The blessed Isidor (Tverdislov) lived in the middle of the fifteenth century. Though Slavic by birth, he lived in Brandenburg, one of the most ancient cities of Prussia. During those years, the Slavs of this region were fiercely persecuted by the Germans, who were trying to convert the entire population to Catholicism.
When he reached adolescence and perceived the insolvency of the Roman Catholic Faith, Isidor sought to move to an Orthodox Christian land.
Belonging to the wealthy merchant class, he willingly forswore his wealth, his parents, and his inheritance, and for Christ’s sake began to roam from place to place with his staff.
We do not know exactly when Isidor converted to Orthodoxy, nor when he arrived in Russia, but he ultimately settled in Rostov, north of Moscow.
He found a marshy area within the city and chose a site slightly above the water level. There, he built a small hut with bulrush. This hut afforded no protection from the heat or the cold, since it was not covered by anything; it only concealed his great asceticism from the eyes of the world.
The Saint spent his time in the customary manner of fools-for-Christ’s sake. At night, he prayed unceasingly, allowing himself only a brief sleep. His days were spent in the city streets or marketplaces with voluntary acts of foolishness. Occasionally, he would rest his weary body on a pile of waste or manure.
He instructed and taught those who desired spiritual guidance, condemned immorality, and led many souls to the path of salvation. At night, he would pray for all of those who had caused him offense and for those whom he saw wallowing in sin.
“Oh, Isidor!” he often said to himself, and cried out: “You must pass through many sorrows to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”
The Saint's love for the Lord was great, wherefore the Lord loved him and granted him the gift of working miracles and of prophecy.
• “On one occasion,” his biographer relates, “a Rostov merchant was with his comrades at sea during a terrible storm. The ship, probably having struck a reef, suddenly stopped and began to be broken up by the waves. The strong force of the sea threatened to destroy it.
“In their despair, all of those on board began to prepare for death. Then, in the midst of their misfortune, imitating the case of the Prophet Jonah, the voyagers decided to cast lots, supposing that the ship had stopped on account of a crime committed by one of the passengers. The lot fell on the Rostov merchant, who was also the owner of the ship. The crowd then threw the merchant into the sea together with a plank.
“Cast by the wrath of his companions into the raging sea, the hapless merchant began to surrender himself to death. Suddenly, the Blessed Isidor appeared before him, walking on the sea as if on dry land. The Saint took the merchant by the hand and asked him, ‘Do you know who I am?’ The unfortunate man, barely breathing, said: ‘Servant of God, Isidor, help me....’
“The Blessed Isidor pulled the merchant onto the piece of wood and, as if propelled by an unseen hand, the plank began to follow the ship that had already departed. When it came alongside the ship, the merchant suddenly found himself on the deck. When the other voyagers saw him in their midst, they were struck with terror and glorified the merciful God, because they understood that a miracle had taken place. The merchant kept silent, because the Saint had strictly forbidden him to tell exactly what had happened.
“When he returned to Rostov, the merchant would make a prostration to the Saint whenever he saw him from a distance; and the latter, passing nearby him, would remind him of his prohibition. Thus, the merchant would always say that God had saved him by an intervention of His Grace.”
The Blessed Isidor reposed on May 14, 1474.
He did not leave his hut at all during the last days of his earthly life, instead praying with tears until the hour of his righteous repose.
At the moment of his repose, an unusual fragrance spread throughout the entire city. Everyone marveled and began to seek its source. They soon discovered that the closer they approached the blessed Fool’s hut, the stronger the fragrance became. Someone ventured to look inside and saw the Saint lying on the ground, face upwards and his hands crossed upon his chest. He announced the death of the man of God to everyone. They buried the Saint in his hut, in the exact spot where he had reposed.
The merchant that had been saved from the sea was at the burial. Finally freed from his bond of silence, he began with sobs to relate to everyone the details of his miraculous rescue.
With the blessing of the Bishop, those who loved and revered Saint Isidor built a wooden chapel near his grave, in honor of the Ascension of the Lord, because the Saint had reposed on the eve of the Feast.
In 1566, by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, the wooden chapel was replaced by a stone Church. A Priest tried to open the Saint’s tomb, but an invisible power pushed him back. A silver shrine was placed on the grave in 1815, from whence flowed a steady stream of miracles by the Saint.
The celebration of the commemoration of the Saint by the Faithful began on the very day of his repose. Thirteen years later, his name officially appeared on the Russian Church Calendar.
(from johnsanidopoulos.com)

I recently bought my first house and bought a DeWalt power tool from my new local Lowe's for the first time to shave a cabinet to finish an install. The power tool was cordless and worked the first night - but then after leaving it charging overnight to keep working the next day, it looks like the battery totally gave up and only worked for a few seconds at at time. Tool would give me max power, whir to a crawl, and then nothing. The battery check button would either give me a green light or no light.
I went in to Lowe's with everything in the tool bag it came with to return it and get a new one, or at least see if they could give me a new battery. The first time I went, a lady (who looked like a manager) called me out in line and asked me what I was in for. While telling her, she simply repeated to me, "Talk to DeWalt... Talk to DeWalt. Or show up with the original box and everything if you want to return it." Well, I need this tool immediately - I can't sit around waiting for a response from the manufacturer.
The next day, I come in with the box and all parts included. Still within the 48-hour return window (isn't that kind of short). Another lady is working at the desk and says they only are only take unopened items. "Not even defective items?" "No, you have to go through manufacturer's warranty for that. But we will make a one-time exception for you."
My conclusion is that if I buy a power tool from Lowe's for a same-day job and it happens to be defective, I am out twice the money until I wait for the manufacturer's warranty to come through and give me a refund. Though they let the return go through, they made it sound like they don't take defective products and were just being nice.
If that's the case, then does Lowe's just not stand behind the products in their store? From what I've heard elsewhere, you can just put a brick in a box at Home Depot and they'll still accept the return. Probably not literally true, but it seems they're much more generous.

