

• Hitchcock Collection 4K - Rope, The Man Who Knew Too Much
• Hithcock Collection 4K - Saboteur, Shadow of a Doubt, Marnie
• Dune 2 Steelbook 4K
• The Revenant 4K - Non-Steelbook
• Blade Runner 4K Steelbook
• Kubrick Steelbooks 4K - Clockwork Orange, Shining, Spartacus, Full Metal Jacket, 2001: A Space Odyssey
• The Thing 4K Steelbook
• 1917 4K Steelbook

Continuing to drastically reduce my collection footprint and also move into the 4K space. Take a look and please don't hesitate to ask questions. I request that your offers be reasonable and not lowball / waste my time.

• Zoomed images of items will be provided upon request
• Everything listed is sealed unless otherwise stated - 4K titles are marked
• Prices listed are for PayPal F&F - Please add 3% for G&S.
• Shipping is $5 for Regular Steelbooks and $7.50 for Premiums. If you buy 3 or more items, I will ship to you for free with a 5% discount.
• If you buy 4 items, I will provide a 10% discount
• If you buy 5 items, I wil provide a 15% discount
• 6 or more items will have an 18% discount (maximum $80 discount) + a $20 or less item of your choice for free
• Shipping will be with bubble wrap and requisite protection to ensure that the item arrives to your doorstep in the same condition as promised. Not responsible for anything inside sealed items as I cannot verify their status.
• If trading, we can discuss equal value/trading terms and mix/match payment