The blessed Isidor (Tverdislov) lived in the middle of the fifteenth century. Though Slavic by birth, he lived in Brandenburg, one of the most ancient cities of Prussia. During those years, the Slavs of this region were fiercely persecuted by the Germans, who were trying to convert the entire population to Catholicism.
When he reached adolescence and perceived the insolvency of the Roman Catholic Faith, Isidor sought to move to an Orthodox Christian land.
Belonging to the wealthy merchant class, he willingly forswore his wealth, his parents, and his inheritance, and for Christ’s sake began to roam from place to place with his staff.
We do not know exactly when Isidor converted to Orthodoxy, nor when he arrived in Russia, but he ultimately settled in Rostov, north of Moscow.
He found a marshy area within the city and chose a site slightly above the water level. There, he built a small hut with bulrush. This hut afforded no protection from the heat or the cold, since it was not covered by anything; it only concealed his great asceticism from the eyes of the world.
The Saint spent his time in the customary manner of fools-for-Christ’s sake. At night, he prayed unceasingly, allowing himself only a brief sleep. His days were spent in the city streets or marketplaces with voluntary acts of foolishness. Occasionally, he would rest his weary body on a pile of waste or manure.
He instructed and taught those who desired spiritual guidance, condemned immorality, and led many souls to the path of salvation. At night, he would pray for all of those who had caused him offense and for those whom he saw wallowing in sin.
“Oh, Isidor!” he often said to himself, and cried out: “You must pass through many sorrows to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”
The Saint's love for the Lord was great, wherefore the Lord loved him and granted him the gift of working miracles and of prophecy.
• “On one occasion,” his biographer relates, “a Rostov merchant was with his comrades at sea during a terrible storm. The ship, probably having struck a reef, suddenly stopped and began to be broken up by the waves. The strong force of the sea threatened to destroy it.
“In their despair, all of those on board began to prepare for death. Then, in the midst of their misfortune, imitating the case of the Prophet Jonah, the voyagers decided to cast lots, supposing that the ship had stopped on account of a crime committed by one of the passengers. The lot fell on the Rostov merchant, who was also the owner of the ship. The crowd then threw the merchant into the sea together with a plank.
“Cast by the wrath of his companions into the raging sea, the hapless merchant began to surrender himself to death. Suddenly, the Blessed Isidor appeared before him, walking on the sea as if on dry land. The Saint took the merchant by the hand and asked him, ‘Do you know who I am?’ The unfortunate man, barely breathing, said: ‘Servant of God, Isidor, help me....’
“The Blessed Isidor pulled the merchant onto the piece of wood and, as if propelled by an unseen hand, the plank began to follow the ship that had already departed. When it came alongside the ship, the merchant suddenly found himself on the deck. When the other voyagers saw him in their midst, they were struck with terror and glorified the merciful God, because they understood that a miracle had taken place. The merchant kept silent, because the Saint had strictly forbidden him to tell exactly what had happened.
“When he returned to Rostov, the merchant would make a prostration to the Saint whenever he saw him from a distance; and the latter, passing nearby him, would remind him of his prohibition. Thus, the merchant would always say that God had saved him by an intervention of His Grace.”
The Blessed Isidor reposed on May 14, 1474.
He did not leave his hut at all during the last days of his earthly life, instead praying with tears until the hour of his righteous repose.
At the moment of his repose, an unusual fragrance spread throughout the entire city. Everyone marveled and began to seek its source. They soon discovered that the closer they approached the blessed Fool’s hut, the stronger the fragrance became. Someone ventured to look inside and saw the Saint lying on the ground, face upwards and his hands crossed upon his chest. He announced the death of the man of God to everyone. They buried the Saint in his hut, in the exact spot where he had reposed.
The merchant that had been saved from the sea was at the burial. Finally freed from his bond of silence, he began with sobs to relate to everyone the details of his miraculous rescue.
With the blessing of the Bishop, those who loved and revered Saint Isidor built a wooden chapel near his grave, in honor of the Ascension of the Lord, because the Saint had reposed on the eve of the Feast.
In 1566, by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, the wooden chapel was replaced by a stone Church. A Priest tried to open the Saint’s tomb, but an invisible power pushed him back. A silver shrine was placed on the grave in 1815, from whence flowed a steady stream of miracles by the Saint.
The celebration of the commemoration of the Saint by the Faithful began on the very day of his repose. Thirteen years later, his name officially appeared on the Russian Church Calendar.
(from johnsanidopoulos.com)

Ruby groaned as the alarm went off signaling that one of her charges had arrived back from their mission. While troublesome in its own right, what really got under her skin was that she only had one charge at the moment, and that edge lord piece of shit wasn’t supposed to complete his task for AT LEAST another 4 deca-cycles according to the prediction algorithm. Grumbling to herself, she rolled out of bed and poured herself a glass of water to offset the hangover she was trying to recover from.

A few moments later she was gliding down the hall to the meeting room. She knew Jason was going to pitch a fit that she had left him waiting, the self-entitled brat always did think the world revolved around him; but perhaps he should have thought about that before freaking dying so early. If he wanted her to be there to meet him upon death, he could at least have the decency to not die the morning after one of her binges.

Other staff members gave her a wide berth, even if it was a hollow title, she was still technically far above basically anyone else in the pecking order, at least those who had a physical presence within the Agency. She knew they all mocked her behind her back, even divine beings were sadly prone towards gossip. She put the anger at her subordinates/coworkers out of her mind for now; even if she didn’t particularly LIKE Jason, he still didn’t deserve her coming in with baggage.

Lost in her thoughts, she hadn’t noticed that she’d arrived in front of the conference room door. She had been mulling over her thoughts, just staring into nothingness, for several minutes before she finally snapped back to the present. With a soft rap on the door, she opened it and floated inside. Jason was lounging, sprawled out on the regally padded chair throne he so fancied.

They exchanged pleasantries before she sat down to go over the mission summary. Upon seeing the cause of death, she had regrettably lost her composure and started to laugh uncontrollably. Her mighty subordinate had been felled by a goblin?! The mighty Jason Alexander Coyle, “mercenary extraordinaire”, had gotten his shit kicked in by a lowly goblin using what looked like a shiny butter knife. Oh, it was just too rich to not laugh at the absurdity.

It took her much longer than she would like to admit, to stop laughing. Jason of course wore a sour look through the entire endeavor. She shrugged it off, she had little doubt that if the same thing had happened to someone else, he would have been right beside her doubled over in laughter. Hell, once he was in a less pissy mood, she might even be able to get him to laugh about it later.

As luck would have it, it appeared that Jason’s actions had been enough to alter the tides of the war. The kingdom, and its divinity, would still lose many to the battles ahead, but Jason had done enough that the Agency could still bill the client for services rendered. As she spoke, she could see the disdain the man had for her, he always complained that she was drunk and reeked of liquor. Sure, that was often true, but he didn’t need to be such a stick in the mud about it all.

She went ahead and authorized the transfer of credits to Jason’s account. As soon as she did so, he opened up the store page and tuned her out. She watched him open up the back-channel site and purchase something, a small part of her wondered who was going to get roasted over the coals this time for allowing their admin privileges to be hacked. She toyed with the idea of bringing up his illegal actions, but truth be told she didn’t really give a shit. The other divinities were far too lax with their security, it had been child's play for one of her previous wards to hack into the Agency’s system and build the black site.

She’d ask him once about the whole thing, didn’t really grasp as much as she would have liked, but basically it functioned by spoofing a handler's credentials. This allowed the user to gain access to encrypted parts of the network, specifically access to certain privileged services that handlers enjoyed and most importantly, access to the mission assignment database. Users could buy and sell restricted or banned goods, and a part of the profits would be siphoned off to her ward’s personal account.

With Jason’s attention otherwise occupied, Ruby went ahead and reviewed the logs for his previous mission. Something about it was nagging at her. She couldn’t put it into words; however, the whole series of events just didn’t feel like ‘bad luck’. Using her divine authority, she rewound events, watching Jason’s lungs unfill with blood and refill with air.

The goblin skulked back to its den of corpses, resheathing the dagger at its hips, and reburied itself underneath the bodies. She let it rewind another few moments before stopping the feed and letting it run at normal time. She watched the goblin, slowly shifting the bodies out of the way, making sure they made no noise when it moved them. Slowly, carefully, it began to creep towards Jason’s exposed back. It drew the blade, again slowly and quietly. It closed the distance making sure to never let Jason see it or to give him any reason to think someone was behind him. Then in a flash of movement it leapt, burying the dagger right into a joint in Jason’s armor. The placement was perfect, no resistance, so the blade sank to the hilt. Allowing it to puncture Jason’s right lung.

Ruby rewound the log once more. This was wrong, very wrong. The goblin was way too good to just be some random grunt. Its movements were too smooth, its aim too precise. No, she was sure of it now, this was not a normal goblin. She focused her attention on the thing, aiming to scan the goblin for abnormalities, the dust covering it offering a surprising level of resistance to her scan. Not enough to stop her from doing what she wanted, but more resistance than she felt was reasonable for the anti-magic powder.

When she finally gained access to the monster’s stat block, her suspicions were proven correct. That was no normal goblin, that was a Redcap, a Redcap assassin no less. What in the dozen hells was a Redcap assassin doing in the middle of a freaking battlefield?! Such a valuable unit wouldn’t be used on the front lines, their skill set was terribly suited for the chaos that was an active battle. No, something was very wrong here and Ruby was going to figure out what.

As her mind raced trying to puzzle out what the actual fuck was going on, something else about the goblin flagged in her mind. It had come out of the corpse pile with the dagger already in its possession. She highlighted the various bodies that had made up the goblin's hidey hole, and then rewound the scene back. Every time one of the highlighted bodies met their fate, she froze the moment and pulled the scene into a separate window. It took a few minutes, but she eventually had all of the corpses frozen in the heartbeat before their deaths. She went through and scanned every single individual. Not a single one had been equipped with a magic disruptor blade. “So, where the fuck did the Redcap get a kingdom issued disruptor?”