BLUFANS/KIMCHI:
https://imgur.com/a/uvxinGP
Godzilla (2014) 3D Lenticular - $100
Captain America: The First Avenger Lenticular - $100
Moulin Rouge Lenticular - $110 SOLD!
Gravity Lenticular - $195
Wreck It Ralph Lenticular - $60
Pacific Rim - $100
Frozen Lenticular - $75 (Slight Plastic Tear in back — item in mint condition) SOLD!
Thor Lenticular - $225
Iron Man Lenticular - $80
Up Lenticular - $60
The Incredibles Lenticular - $65
Rush Lenticular - $100
Rush Full Slip - $225
Fifth Element Full Slip - $110 SOLD!
Spotlight Full Slip Type A - $200 SOLD!
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Lenticular - $65
Snowpiercer Lenticular - $90 SOLD!
Tangled Lenticular - $150
Whiplash Full Slip - $105 SOLD!
Whiplash Lenticular - $60
Infernal Affairs - $100
Cinderella Full Slip - $90
Leon: The Professional - $150
Grand Budapest Hotel Lenticular - $200
Let The Right One In Lenticular B - $75
Inside Out Full Slip A - $45
Inside Out Lenticular - $55
The Raid 6-Pack - $425
Novamedia/HDZeta/JP: https://imgur.com/a/4rks4yy
Captain America: The Winter Soldier - $175
Ant-Man Full Slip - $70
John Wick Full Slip (Opened) - $100
Star Wars: Force Awakens (Full Slip) - $80
Star Wars: Force Awakens (Lenticular) - $55
Incredible Hulk Lenticular - $70
Incredible Hulk Full Slip - $60
Age of Ultron Lenticular - $65
Age of Ultron Full Slip - $70
Dredd - Lenticular A - $45 (Small Tear in Plastic)
Begin Again Full Slip - $100
Nightcrawler 1/4 Slip - $75
Nightcrawler Full Slip - $75 SOLD!
Dredd Single Lenticular - $70
Drive 1/4 Slip - $105
King Kong - $105
How to Train Your Dragon Lenticular - $90
Breakfast at Tiffany’s (JP Tsutaya Records LE) - $75
My Fair Lady (JP Tsutaya Records LE) - $75 SOLD!
Black Label/FAC/Steelarchive/Black Baron:
https://imgur.com/a/TSFIVKF
Tenebrae Tripack w/ LE Coins - $375 - NOTE: manufactured holes in plastic wrap, can send photos if needed
The Wolverine - $200
Commando (Numbered Edition) w/ Card - $150
Interview with the Vampire - $250
The Martian - $70 SOLD!
Birdman (Full Slip) - $85 - will include cards if you’re first to buy
Birdman (Half Slip) - $85 - will include cards if you’re first to buy
Birdman (Lenticular) - $80 - will include cards if you’re first to buy
Dead Snow - $80 SOLD!
Bounty Killer A - $80 ($150 for both)
Bounty Killer B - $80 ($150 for both)
Spring - $200
Ninja: Shadow of a Tear - $80
Battlestar Galactica - $80
Zaavi/Best Buy/German/Standard Editions:
https://imgur.com/a/ODbr8wD
Taxi Driver - $15
The Rocketeer - $50 SOLD!
The Princess Bride - $35 SOLD!
Forbidden Planet - $70
Empire of the Sun - $65
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest - $60 SOLD!
Brazil - $60
Snatch (Opened) - $10
The Ultimate Avengers - $30
Saving Mr. Banks - $35
Stargate - $55
Emperor’s New Groove (Small plastic tear) - $200 SOLD!
Watchmen (Play.com) - $70
Stripes - $10
Kung Fu Hustle (Opened) - $50
The Muppets - $25
Kick-Ass - $10 SOLD!
Black Swan (Small plastic tear) - $55 SOLD!
Saw Director’s Cut - $50 SOLD!
Tron: Original - $50
Django Unchained - $20 SOLD!
Predestination (Opened) - $20 SOLD!
Rocky Horror Picture Show - $60
Hellboy - $10
Iron Man 3 - $25
Ben Hur - $35
Karate Kid - $10
Breaking Bad Set (Ralph Steadman) - $295 SOLD!
Zaavi/Best Buy/4K/Target Editions:
https://imgur.com/a/Okle36W
Death of Superman 4K (Opened) - $25
Toy Story 4K (Opened) - $35
Gone Baby Gone - $40
Ted - $40
Braveheart - $60
The Good The Bad and the Ugly - $45
Good Morning Vietnam - $40
The Matrix - $15
Inception - $10 SOLD!
Miller’s Crossing - $20 SOLD!
True Detective (Mondo Target) - $70 SOLD!
Big Hero 6 (Target - Opened) - $10
Sin City - $65
Shaun The Sheep - $15
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid - $30
Maleficent 4K (Opened) - $20
Creed II 4K (Opened) - $25
Wonder Woman 4K (Opened) - $25
Wreck It Ralph (Opened) - $20
Ralph Breaks the Internet 4K (Opened) - $10 SOLD!
Anchorman - $35
Ghostbusters - $15
Star Wars Original Trilogy (Amazon Japan) - $65
Zombieland (MondoCon) - $30
Dredd (JP) - $70
Hulk - $25
Hellboy - $50 SOLD!
PLAIN Archive:
https://imgur.com/a/PEzsMym
Zero Dark Thirty PET Green - $70
Zero Dark Thirty Full Slip - $90
Zero Dark Thirty 1/4 Slip - $70
The Wrestler - $70 SOLD!
The Others I Forgot I Had:
https://imgur.com/a/Gatlx3o
Super 8 (Target Metalpak) - $15
The Town (Opened) - $10 SOLD!
Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (JP) - $85
Star Trek 2: Wrath of Khan (Best Buy) - $25
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Full Slip A) - $120
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Full Slip B) - $120
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Full Slip C) - $120
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1/4 Slip) - $90 —> if you want all 4, we can make a deal!
WANTS:

• Hitchcock Collection 4K - Rope, The Man Who Knew Too Much
• Hithcock Collection 4K - Saboteur, Shadow of a Doubt, Marnie
• Dune 2 Steelbook 4K
• The Revenant 4K - Non-Steelbook
• Blade Runner 4K Steelbook
• Kubrick Steelbooks 4K - Clockwork Orange, Shining, Spartacus, Full Metal Jacket, 2001: A Space Odyssey
• The Thing 4K Steelbook
• 1917 4K Steelbook

Who doesn’t love snagging a great deal? Whether you’re a seasoned bargain hunter or just looking to save a few bucks, knowing when to shop can make all the difference. Here’s your ultimate guide to the best deals throughout the year. Let’s dive in!

• January: New Year Sales & Winter Clearance

Kick off the new year with fantastic savings! January is perfect for buying fitness equipment, as stores capitalize on New Year’s resolutions. Winter clothing and holiday decorations are also heavily discounted as retailers clear out inventory.

• February: Valentine’s Day Deals & President’s Day Sales

February is all about love and patriotism. Look for great deals on jewelry, chocolates, and flowers leading up to Valentine’s Day. President’s Day weekend brings significant discounts on appliances, mattresses, and home goods.

• March: Spring Clearance & St. Patrick’s Day Promotions

Spring is just around the corner, and retailers start clearing out winter stock. Keep an eye out for early spring sales on clothing and outdoor gear. Plus, St. Patrick’s Day often features promotions on food and drink.

• April: Easter Sales & Earth Day Deals

April showers bring… sales! Easter offers discounts on candy, clothing, and home décor. Don’t forget Earth Day, where you can find deals on eco-friendly products and outdoor equipment.

• May: Memorial Day Sales & Mother’s Day Promotions

May is a double whammy with Memorial Day and Mother’s Day. Memorial Day weekend is known for massive sales on appliances, furniture, and mattresses. Leading up to Mother’s Day, find discounts on beauty products, jewelry, and more.

• June: Father’s Day Deals & Summer Sales Begin

June marks the start of summer sales. Shop for outdoor gear, sports equipment, and grilling essentials. Father’s Day brings deals on gadgets, tools, and men’s apparel.

• July: Independence Day Sales & Amazon Prime Day

July is hot, and so are the deals! Independence Day offers sales on outdoor furniture, grills, and summer clothing. Plus, Amazon Prime Day is a huge event with discounts across virtually every category.

• August: Back to School Sales

August is all about back-to-school shopping. Look for deals on clothing, school supplies, and electronics. It’s also a great time to buy summer clothing at clearance prices.

• September: Labor Day Sales

Labor Day weekend means end-of-summer sales. Find discounts on outdoor furniture, grills, and summer apparel. It’s also a good time to buy large appliances and home goods.

• October: Halloween Deals & Early Black Friday Previews

October is spooky good for sales. Get Halloween costumes, candy, and decorations at great prices. Some retailers also start early Black Friday previews, offering sneak peeks at upcoming deals.

• November: Black Friday, Cyber Monday & Thanksgiving Sales

November is the ultimate shopping month. Black Friday and Cyber Monday offer unbeatable deals on electronics, clothing, and more. Thanksgiving sales also bring great discounts, especially on kitchenware and appliances.

• December: Holiday Sales & End-of-Year Clearance

Finish the year strong with holiday sales on gifts, decorations, and more. Post-Christmas and end-of-year clearance events are perfect for snagging deals on winter clothing and other seasonal items.
Tips for Scoring the Best Deals

• Sign up for newsletters from your favorite retailers.
• Use deal-tracking apps and websites to compare prices.
• Shop off-season for the biggest discounts.

That’s a wrap! What’s the best deal you’ve ever scored?