Looking up, she saw that Jason was still fiddling with whatever it was that he bought. She tried to make idle conversation with the man, but he had gone full auto pilot, giving curt one-to-two word answers when asked a question or having to respond to a comment. She rolled her eyes, as much as she and him butted heads, she did have to admit that she did kind of like the guy. He had been going a little too hard into the whole dark and brooding edge lord thing recently, but that was hardly his fault. The human soul was ill suited to withstand the trauma of death, much less multiple deaths. The Agency usually did a memory scrub every couple missions, to prevent that kind of issue, but Jason had been dodging the screenings. For a moment she considered just letting sleeping dogs lie. Jason was dead and the mission was over regardless of what she might find, but the whole thing just rubbed her the wrong way.

Taking a little nip from her pocket flask, she once more focuses her attention on the Redcap. After scrubbing through the last several months of the creature’s life, she finally finds what she was looking for. The blade had come from one of Jason’s personal guards.

Ruby did a deep dive on the guard, and what came back made her blood run cold. The man had recently lost his lover. Jason had ordered a company to mop up a fleeing enemy force, before it could regroup and cause more issues. The entire thing had been a ruse and the company had been slaughtered to the last. The guard's lover had been part of that company. The loss had hit the man hard, driving him to the only rock left in his life. His deep belief in the kingdom’s divinity.

And wouldn’t you know it, apparently the kingdom’s divinity had some issues with Jason that it couldn’t be bothered to address through the proper channels. So instead of letting Ruby handle the trainwreck that was Jason’s social skills, this little scum lord of a God, had taken upon themself to deal with the issue. Several months of holy visions were enough to convince the grieving widow to betray everyone and everything he had ever known.

Once the guard had been properly brainwashed into turning his coat, it had been a simple matter to worm his way on to all of Jason’s post-fight surveys of the battlefield. The magic scanners that were exclusive to Jason’s retinue, had allowed him to see that Jason’s inhuman ability to avoid taking damage was really just a creative use of high-level magic. High-level magic that could have easily been used to save many of the kingdom’s soldiers. But of course, Jason believed himself too good to give the common man a means to protect themselves and those they loved. All this knowledge was of course worthless to the guard, he was nowhere near skilled enough to actually challenge Jason. But wouldn’t you know it, the divinity had thought of that too.

The podunk worm had brokered a secret deal with the enemy he’d contracted the Agency to deal with. In exchange for getting rid of a thorn in the God’s side, it would use its powers to scale back the war. Instead of facing a war of eradication, the enemy would be allowed to keep some of the land it had conquered.

At the urging of his God, the guard held a series of clandestine meetings with the Redcap. Imparting all the information he had learned in the months of shadowing Jason. He also gave the beast two gifts, the first was a Disruptor blade the guard had swiped from a fellow honor guard; when Jason’s corpse was found the blade would be traced back to the unfortunate guard instead of the traitor. The second was a satchel of Grarothian powder that had been blessed by the divinity, to ensure that Jason wouldn’t see the attack coming. It had worked of course; Jason hadn’t even known he was in danger till the blade was already buried in his lung. Oh, she was going to have the wannabe God’s head on a pike after this.

It pained her to admit it, but Jason deserved the final say in how this was all going to go down. She attempted to grab his attention, but the man was lost in his own little world. She tried waving her hands, ignored. She tried snapping her fingers in his ears, ignored. She even went so far as to beat her wings, blasting his face with the wind force of just under a category 1 hurricane; again ignored. Her rage was starting to reach fever pitch. So, she defaulted to the most tried and true method of stress reduction she had in her arsenal. She decided the only way for herself and Jason, once he knew the truth, to calm down would be to relax with a drink of the finest Earth treats.

With a heavy heart she opened up her most beloved extra planer storage space. This place was used for the only two things Ruby really cared about anymore. It was where she kept her most prized and coveted liquor, and where she kept the last few mementos, she possessed of her fallen wards. Her eyes scanned the room, she needed to pick the right apology gift. As she carefully made her way towards the back, she saw it. Tucked in about two thirds of the way to the back wall, stood a single hogshead of ancient scotch whiskey. The second to last gift she had received from one of her dearest friends, all those years ago.

Yes, this was the correct one. She felt it deep within her chest, a proper atonement requires a proper level of sacrifice. With a heavy heart she lifted the barrel over her head and began to stride out of the extra dimensional space. As she neared the opening, the soft clink of something falling and a flash of gold caught her eye. Sitting on a tiny end table was a small pouch of coins, one of which had somehow gotten loose and tumbled face up onto the polished table face.

For a moment she hesitated, she knew exactly what those coins were; and knew how much trouble she would get into if upper management found out she had them. That said, she also knew a sign when she saw one. The artifacts that she held within this place were the last remnants of those she had failed most of all. She pondered the meaning behind the fact that two of her previous charges seemed to have taken a shine to Jason, offering up to him their most precious of gifts. With a heavy heart and a plea to those long lost, she grabbed the coin before closing the pocket dimension.

With a loud *CLUNK* She set the hogshead down. Apparently, the sound of the barrel had finally made enough noise to draw Jason’s attention away from his screen. From a much smaller storage pocket she produced two crystal glasses. Pouring a hefty serving into each glass, she set one down in front of herself and the other in front of Jason. Locking eyes with the man, she said a single word.

“Drink”

The man twisted his face up in disgust at the sight of the liquor.

“Thanks, but no thanks, I’m not inclined to degr...”

“I said, DRINK!” Ruby growl bellows, casting the Command spell on the last word. Jason, despite his best efforts to ignore the compulsion, is forced to do as he is told, and takes a hearty swig of his hundred-year-old Scotch. With a smile on her lips, Ruby takes the opportunity to sip the illustrious gift. The hours melt away as they both sip and savor the deep complex flavors of this legendary brew.

As the drink flows her recollection of events becomes just a tad bit hazy. She can’t really remember how long it takes, but she does eventually come clean about the reason for this impromptu bout of drinking. It comes as little shock that Jason is... less than pleased to learn about the events that led to his death. He downs the rest of his drink in a single gulp, a waste of grand booze in Ruby’s opinion, and demands she fill his next one to the brim. For the first time in FAR too long, Ruby gets to see the Jason she had known all those years ago was still in there.

As the festivities carried on, she would occasionally catch him fiddling with the token he had bought. Curiosity finally getting the better of her, she decided to ask him about it, deciding to NOT mention that she knew it was illicitly purchased. He was cagey about it at first, but eventually loosened up and told her the truth.

He had grown bored with the usual missions that he had been assigned. He was sick of always having to play support, always cleaning up someone else’s messes, always laying the groundwork for someone else’s story. So, he had decided to cash in his points, and finally make use of the vacation time he had accrued. He had picked out what looked to be a pretty basic Isekai mission. Ruby suggested not mentioning his luck to anyone else, even she was aware how rare and coveted those missions were.

As the night wound to a close, they said their goodbyes. Before taking her leave, Ruby remembered the other present she had for Jason. A sharp whistle was the only warning she gave him before flicking the coin at his head. Even drunk, the man’s senses were still a thing to marvel at as he caught it in midair .

“The fuck is this?”

“Think of it as a gift.” She snorts.

“Oh, how generous of you. A whole gold coin, whatever will I spend it on.” Jason responds as he jangles the large coin pouch at his hip.

“Oh, fuck off. I’ll take it back if you’re going to be a brat about it.”

Jason drops the coin into his wallet and shakes it again for good measure. “Oops, too late now. Guess you’ll just have to let me keep it.” He gives her a smug grin.

She scoffed before turning around and making for the door. She could hear him activate the token as she closed the door behind her. As she wandered down the hallways back to her room, she pondered the events of the day. The rogue client would need to be dealt with, but she still wasn’t sure if burying him in legal paperwork for the next millennia or two, or just giving him a good old fashion human curb stomping, was the better punishment for his actions.

The choices bounced around in her head till she finally reached her residence. Having made no real progress in deciding her actions, she elected to just table the decision till she woke up next. The God was small time, so it wasn’t like it was going anywhere.