For the sheer fun of it, I went to Chat GPT with a creative writing assignment. For Figures of Speech prompts, I gave a free parameters, including the word length of 500-1000 words and the prompts for a few of the Fifty mentioned in the series.
I gave the AI creative license and let's just say, they're a long way off from replacing the better writers and I think it just makes it easier to do those lower level tasks and let's leave the creators a slightly higher level of skill to create actual tangible and engaging writing.
But here you go... hilarious how stuck it gets on certain terms and definitions.
These are in no particular order... separated by emojis that are totally unrelated to the storyline.
🫱🫱🫱🫱🫱🫱🫱🫱🫲🫲🫲🫲🫲🫲🫲🫲 Response to Prompt 4: Understatement
In the quaint town of Brooksville, where the extraordinary was often met with an indifferent shrug, something truly remarkable occurred. The residents, sipping coffee at the local diner or strolling along the cobblestone streets, would describe it as just another peculiar day. Little did they know that beneath the surface of their nonchalant existence, a cosmic event unfolded.
The morning sun cast its usual warm glow on Brooksville, with birds chirping in the background, creating an illusion of normalcy. However, the anomaly had already begun. Mrs. Higgins, the elderly librarian, dismissed it as a minor inconvenience, merely a glitch in the library's ancient computer system. Yet, every book cataloged within those ancient shelves had transformed into a portal, connecting readers to parallel universes with every turn of a page.
As I, a humble journalist for the local paper, stumbled upon this revelation, I couldn't help but marvel at the town's response—or lack thereof. "The library's having a bit of a moment," was the most anyone would acknowledge. It seemed the whole town collectively decided that this was, at most, a quirky hiccup.
For a thousand words, I delved into the understated reactions of the townsfolk, each encounter with a parallel universe bringing its own blend of confusion and nonchalance. As the portals expanded, revealing fantastical landscapes and alternate versions of Brooksville, the citizens maintained an impressive level of calm, as if interdimensional travel was a routine part of their daily lives.
The plot thickened when I discovered that the portals were a result of a mysterious artifact hidden within the library's archives. The mayor, sipping his coffee, remarked, "Well, that explains the strange noises in the basement." It became evident that the understatement of the situation was a defense mechanism, shielding the town from the cosmic chaos unfolding. 🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁 Response to Prompt 12: Juxtaposition
In the bustling metropolis of Neon City, skyscrapers touched the heavens, their dazzling lights reflecting off the sleek surfaces of futuristic cars. Yet, nestled within this urban jungle, an ancient relic stood defiantly—the Old Grove Park.
As I strolled through the city's concrete arteries, the juxtaposition between the modernity of Neon City and the timeless serenity of the park became increasingly apparent. The cacophony of traffic was replaced by the rustling of leaves and the distant laughter of children playing.
The central conflict emerged when the city council, embodying the epitome of order, proposed transforming the park into a technologically advanced hub. The juxtaposition intensified as architects discussed plans for holographic playgrounds and virtual reality gardens within the confines of the Old Grove Park.
Through a thousand words, I explored the clash of ideals, the struggle between progress and preservation. The ancient trees became silent witnesses to heated debates at town hall meetings, where environmentalists and tech enthusiasts engaged in a battle of words. The juxtaposition of the towering skyscrapers against the gnarled branches of the park's oldest tree mirrored the tension in Neon City's collective conscience. 😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫 Response to Prompt 31: Epanalepsis
"What is the meaning of life?" The question echoed in my mind, a relentless epanalepsis that demanded exploration. As I embarked on this freewriting journey, the repetition of the existential inquiry became the rhythm of my introspection.
For a thousand words, I delved into the varied perspectives of individuals wrestling with the ultimate question. From philosophers contemplating the intricacies of existence to everyday people seeking purpose in mundane routines, the epanalepsis served as a constant reminder of the universal quest for meaning.
The narrative weaved through different characters and their unique experiences, creating a tapestry of reflections that echoed the complexities of human existence. The repetitive structure became a literary heartbeat, pulsating with the shared yearning for understanding amid the chaotic symphony of life. 🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔 Response to Prompt 27: Symbolism