She took her time getting ready to sleep. Being a divine being herself, she didn’t actually NEED to sleep, but she did so enjoy the human customs surrounding the whole process. She took a long hot bath to unwind, before summoning a pair of adorable pajamas. Her body clean, and her mind at peace she laid down in her oversized excessively fluffy bed.

She had barely closed her eyes and began to drift off to blissful sleep, before she was awoken once again by the sound of her alarm going off.

“You have got to be shitting me. HOW?!?!”

Ok so I got my credit score up to 675. I have tons of medical debt from needing to go to ER for chronic low back pain years ago. I’d need morphine to basically unstick myself. Nothing else worked and it really didn’t help, but it made me limber enough to where I could function for a bit. And I didn’t have a job I couldn’t hold one because of the pain. I couldn’t get any wavered through non profits for hospitals cuz my husband made too much.
So, last 4 years I’ve paid off several collections and got some credit cards when needing to repair my house like well one is furniture my stepdad had 4 strokes and after my mom died he slept on our previous couch but he wouldn’t let us know he had to potty so he’d piss and shit all over the couch. He’d had a 5th stroke and 3rd seizure doc put him in a skilled nursing facility and I couldn’t clean the amount of crap off the couch so I just chunked it and bought new furniture. But then our stupid rider mower every time we go to mow something else is broken on it so I got a Lowe’s card bought a Window unit as one of ours went out and a battery powered lawn mower love that thing. But stuff like that. I got care credit to put my beloved Tweaker (chihuahua) down then to get some dental work done and finally car care because I needed $1100 for an entire new brake system on my car.
But I’d been paying every month to pay them off. Then, I went out and bought a Wrangler and I was supposed to have a “voucher” at this dealership where no matter how upside down I was they’d pay it off. Well they didn’t, but I couldn’t pass up the most perfect Wrangler. So I voluntarily surrendered the previous car. And up to date now. I stupidly quit my job I had a bipolar manic episode and cracked from the amount of stress and quit my job. I’m out of the mental break/bipolar event and am trying to get another job.
How screwed am I if I lose my Wrangler to a repo? Can I ever get back on track? Can I ever get another Wrangler?

Prologue

Hello and welcome to my post. I will subdivide this into two large parts. One will cover my thoughts, feelings, my hopes and dreams...While the other will tell you the specifics of how I pass the time, what topics interest me, what passions do I posses. I believe that at the end of this leap into my inner world, you dear reader, will have all the necessary information to judge whether we are compatible or not.

Part I
I am writing this in the hopes of finding something that I lack. Lately I have had this feeling, this tinge of melancholy within the dephts of my being, this yearning to find a kindred spirit, another Soul, much like mine, to form a bond with. Perhaps Loneliness is the right word for what is bothering me, but to use it seems to carry with it a connotation of ungratefulness. Ungratefulness for the people that I do have in my life, although none of them, of course, have the connection to me that I seek here.

I have found it increasingly necessary to seek in this Life a sort of purity of thought. What I mean is, I have began to undestand what ideas and concepts are ultimately compatible with my inner most Self, ergo what guidelines I have to follow to feel the most whole. Naturally I have likewise realised what I cannot add to my Self and what I will henceforth reject with all the power that I posses.

With this new context in mind, I now follow on the path of self improvement. I will now begin to mold my Self into my perfected idea of how the Self should be. This is certainly a significant undertaking, one that will not be easy to follow through on but one that I ultimately have to do. To me such context is essential. It is akin to a Guiding Star shining in the night. I will follow this Star for without it I am lost in the vast Darkness.

Looking back at my life, it was suboptimal, especially if one compares the way it molded me to how I will now mold myself. I suppose I must look on with a hint of regret at all that time which one might consider to be lost. Still... I try to stave off such decisively negative interpretations, after all, I have ultimately came to these conclusions. That means that somewhere along the line I had to have picked up on enough of such ideas for them to become so cemented in my consciousness. Well, either that or I was always like this, but in that case I can at least thank my life up to this point for not being able to supress such manifestations of my inner most Self.

To add to the topic of my life, I must admit that not all the battles have yet been won, not all the Demons vanquished, not every Mountain climbed. I want you to keep such things in mind when deciding whether or not to approach me. Many will shy away, I undestand that much, but the pursuit of true Companionship is just another such battle. Having said all that I do believe that being able to overcome hurdles together carries with it a certain appeal. That is to say, what's the fun in joining once the Game is already over?

I don't shy away from such challenges, perhaps to a fault. Certain troubles that I faced in the past carry with them a long shadow over my current health and well being. Still, I intend to change little in this regard other than the proficiency with which I will clash the current of my Will against the cliffs of Life.
Part II
In this part of my post I will tell you about my interests and hobbies, I will try to be thorough, commonality in this regard is rather important to build a relationship
History. I have had an interest in history for almost a decade now, it started back in school and developed from there. Well, now that I think about it one could argue that it started even earlier in my life as I liked watching the odd historic documentary or film aired on television but it wasn't regular back then, I never actively sought it out. I am mostly interested in European history in the period between the 18th-20th century but I sometimes branch out to other time periods and other parts of the world. I watch various channels related to history and read articles and sometimes books. I have recently got a few books on the German revolution of 1848/1849 and a historical magazine on the Thirty Years' War. Besides that I try to visit museums sometimes.
Literature. Especially old novels. I like to immerse myself in the Worlds of these books, I tend to read them while listening to thematically fitting music and take my time with them. One time you are following a troubled Youth in his quest for spiritual understanding of the world, another you see the aged and decrepit Doctor gambling his very Soul on the promises of abtaining satisfaction in earthy pleasures, then again your olfaction notices the most pleasant scent known to man even as the one eminating it has the appearance of a revolting Frog. These and many other stories open up to you once you decide to set foot into the literary World.
Languages. I know three, with one being a bit rusty. I am currently working intently on strengthening it. I believe that if I continue to apply myself in this regard then I should be able to finally conquer it. What language am I working on? Well, if you were to stack all the major works in it they would be as tall as a house... It is fun to go through different works in multiple languages, the same goes for film, games and such.
Games. I recently played Cyberpunk 2077. Well as recently as I played any major story centric game. Now that the dust has settled and the bugs mostly removed...It's not that bad. The main questline at least. Besides that I tried Fallout 76 (Very average, I'm dissapointed with what they made the "RPG" system) and I might give Deus Ex Manking Divided another spin (since it's somewhat similar to Cyberpunk when it comes to its aesthetics). Dark Souls is one of my favorite series, I still haven't beaten Elden Ring though. When it came out I wasn't in the right mindset to invest a hundred hours into it, with all those bosses and difficult locations. I think I'll only consider playing it if I am streaming it to someone. I am generally interested in either streaming games or having the person I am talking to stream them to me. To be specific I mean streaming to a single person while being on call. Besides that I'm a big fan of Paradox strategy games, especially Europa Universalis IV and Heats of Iron IV, I tend to only play single player since I find multiplayer with many people to be rather stressful but on the other hand I have nothing against a co-op game. I'm not the best player though, despite the ammount of hours I have in them. Another great game I would mention would be Dragon's Dogma. A very underrated RPG. I recently beat it again and it was an atmospheric and interesting experience. It is one of those games that feel like they have an endless ammount of depth and constant new secrets to discover.
Anime and Manga. In recent times my interest in them has waned but I still watch the occasional series here and there. Like Cyberpunk Edgerunners (Which I found to be rather mediocre) and the very good first season from the new arc of Bleach. Some of my favourite series include: Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, Death Note, Fate;Zero, Psycho Pass, Code Geass and Attack on Titan. I wouldn't mind if you were to introduce me to some new series, maybe based on the ones I mentioned. My favourite Manga is Berserk which I still follow, althought I am still not certain on the direction that the new author is taking. I suppose it really is a matter of contention whether a somewhat (or considerably warped) vision is better than an unfinished work. One could argue that a few novels remain unfinished and possess a macabre appeal to them as such.
Music. Classical music has a very special place in my heart. A few of my favourite pieces would be: Clair de Lune, Nocturne Op. 9 No.2, Devil's Trill Sonata, Danse Macabre, Valse Sentimentale, Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92: II. Alegreto (by Beethoven) and Suite from Swan Lake, Op. 20a: I. Scene. Moderato. There are more but these ones always invoke something in me when I listen to them. Besides Classical I also enjoy listening to Synthwave, old Western pop and J-pop, both modern and from the 20th century.
Esotericism. I am interested in things spiritual, mystical, magical and esoteric. I have read religios texts, magical grimoires, introductions to various schools of thought. It is interesting to me.
Epilogue
Hopefully I was able to cast the spotlight upon my inner World in a clear and unequivocal manner. I feel the need to add to the aforementioned that I am rather introverted, which means that I tend to dislike large social gatherings. I managed to condition myself to be able to endure the presense of large groups of people but it isn't something that I would seek out in most cases. Besides that I am neurodivergent and suffer from certain issues with mental health. I have to take medication to keep myself under control. They work well enough but certain days are harder than others. I respect the struggle that others have with mental health but in the context of a relationship I have my limits, no one with BDP for instance. I am also not looking for anything casual. I understand than one cannot demand depth and meaning from a conversation with an absolute stranger, that is akin to trying to build a sand castle right before the waves strike but I ask at least that you enter with a mindset that this might become something of significance. I also do want to say that I am completely Monogamous. My preference? The sickly, pale, intellectual who watches rain droplets slide down the window in Autumn. Lastly, if I enjoy the company of a person I tend to not want to let them go.
Thank you for taking the time to read my post and have a good day. I ask that you send a DM instead of a chat and that you give your thoughts on my title in the opening of your message.
Goodbye...Or perhaps untill we meet again