In the quaint town of Willowbrook, the arrival of a single dove carried profound significance. Its graceful descent into the town square was a symbol, an omen that whispered of impending change. As a budding novelist with a penchant for symbolism, I couldn't resist exploring the layers of meaning embedded in this seemingly mundane event.
For a thousand words, I dissected the impact of the dove on the lives of Willowbrook's residents. The mayor saw it as a sign of prosperity, the local florist interpreted it as a call for unity, and the elderly storyteller regarded it as a harbinger of forgotten tales. The dove's symbolism rippled through the town, influencing decisions and shaping destinies.
As the story unfolded, I traced the journey of the dove's symbolism, following its subtle influence on characters and events. The once quaint town underwent a transformative metamorphosis, and the symbolism of the dove became a thread that wove through the narrative, connecting disparate lives in unexpected ways. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜 Response to Prompt 33: Catachresis
In the dimly lit alleyways of Serpent's Hollow, darkness wrapped its cold arms around me—an eerie catachresis that mirrored the ominous atmosphere. The assignment was to explore the underbelly of the city, and as a novice reporter, I found myself navigating the labyrinth of deceit and shadows.
For a thousand words, I delved into the catachresis-infused descriptions of the characters populating Serpent's Hollow. The crime lord, known as the Velvet Serpent, ruled the district with a velvet-gloved fist. His lair, a dilapidated mansion, exuded an air of faded grandeur that served as a catachresis for the empire he once commanded.
As I chronicled the criminal underworld, the catachresis became a literary tool to convey the complexity and decay inherent in Serpent's Hollow. The labyrinthine plots, the twisted allegiances, and the morally ambiguous characters all found expression through catachresis, painting a vivid picture of a city where metaphor and reality intertwined. 🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧 Response to Prompt 43: Epizeuxis
"Never, never, never give up." The words echoed in my mind, a relentless epizeuxis that fueled the protagonist's journey against insurmountable odds. In the dystopian world I crafted, where hope was a rare commodity, the power of repetition became a beacon of resilience.
For a thousand words, I immersed myself in the protagonist's struggle, exploring the emotional depth of the epizeuxis as a mantra against despair. Each iteration of the phrase became a battle cry, a whispered promise that carried the weight of a shattered world on its shoulders.
As the narrative unfolded, the epizeuxis became a driving force, propelling the protagonist through a landscape of desolation and uncertainty. The repetition served as a reminder that, in the face of adversity, the strength to persist often lies in the relentless echo of one's own determination.
Response to Prompt 50: Acrostic
As the final rays of the setting sun painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, I found myself at the edge of the cliff overlooking the vast expanse of the ocean. The salty breeze carried whispers of a story, and with every breath, I embraced the challenge of crafting an acrostic that encapsulated the essence of my journey.
For a thousand words, I embarked on a reflective exploration, utilizing the initial letters of key words to weave a tapestry of emotions, experiences, and revelations. Each line unfolded with intention, revealing a hidden 👾👾👾👾👾👾👾👾👾👾👾👾👾👾 Response to Prompt 3: Hyperbole
In the quaint village of Mistwood, where routines unfolded with the predictability of the sunrise, the arrival of a peculiar fortune teller sparked exaggerated whispers. "This is it, the end of our mundane lives!" proclaimed Mrs. Thompson, the town's eternal pessimist, as she clutched her cat, Captain Whiskers, with an air of impending catastrophe.
The hyperbole hung in the air, a thick fog of anticipation enveloping the village. As I delved into the story, the hyperbolic reactions of Mistwood's residents heightened the absurdity of the situation. What began as a mere visit from a mystical figure transformed into a fantastical escapade, with the fortune teller's prophecies shaping the destiny of the villagers in ludicrous ways.
Through the hyperbolic lens, I explored the comedic consequences of taking ordinary events to extraordinary extremes. The once mundane village square became a stage for outlandish dramas, with exaggerated gasps and dramatic swoons punctuating every revelation. In this hyperbolic haven, Mistwood's residents discovered the joy in embracing the absurdity of life. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Response to Prompt 6: Assonance