Here are some other major ones:

For PC:

Ctrl + C = Copy Ctrl + V = Paste Ctrl + X = Cut Ctrl + Z = Undo Ctrl + Y = Redo Ctrl + A = Select all Ctrl + F = Find Ctrl + S = Save Ctrl + P = Print Alt + Tab = Switch between apps Ctrl + Tab = Switch tabs in browsers Ctrl + Shift + T = Reopen last closed tab Ctrl + N = New window (browser) or new document (most programs) Ctrl + T = New tab Ctrl + W = Close the current window/tab Alt + F4 = Close the application Windows + L = Lock the computer Windows + D = Display desktop Ctrl + Shift + N = New folder (in file explorer) Ctrl + Alt + Del = Open security options (Task Manager, Lock Computer, Sign Out)

For Mac:

Cmd + C = Copy Cmd + V = Paste Cmd + X = Cut Cmd + Z = Undo Cmd + Shift + Z = Redo Cmd + A = Select all Cmd + F = Find Cmd + S = Save Cmd + P = Print Cmd + Tab = Switch between apps Cmd + ` = Switch windows in the same app Cmd + T = Open a new tab Cmd + N = Open a new window Cmd + W = Close the current window/tab Cmd + Q = Quit the application Cmd + Space = Open Spotlight search Cmd + Shift + N = New folder Cmd + H = Hide windows of the front app Cmd + Option + Esc = Force quit applications Cmd + Option + Power = Sleep the computer

Hey, all. This question hasn't come up without a lot of Google searching. I'm looking for gloves that are thin, good for finger dexterity and good for working on live circuits. The typical hot gloves you can buy are bulky. I'm sure there are some products out there that don't SAY you should work on live circuits with them to cover their butts legally. But, with that being said, I want to know what works good for you.
disclaimers: I am not going to go grabbing live wires expecting it to be 1k volt rated if they are small gloves. I do work with the power off whenever possible. I'd still like an extra layer of protection for daily use.

I have a ISO layout (portuguese) wired keyboard (Xtrfy K4 TKL) that's connected directly to a ASUS ProArt monitor. That monitor connects to my Macbook Air M1 through a Type-C cable. It acts as a USB hub and also provides power. The issue I have is that by being wired through the monitor, I can't make Mac OS apply the ISO layout. I can go through the Keyboard Setup Assistant and it recognizes my keyboard as a "SONiX" device (have no idea what that is) (screenshot here), and recognizes ISO as its layout (screenshot here). But after applying it, I still can't get some of the keys to be right (like some accent keys, or the plus and minus symbols). I tried deleting the keyboard configuration file, to no avail. Is there any way to see the devices that are plugged to my Mac to troubleshoot what's going on?

What will you be doing with this PC? Be as specific as possible, and include specific games or programs you will be using.

The main goal is framerate. Even with a kickass setup, I will be turning graphics down more than likely to gain that fps advantage. Have a 240hz monitor, the dream obviously is to try and hit that framerate in whatever game I'm playing. Currently only possible in some oldeincredibly well optimized games (TF2/Overwatch), looking to bridge the gap for current games. 1440p/2k/4k whatever is not a concern.

What is your maximum budget before rebates/shipping/taxes?

Up to £2500 (though would prefer not to go that high unless convinced).

Which country (and state/province) will you be purchasing the parts in? If you're in US, do you have access to a Microcenter location?

England - UK. Shall be buying parts asap.

Current Rig

• CPU - AMD Ryzen 9 5900X - Overclocked
  
• CPU Cooler - Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
  
• Motherboard - Asus TUF Gaming X570-Plus
  
• Memory - Kingston HyperX DDR4 3200 C16 2x8GB
  
• Storage - Samsung 840 Evo 250GB + WDS100T1X0E-00AFY0 1TB
  
• GPU - Nvidia GTX 1080-Ti - Not Overclocked (bad clock, not worth)
  
• Case - Corsair 4000D Airflow Mid-Tower ATX Case
  
• Power Supply - CX-650 80 plus bronze
  

Will you be overclocking? If yes, are you interested in overclocking right away, or down the line? CPU and/or GPU?

Yes.

Are there any specific features or items you want/need in the build? (ex: SSD, large amount of storage or a RAID setup, CUDA or OpenCL support, etc)

Another SSD would be nice if the motherboard can fit one (whether current or a new motherboard).

What type of network connectivity do you need? (Wired and/or WiFi) If WiFi is needed and you would like to find the fastest match for your wireless router, please list any specifics.

Wired. Wouldn't say no to Wi-Fi if it's provided, but I don't need it.

Case Preferences and Budget?

No specific case preferences, whatever works and is functional with good airflow. No copy of Windows needed.

I have a vibrating motor I need to get that runs about 3800 rpm. I can find it in AC or DC or any voltage really. Will be 15-30w.
I want to control it using time and speed. Over the course of a 15S window (or other time period) I want it to Power up to 3800 rpm and back down then back up and back down (so up down up down over the course of the specified time frame).
Also would be really nice to set it to do this so that it stops for 5s (or other time) and then starts the 15s cycle again.
don't want it to jump from full power to no power I want it to increase over the course of the time frame. for example if it's a 16s window. (0 increase to 100) 4s (100 decrease to 0) 4s (0 to 100) 4s (100 to 0) 4s. Then stay off for 4-5s and start the cycle over.
I'm wondering if there is a controller that already has the programming or option to do this?

Hoping someone can help advise on how best to setup my new Mesh Network - i've bought a set of TP-Link Deco P9s (50cm+ thick stone walls in an old house so need PowerLine backhaul for where i can't run wires to) and need to get them up and running properly.
My plan was to use the ISP supplied Technicolor DGA0122 in bridge mode (following this) as the modem and then use the P9 for routing (cable from port 1 of DGA to primary P9 unit). However, when entering the PPPoE settings (VLan, username and password) in the Deco app it wont connect. I can leave the DGA0122 operating as supplied and turn off wifi and then the Deco units work but from what i've read this can lead to NAT/DHCP issues?
So before i half arse it and set myself up for future issues, can anyone advise on the correct method, please?

The ascent to educational entrepreneurship is a path not often taken lightly. The pillars of play school establishment are grounded in fostering the foundation of future innovators, creators, and leaders. For those who venture into the world of educational franchise, success is rooted in a rare blend of vision, execution, and pedagogy that resonates beyond the classroom. Makoons Preschool is a beacon of exemplary success in this domain, where each franchisee’s tale is a testament to the brand’s ethos and individual pursuit of excellence.
Here, we shine a light on the journeys of Makoons Kids School franchise owners. Their narrative underscores the essence of educational investment and community building. For entrepreneurs looking to make a meaningful foray into the preschool sector, these insights offer a compass, guiding you to chart a course toward your aspirations.