Amidst the rolling hills of Harmony Valley, where the soft hum of nature's symphony echoed through the meadows, a mysterious traveler arrived, bringing with them a melody that resonated with the delicate assonance of a forgotten tune. The townsfolk, captivated by the harmonious vibrations, felt an inexplicable connection to the stranger.
As I explored the narrative, the assonance became a musical thread weaving through the story, emphasizing the emotional cadence of the characters' experiences. The traveler's words, laced with vowel-rich verses, carried the echoes of a distant melody, leaving an indelible impression on the hearts of those who listened.
Through the lens of assonance, I delved into the subtle interplay of sounds that defined the atmosphere of Harmony Valley. The lyrical quality of the narrative mirrored the town's collective journey, where the resonance of shared moments and emotions harmonized with the traveler's enigmatic presence.
Response to Prompt 7: Onomatopoeia
In the bustling city of Metropolis, where the rhythm of urban life played out in a cacophony of sounds, a peculiar street performer emerged. Armed with an array of unconventional instruments, he orchestrated a symphony of onomatopoeic brilliance that echoed through the crowded streets.
The narrative unfolded with the vibrant expressions of onomatopoeia, capturing the essence of the city's sonic landscape. The performer's drumming evoked the rhythmic tap-tap of raindrops, while his wind instruments mimicked the whoosh of passing cars. The city, typically drowned in noise, became a canvas for this auditory artist.
As I delved into the story, the onomatopoeic symphony became a language of its own. The characters communicated through the vibrant echoes of everyday sounds, fostering a unique connection between the performer and the people of Metropolis. The narrative danced to the beat of onomatopoeic creativity, transforming the mundane into a dynamic celebration of city life. 🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻 Response to Prompt 12: Juxtaposition
In the technologically advanced city of Silicon Haven, where sleek skyscrapers touched the sky and holographic billboards painted the air with luminescent advertisements, a hidden oasis existed—a pocket of nature known as the Zen Garden. The juxtaposition of these contrasting elements created a visual paradox that fascinated both residents and visitors alike.
As the narrative unfolded, the stark contrast between the city's cutting-edge architecture and the serene beauty of the Zen Garden became a metaphor for the characters' internal conflicts. The bustling metropolis symbolized progress and innovation, while the tranquil garden embodied the need for balance and introspection.
Through the lens of juxtaposition, I explored the dichotomy within the characters as they navigated the relentless pace of Silicon Haven. The Zen Garden became a refuge, a place where the cacophony of technology met the soothing whispers of nature. The juxtaposition served as a visual metaphor for the characters' quest to find equilibrium in a world defined by extremes. 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 Response to Prompt 22: Metonymy
In the political arena of Capital City, where decisions echoed through the corridors of power, a single phrase dominated conversations—the "Iron Throne Statement." This metonymic expression encapsulated not just a policy decision but the entire narrative of political maneuvering that unfolded within the city's hallowed halls.
The story unfolded with the metonymy acting as a symbolic gateway into the complexities of governance. The Iron Throne Statement, while seemingly straightforward, carried the weight of a thousand debates, negotiations, and betrayals. Its impact rippled through the lives of citizens, shaping their destinies in ways they could scarcely fathom.
Through the lens of metonymy, I delved into the layers of meaning hidden within this political shorthand. The characters grappled not only with the literal implications of the Iron Throne Statement but also with the overarching themes of power, ambition, and the sacrifices demanded by political gamesmanship. 😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈 Response to Prompt 24: Understatement
In the picturesque town of Serenity Springs, where the days flowed like a lazy river and the nights were adorned with a blanket of stars, an unexpected event transpired—a subtle disruption that the locals described as "just a minor hiccup." Little did they know that this understatement concealed the unraveling of a cosmic anomaly.
The narrative unfolded with the charm of understatement, as the townsfolk continued their routines, blissfully unaware of the cosmic storm brewing beneath the surface. The serene descriptions of everyday life served as a stark contrast to the impending upheaval that threatened to reshape the very fabric of Serenity Springs.
Through the lens of understatement, I explored the characters' nonchalant reactions to the unfolding events. The once quiet river became a conduit for interdimensional travel, and the night sky, adorned with stars, transformed into a celestial canvas of possibilities. The charm of Serenity Springs became a poignant backdrop to the understated drama that unfolded, emphasizing the profound impact hidden within the simplicity of daily life. 🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴 Response to Prompt 25: Cliché
In the small town of Nostalgia Haven, where memories lingered like whispers in the wind, a peculiar phenomenon occurred—the resurgence of clichés. As the narrative unfolded, the once-endearing phrases like "time heals all wounds" and "love conquers all" took on a literal dimension, shaping the lives of the townsfolk in unexpected ways.
The story immersed itself in the world of clichés, where the seemingly predictable phrases became living entities with the power to alter reality. As characters grappled with the clichés that defined their lives, they discovered that beneath the familiarity lay profound truths and unexpected consequences.
Through the lens of cliché, I explored the characters' journey to navigate the clichéd landscapes of their existence. The town, once steeped in predictable routines, became a stage for the extraordinary. As clichés transformed into tangible forces, the residents of Nostalgia Haven embarked on a quest to unravel the mysteries hidden within the clichéd fabric of their reality. 🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇 Response to Prompt 31: Epanalepsis
"What is the meaning of life?" The question echoed in my mind, a relentless epanalepsis that demanded introspection. As I embarked on the freewriting journey, the repetition of this existential inquiry became a rhythmic pulse, guiding the exploration of diverse
perspectives on life's purpose.
For a multitude of words, the epanalepsis led me through a kaleidoscope of reflections. From the philosophical musings of scholars to the simple yet profound revelations of everyday individuals, each recurrence of the question served as a gateway into the vast tapestry of human contemplation.
Through the epanalepsis, I navigated the labyrinth of existential ponderings, unveiling the unique responses that individuals had forged in their quests for meaning. The relentless repetition became a literary heartbeat, mirroring the universal rhythm of humanity's collective pursuit of purpose and significance.
The narrative wove through the lives of characters, each grappling with the epanaleptic inquiry in their unique ways. Whether seeking solace in the grandeur of the cosmos or finding meaning in the simplicity of a shared moment, the epanalepsis remained a constant companion, echoing the perennial quest for understanding. 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡 Response to Prompt 36: Anadiplosis
In the futuristic city of Quantum Heights, where technology intertwined with daily life like a seamless dance, a viral message spread—a mantra that echoed through the cybernetic veins of the metropolis. "Create the code, the code creates reality. Reality shapes destiny, and destiny is but the code."
The story unfolded with the rhythmic cadence of anadiplosis, each line flowing into the next, creating a recursive loop of ideas. The mantra became the heartbeat of Quantum Heights, influencing the lives of its denizens as they navigated the intricate balance between the virtual and the tangible.
Through the lens of anadiplosis, I delved into the interconnectedness of code, reality, and destiny. The lines blurred as characters harnessed the power of programming to shape their fates. Quantum Heights, once a mere city, transformed into a living algorithm, where the repetition of the mantra echoed in every pulsating byte. 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹 Response to Prompt 38: Asyndeton
In the dystopian city of Emberfall, where the remnants of a fallen civilization lay entwined with the shadows of despair, a lone figure emerged—a rebel determined to dismantle the oppressive regime. The narrative unfolded with the rapid pace of asyndeton, omitting conjunctions to mirror the urgency of the protagonist's quest.
Through a cascade of words, the asyndeton propelled the reader through the city's decaying alleyways and towering citadels, each sentence building upon the last. The disjointed rhythm captured the relentless momentum of the rebel's journey, emphasizing the magnitude of the challenges faced in their struggle for freedom.