Empowering Entrepreneurs in Education

Entrepreneurship in education is a distinctive pursuit, woven from threads of aspiration and societal impact. Makoons Preschool has championed this cause by empowering individuals to build not just a business, but a sanctuary of learning and personal development.

The Vision that Sparks a Venture

The collective experience of over a decade in setting up bespoke nurseries tailored for each child’s unique identity is the foundational stone of the Makoons legacy. A visionary approach, catering to holistic growth through a comprehensive curriculum, has been pivotal in stirring entrepreneurship in education.

Nurturing a Growth Mindset

At the heart of Makoons philosophy lies the belief that the role of education extends beyond mere instruction; it is the catalyst for intelligence development. This mindset has permeated the venture strategies of its franchise owners, igniting a spirit of continuous learning and adaptation in the often-stagnant realm of play school education.
The trajectory of success for small franchise businesses in India is vividly illustrated through the expanding network of Makoons Preschool, a testament to how localized businesses can thrive on a national scale through dedication and an evolved educational ethos.

Cultivating a Community of Learning

Teaching is a communal enterprise, and Makoons franchisees understand the importance of fostering a familial environment within their establishments. The tactile and emotional investments in community building have been fundamental in the replication of the brand’s core values in each franchise.

Music, Art, and the Masters of Tomorrow

Makoons pupils are not just children; they are the composers of their operas, the artists of their exhibits, and the budding scholars ready to thread their tapestries of knowledge. The curriculum instills a fine blend of the arts with science, technology, literacy, and numeracy, ensuring a holistic developmental experience.

The Prep School Push

Success is often measured in the milestones achieved, and for Makoons alumni, that translates to a seamless transition into primary education. The playschool serves as a preparatory ground for the rigors of formal schooling, ensuring that the children maintain their love for learning as they become responsible members of a broader social fabric.

A Spectrum of Supportive Staff

In the orchestration of a successful play school, it is the staff that sets the tempo. The dedicated team behind the Makoons franchisees forms the bedrock of the institution, offering a nurturing environment that is second only to a parent’s care.

Knowledge, Dedication, and Enthusiasm

The staff at Makoons are not just educators; they are mentors, guardians, and confidants. Their mastery of the curriculum is exceeded only by the warmth and love they provide, creating a harmonious environment that encourages each child’s self-confidence and introspective exploration.

Gateway to Growth and Responsibility

The staff’s pedagogical competence extends to more than just academics; they are sculptors of character, guiding the youngsters to realize their full potential while instilling the values of compassion and social responsibility.

The Franchise Investment and Future Prospects

Investing in a Makoons franchise is akin to sowing the seeds of a perennial plant — a venture that promises longevity and stability. The low preschool franchise cost in India, coupled with a robust support system from Makoons, makes it an enticing proposition for budding entrepreneurs in the education sector.

Play School Franchise Cost

The initial investment for a Makoons Kids School Franchise is designed to be accessible, ensuring a democratic entry point for individuals with varied financial capacities. The brand’s commitment to quality remains unassailable, with the relatively small outlay promising a high return on investment.
With an investment range of 10 to 15 lakhs, becoming a part of the Makoons Play School franchise family is both an attainable and wise decision for aspiring educational entrepreneurs, offering a balanced pathway to enter the rewarding realm of preschool education.

Support and Sustainability

Every step of the way, Makoons supports its franchisees with operational guidelines, marketing assistance, and continuous curriculum updates. This support system is designed to ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of the franchised establishments, thereby securing the future of the investment in the competitive educational landscape.

The Roadmap to Your Preschool Franchise

For those looking to venture into the world of play school franchises, Makoons stands as a model to emulate. It is an institution that not only imparts knowledge to its young charges but also enriches the lives of its franchise owners, equipping them with the tools to succeed in a field that is as challenging as it is rewarding.

Envisioning Success in Education

Success in education franchise is not merely a statistic or a balance sheet figure; it is the collective attainment of milestones that reflect measurable impact and transformation. With Makoons, these successes are not just a dream but a tangible outcome that is replicated across each of its franchises.

Joining the Makoons Family

Becoming a part of the Makoons family signifies a commitment to the educational ethos and a partnership poised for growth. As you consider the prospect of owning a Makoons Play School franchise in India, you are not just investing in a business venture; you are initiating a ripple effect of positive change that spans generations.
With a legacy underpinned by passion, compassion, and purpose, the franchisees of Makoons Play School have etched their stories in the annals of educational entrepreneurship. Their achievements are a beacon for those who dare to dream and an invitation to join a community that thrives on the principles of learning, leading, and legacy-building in the dynamic world of preschool education.
For more information on how you can be a part of the Makoons family, visit our website or connect with us to explore the possibilities of educational entrepreneurship that await you. Make your entrepreneurial story not just about your success, but the futures you help shape through the power of quality education.

Hey guys! Let us take a little break from the shitstorm that's Modern Horizons 3's leakage and have some fun. We all know and love the three-colored combinations. Whether we control the board while slamming huge artifacts in Esper or we attack for the win in Mardu, it's quite easy to see why it's awesome to play three colors. We know what they do mechanically. But what about their philosophy? What are those colors standing for? To make this really fun, let us associate this with a common trope or type of character. Let's start with the shards.

• Esper (WUB) - Esper is the mysterious antihero. Esper is the guy that comes into your salloon on Thunder Junction and you suddenly see all your patrons hiding in barrels or jumping through windows. You know his reputation. You know he could tear you and your salloon a new asshole if he wanted. But you also know he lives by a code. He has the power, he has the knowledge, and he's really messed up. But he tries, in his frustrating ways, to better the world. Media examples: Dexter Morgan, Stannis Baratheon, Magneto
  
• Grixis (UBR) - Oh boy... Grixis is a bully. But he's not your typical bully who used to give you wedgies in middle school while laughing with his idiotic jock friends. He doesn't do that shit... personally. For Grixis, is way more fun to make you believe he's your friend and then make you do stupid crap. He's charismatic. He's fun. He's wicked smart. He's a rulebreaker. He calls the teacher an asshole to his face. But following him and getting to know him, you realize he doesn't care about you. He's a narcissist. He only cares about himself. Grixis wants power and control. You are just his means to an end. Media examples: Greg Heffley (come on, you have to be a Multiverse-conquering Grixis psycho to hurt Rowley), Emperor Palpatine, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen
  
• Jund (BRG) - If Grixis is the manipulative villain, Jund is the minion who asks "why should we sneak around when we can kill them now?" That village sits right on that mana-rich deposit you want to tap in and they don't want to evacuate? Send Jund. He'll clean up the village. Jund is rage, passion, and hatred all in one crazy package. For Jund, might makes right and if you've no might, you'll get his right... in your face. But Jund's not totally brainless. Jund loves freedom and, as powerful minions often do, scoffs at being a minion. That green part of him keeps him grounded, preventing him from giving in to his darkest urges, like Rakdos might do. Media examples: Sarah Kerrigan (Infected), Tuco Salamanca, pretty much any monstrous beast that acts on instinct...
  
• Naya (RGW) - Naya is the rebel (with or) without a cause. For Naya, freedom is the most important thing, even more important than Jund. While Jund wants freedom for himself, Naya wants freedom for all. Naya is the guy who runs naked through a packed stadium with "Stop big oil" written on his asscheeks. Naya is the ecoterrorist. If your plane's leader turns into a dictator, Naya will be the first to rebel against them. While an individualist, he can fight together with others if that means achieving his purpose. Media examples: Wildlings from ASOIAF, pretty much any Brujah vampire from VTM that hasn't fallen to the Sabbat and so on...
  
• Bant (GWU) - You're in the schoolyard and two of your classmates are having at it. All your fellow students are yelling "fight! fight!" You're the one who yells "Stop! Why can't we all be friends? Teacher!" Congratulations! You're Bant. Bant is the idealistic nerd. He believes in the rule of law. Bant thinks the Multiverse will be improved tremendously if only everyone will drop their weapons and hold hands. But that doesn't necessarily means Bant's defenseless. He's charismatic and his nice and optimistic nature helps him gain a lot of friends. Bant might not harm you. His fresh-out-of-prison friend, pierced from head to cock, will certainly do. Media examples: Rowley Jefferson (take that, Grixis Heffley!), Neville Longbottom, the Tau from 40K.
  

Now... the wedges!

• Abzan (WBG) - It's Thanksgiving Day and your Aunt Selesnya comes to dinner. You know what's going to happen. She's going to talk your ear off about how society isn't what it used to be anymore, how healthy values are thrown into the garbage for new, shiny stuff that will end up ruining society, how people today are too individualistic and don't give a shit about community. Then she's got too many beers and falls asleep... but Uncle Abzan, on the other hand, doesn't fall asleep. He agrees with what Selesnya's saying but unlike her, he's got the power and the ambition to change society according to his views. Abzan is making a webpage. Abzan's gathering followers. Abzan appeals to those in society who think like him. Abzan's creating a cult. Abzan takes control. It will take years, as Abzan's conservativism will not want sudden change. He's not Izzet, for fuck's sake, right? It will take years. But he'll manage it. Media examples: Logan Roy, Nurgle
  
• Sultai (BGU) - Sultai looks at the world with disgust. To alleviate some of it, he starts eating a banana. But... it lacks something. A bit more... je ne sais quoi, a bit more... more! He'll know it when he'll feel it. But how to modify that banana to be what Sultai wants it to be? Well, he'll enslave a village, use the villagers' blood in an arcane experiment, and create the perfect banana. If Sultai believes something can be improved, he'll do it at any cost. The entire Multiverse is his banana and we are Sultai's villagers. Media examples: Apocalypse, Clan Tzimisce from VTM
  
• Temur (GUR) - Temur is the dashing wilderness explorer, going where no man (or elf... or dragon) has ever gone. He's curious, courageous, clever, and comely. So many C's, he makes Kozilek envious. Temur feels at home both in a lab and in a bear cave. He's not afraid of pushing boundaries but he's mostly well-meaning. Media examples: Indiana Jones, Lara Croft, Reed Richards.
  
• Jeskai (URW) - You're a young kid whose ass was kicked by some punks. You want to never have to experience something like this ever again. Thus, you want to train, both your body and your mind. Here comes Jeskai-san. He's wise. He's seen things. He's done things. He trains you. He's an asshole. He makes you wipe the floorboards. You see no sense in it. But when the time comes for you to wipe the board, who better than someone versed in Jeskai's ways to do so? Media examples: Miyagi-san, Hank McCoy
  
• Mardu (RWB) - Remember that Thanksgiving dinner? Well, here comes Uncle Mardu and boy, he makes Selesnya and Abzan seem like well-balanced folks. Mardu's a military man, like his father and his grandfather all the way to an obscure 19th century lieutenant that served in the Union Army and then retired to a farm in Rhode Island or something (but your Uncle Mardu knows everything about him). Mardu sees you and thrashes your parents for raising a "sissy". He tells you to eat more meat to gain muscles. The Army has no need of matchsticks. Mardu is a warrior through and through. His troops hate his fucking guts but they know he's efficient. He's not nice, though. Media examples: Pretty much most of the 40K Imperial Commissars, Madara Uchiha
  

Whoa! That's pretty long. What's your take on shard/wedges type of characters/philosophies? Do you have any other examples?

Welcome to Reading The Big Book of Cyberpunk!
Each week we (u/FarragutCircle and u/fanny_bertram) will be reading 5-ish stories from Jared Shurin’s The Big Book of Cyberpunk, which includes a curated selection of cyberpunk stories written from 1950 to 2022! We’ll include synopses of the stories along with links to any legally available online versions we can find. Feel free to read along with us or just stop by and hear our thoughts about some cyberpunk stories to decide if any of them sound interesting to you.
Every once in a while, we reach out to people who have more insight, due to being fans of the author or have some additional context for the story. (Or we just tricked them into it.) So please welcome u/Kopratic who will be sharing their thoughts on "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale" by Philip K. Dick!
Section 4: Challenge
In our fourth and penultimate section, editor Jared Shurin highlights how cyberpunk looks at technology that creates harm when put into practice, and later cites Marshall McLuhan about artists as challengers. (Shurin really seems to like this McLuhan guy.) Amusingly there’s a footnote where he mentions litrpg in passing, though he says there’s no litrpg in this anthology)
“We Can Remember It For You Wholesale” by Philip K. Dick (published 1966; also available in his collection Selected Stories of Philip K. Dick)
Quail’s desire to go to Mars leads him to a memory-implant company so he can remember going to Mars, but complications and revelations and twists ensue, hilariously.

• Special Guest Kopratic: So this guy really wants to go to Mars, but it’s pretty dang expensive. Fortunately, what’s not as expensive is paying a company to trick him into thinking he’s been to Mars by implanting false memories into his mind. Unfortunately, things go wrong, and before he writes up a scathing Yelp review, he gets his money back, his wife leaving him, and his life falling apart.
• It’s a story I’ve read before. Not this exact, specific story, but the bones of it. Virtually visiting another time or place. It’s never real, but they tend to beg the question: Do memories create reality? Maybe this particular story was one that inspired, even if indirectly, the others. Maybe it’s a trope that had been used before, and the author was just putting his own spin on it like the ones that came after.
• I did like it. I thought that it was annoying how the secretary was described as being topless in practically every scene she was in. It went from, “Oh in this society that’s a normal thing, and body paint is a sort of fashion item” to “...we get it.” It was a minor part of the story at least.
• The twists were pretty good, too. There’s a moment where you start to question things alongside the protagonist. Maybe the false memories did work. He’s not supposed to know they’re fake, but he does. But he also has things that can’t possibly be explained by ways of “implanted memories.” Or maybe they can. Even until the very end, the story keeps you guessing. It did a good job of keeping the tension alive.
• In a sense, the story asks the question, “What is reality?” and fits in nicely as an entry into the realm of cyberpunk.
  
• Farragut’s thoughts: We’ve read Dick before in Science Fiction. Between that story and this, if I hadn’t read two of his novels already, I would’ve thought Dick was a comedic SF writer because of how funny I’ve found his short fiction so far. I vaguely recall (ha!) having seen the movie Total Recall, but I’m not sure PKD has ever had a faithful adaptation of his works. Anyway, this is just a fun story—not as wild as the film, but just a plain fun examination of memory and reality.
  
• fanny’s thoughts: The editor points out that each filming of Total Recall gets worse and this is correct. I had never read the story and I did like it despite it being a story I have seen before. Dick did a great job of making the reader doubt memories and the reality for the character. There are a lot of careful details throughout the short story that play with this concept and add to the general confusion of what is real. The story is not the most amazing thing, but it is very well done and a bit twisty.
  

“Speed” by Misha (1988)
I think that Speed is looking for Speelyi-427 on behalf of a computer AI called Juno 888, but after that I’m lost.

• Farragut: We’ve read Misha before in Science Fiction. She’s a very cyberpunky type author, but I’ll be darned if I understand half of what’s going on here. There’s data as currency, there’s an all powerful computer named Juno 888 (I think?), there’s a car chase with a barbed-wire tripwire at neck level (ouch), there’s indigenous ghost dancers, and I had a hell of a time connecting the dots. It didn’t help that for the first couple pages I didn’t realize Speed was the character’s name, which made the story even more abstract at first. I absolutely know there’s someone out there who loves the crap out of experimental/transcendental stuff like this, but it wasn’t me.
  
• fanny: I was beyond confused reading this one. For half the story I thought the character was the computer, 888, but then I realized it was Speed. I am not sure that helped though. I feel like this was too experimental for me and it just missed the mark. The good part of this was the trading in data and the trying to steal data, which was an interesting technology application.
  