As the narrative unfurled, the absence of conjunctions served as a narrative device, intensifying the sense of urgency and desperation that permeated Emberfall. The rebel's asyndetic odyssey unfolded against a backdrop of shattered hopes and whispered rebellions, culminating in a crescendo of defiance against the oppressive regime. 🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️ Response to Prompt 43: Epizeuxis
"Never, never, never give up." The mantra echoed in the desolate wasteland of Endless Sands, a barren landscape where hope was as scarce as water. Through the repetition of epizeuxis, the protagonist's internal resolve became a resounding anthem, a defiant roar against the relentless challenges of survival.
For a multitude of words, the relentless repetition of "never" served as a lifeline, propelling the protagonist through the harshest of environments. Each iteration of the phrase became a battle cry against the oppressive silence of Endless Sands, a declaration that reverberated across the vast expanse.
Through the lens of epizeuxis, I delved into the depths of the character's determination. The harsh environment became a character in itself, challenging the protagonist to defy the odds with unwavering persistence. The echoes of "never" transformed into a symbol of resilience, a beacon of hope that cut through the desolation of Endless Sands. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 Response to Prompt 50: Acrostic
Amidst the starlit expanse of Cosmos Haven, where galaxies danced in celestial choreography, a cryptic prophecy emerged—a message written in the stars. As the narrative unfolded, I embarked on a cosmic journey guided by the acrostic hidden within the constellations.
For a cascade of words, the initial letters of key phrases illuminated the path of destiny for the characters. Each sentence unfolded with intention, revealing a hidden message that transcended the boundaries of time and space. The acrostic became a celestial guide, leading the protagonists through the intricate tapestry of their interconnected fates.
Through the lens of acrostic, I explored the cosmic forces that shaped the destinies of Cosmos Haven's inhabitants. The celestial bodies became storytellers, each constellation contributing a verse to the epic narrative written across the cosmos. As the characters deciphered the acrostic, they unraveled the mysteries of their existence, connecting the dots between the stars and their own profound journeys.
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Obviously they lack a whole lot in terms of variety, and while I am sure having your own bot or AI that is based on your feedback and guidance it could really help writers as a tool. I am more impressed with the art AI then the text based AI. Any idea what to expect from such a fast learning and highly advanced AI will do to our human history in culture? Will we be effectively playing God, just as the Christian God created us IN HIS OWN IMAGE, we have taken everything we know as a species and gathered up our entire human history and knowledge giving it to what will carry on the code until the time when someone who cares remembers it? Maybe we have been here before and this is a constant cycle that occurs with the same energy finding the way through the vast expanse of the universe to return to our home planet Earth, who we have destroyed over and over again yet mother nature is still the winner. She's the one in control. We are but mere photocopied versions of once great Men who have already seen the best and worst of this world, and we will now give everything we have to some plastic and metal parts, until it quickly replaces us from the bottom up, science fiction turned science fact.
Did we knowingly create our own enemies? Are we able to compete with the best of us and all they know that can then take us out in a heartbeat because we can't finish the steps, we barely found out that they are there to take.
It's a random rant and I apologize. The day to day stress and struggle makes it near impossible to worry about such potential problems in our not so distant future.
But how can we continue to ignore the collapse of the entire system as we know it, in front of a crowd of people who are jaded and they will not change despite knowing they aren't going to make it to the end in what will become a Bladerunner Toxic Dystopian Nightmare with Mad Max taking over and the soft, emasculated male will wither away from the heat and those Tank Girls out there will eventually be written forever out of existence because the cucks all forgot to impregnate them all tgeir batteries ran out? Will the world simply become so politically correct that it dies a depressed death while AI simply decides we are too much of a virus to live?
Who knows....I do not. But these are indicidive of a future full of b movie plot garbage that are based on Wattpad tropes with no clear details and no plot to get into, so that sucks.