“Computer Friendly” by Eileen Gunn (1989; also available in her collection Stable Strategies and Others)
Elizabeth and other kids are tested, and while she passes with flying covers, her new friends might lose their lives unless she can figure out a way to help them in a world where the heavily computerized future uses real brains from people and dogs.

• Farragut: Gunn is an oft-nominated writer (including for this story), but ended up winning the 2005 Nebula for “Coming to Terms”. I really loved this bizarre future (she’ll play computer fetch with her dog when he has downtime from managing data traffic), and Elizabeth is an adorable character to follow as she navigates the shocking new revelations about her world. The help she gets from some of the obscure entities on the network is perfect, especially when they realize that their current world is a little too predictable these days. Highly recommended, especially for Elizabeth’s “hacking” methods.
  
• fanny: I loved this story and following Elizabeth through it all. Elizabeth is a fierce, determined little girl who doesn't want anything bad to happen to her friends. She goes to extremes for this and gets help from the weirdest sources within the network system. The net system, entities, and the world are so well thought out and carefully crafted. It felt fully realized which is unusual for me to find in a short story. Absolute loved this one.
  

“I Was a Teenage Genetic Engineer” by Nisi Shawl (1989)
The narrator is imprisoned for her reckless genetic engineering, making new incarnations of old gods.

• Farragut: Shawl is a multiple-award-winning author and has done a lot of work on promoting diversity in SF/F. A very short story (under a thousand words), it’s also got a very mythic and poetic tone to it, like a confession as a parable. Very evocative, with lots of classical allusions.
  
• fanny: Such a short story and such a unique concept. I liked that the main character made the entire Pantheon and unleashed the Greek gods back on the world. I found the description of creating Psyche the best part. This story is a bit experimental, but worked for me.
  

“The Gene Drain” by Lewis Shiner (1989)
A generation ship ends up right back on Earth, with disturbing and amusing differences between the two groups.

• Farragut: Shiner was a member of the Turkey City Writer’s Workshop which is considered a “cradle of cyberpunk”. This story was quite amusing, and you can see the differences between the overly-technological humans on Earth and the extremely weird worshippers of Johnny Carson. The author does a great job of encapsulating all the changes since the ship left in little throwaway lines, and the ending was both disturbing and funny.
  
• fanny: I found the whole premise quite ridiculous, but a nice way to show how too much technology can change society. The worshippers of Johnny Carson return to earth and manage to get a leader who has a bad experience with tech. The extremes he is willing to go to is both realistic and slightly disturbing. The ending is amusing, but it is serious too. I like how Shiner balanced absurdity with real society challenges. But also cult of Carson.
  

That’s it for this week! Check back the same time next week where we’ll be reading and discussing "Deep Eddy" by Bruce Sterling, "The Yuletide Cyberpunk Yarn, or Christmas_Eve-117.DIR" by Victor Pelevin, "Wonderama" by Bef, "comp.basilisk FAQ" by David Langford, and "Spider's Nest" by Myra Çakan.
Also posted on Bochord Online.

Hi. I wonder if you are also getting these Kernel-Power 41 (63) logs in Event Viewer almost every time you restart your PC. Should i worry?
I found out that disabling fast startup in windows fixes the issue. Also I experienced it on my both devices: laptop and desktop PC. Also It is a fresh Windows 11 23h2 install on both of them.
https://preview.redd.it/gpry85jw1e0d1.png?width=2065&format=png&auto=webp&s=f1a1a80a427dbbe746d7bc2e48622975d6e33f87
Full code:

-  -   41 9 1 63 0 0x8000400000000002  1477   System DESKTOP-ATCMDC8   -  0 0x0 0x0 0x0 0x0 6 0 3221225684 16 false 2 2 false 0 2 false false 0 0 1   

Selecting the best video editing software for Windows can depend on your specific needs, such as ease of use, features, and price. Here are five of the best video editing programs for Windows, covering a range of user requirements from beginners to professionals:
Adobe Premiere Pro [FileOffline]
Adobe Premiere Pro - is a professional video editing software widely used in the film, television, and online video industries. It offers a comprehensive suite of features, including advanced editing tools, robust color grading options, seamless integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications (like After Effects and Photoshop), and extensive support for various file formats.
Premiere Pro is known for its powerful performance, flexibility, and scalability, making it suitable for both short-form and long-form content production. Despite its steep learning curve, its extensive range of tutorials and resources helps users master the software efficiently.

• Pros: Industry standard, comprehensive features, seamless integration with other Adobe products, extensive tutorial resources.
• Cons: Subscription-based pricing, steep learning curve for beginners.
• Best For: Professional video editors and filmmakers.
• Price: $20.99/month (as part of Adobe Creative Cloud).

Davinci Resolve [FileOffline]
DaVinci Resolve - is a professional-grade video editing software known for its exceptional color correction and grading capabilities. It combines editing, color correction, visual effects, motion graphics, and audio post-production in a single application. Resolve's advanced tools and high-performance engine make it a favorite among filmmakers and video professionals.
While it has a steeper learning curve and requires a powerful computer, its free version offers an extensive set of features, making it accessible for both beginners and professionals. The Studio version unlocks even more advanced features and collaboration tools.

• Pros: Professional-grade color correction, powerful editing tools, Fusion visual effects, Fairlight audio post-production.
• Cons: Steeper learning curve, high system requirements.
• Best For: Users who need advanced color correction and audio post-production.
• Price: Free version available; Studio version for $295 (one-time purchase).

Filmora [FileOffline]
Filmora is a user-friendly video editing software designed for beginners and casual users. It features a simple drag-and-drop interface, making it easy to learn and use. Filmora offers a variety of effects, transitions, and templates to enhance your videos, as well as basic editing tools like trimming, cutting, and merging clips.
While not as powerful as professional-grade software, Filmora provides sample features for creating polished videos quickly and efficiently. The software is available through both annual subscriptions and a one-time purchase, though the free version includes watermarks on exported videos.

• Pros: User-friendly interface, drag-and-drop features, good for beginners, a wide range of effects and transitions.
• Cons: Less advanced than professional tools, watermarks in the free version.
• Best For: Beginners and casual users.
• Price: $49.99/year or $79.99 for a lifetime license.

CyberLink PowerDirector [FileOffline]
CyberLink PowerDirector is a versatile video editing software that balances ease of use with a rich set of features. It offers a user-friendly interface suitable for beginners, while also providing advanced tools for more experienced users. Key features include fast rendering, a wide range of effects and transitions, multi-camera editing, and support for 360-degree video editing.
PowerDirector's efficient performance and comprehensive feature set make it ideal for enthusiasts and semi-professional editors looking to produce high-quality videos. The software is available via annual subscriptions or a lifetime license, with some advanced features requiring additional purchases.

• Pros: Easy to use, fast rendering, good range of features, 360-degree video editing.
• Cons: Interface can feel cluttered, some advanced features require additional purchases.
• Best For: Enthusiasts and semi-professional editors.
• Price: $99.99/year or $19.99/month for subscription; $139.99 for a lifetime license.

Vegas Pro [FileOffline]
Vegas Pro is a professional video editing software known for its powerful audio editing capabilities and flexible, customizable interface. It offers a comprehensive set of features, including multi-camera editing, advanced color grading, and a robust effects library. Vegas Pro is designed for professional editors who require precise control over their projects and integrates strong audio post-production tools. While the interface may seem dated to some, its efficiency and depth of features make it a solid choice for high-level video production. Vegas Pro is available through both one-time purchases and subscription plans.

• Pros: Strong multi-camera editing, excellent audio editing tools, customizable interface, comprehensive effects library.
• Cons: Higher price point, somewhat outdated interface.
• Best For: Professional video editors who need robust audio tools.
• Price: $399 for a lifetime license; subscription plans available starting at $16.67/month.

Each of these programs offers unique strengths tailored to different levels of expertise and specific editing needs. Whether you are a beginner looking for user-friendly software or a professional needing advanced tools, these options provide a solid starting point for creating high-quality video content on Windows.