Sample of invitation to guest speaker

Authors Anonymous

2013.06.18 18:40 Forkhammer Authors Anonymous

2024.05.14 07:21 Delmygonza Title: Seeking Writer for Romance Comic Project!

Hey everyone!
I'm an artist passionate about creating heartfelt and visually captivating stories through comics, and I'm currently on the lookout for a talented writer to collaborate with on a new romance comic project, "Love Cookie”.
**About Me:**
I've been drawing and illustrating for as long as I can remember, and comics have always been my ultimate passion. From superheroes to slice-of-life dramas, I love exploring various genres and storytelling techniques through art.
**Project Overview:**
The project aims to blend elements of romance, fantasy, and introspection to create a compelling narrative that resonates with audiences. It utilizes rich character development, engaging dialogue, and evocative storytelling to immerse viewers in Asami's journey of love and self-discovery. Additionally, the project explores the balance between fate and personal agency, inviting audiences to ponder the nature of love and the choices that shape our lives.
**What I'm Looking For:**
I'm seeking a writer who shares my enthusiasm for storytelling and has a knack for crafting engaging characters and dialogue. Whether you're an experienced writer or just starting out, as long as you're passionate about romance and comics, I'd love to hear from you!
**Collaboration Details:**
This will be a collaborative effort from start to finish. We'll work closely together to develop the plot, characters, and overall direction of the comic. I'm open to bouncing ideas off each other, brainstorming, and refining the story until we're both satisfied with the end result.
**What You'll Gain:**
While this project is currently unpaid, it offers a fantastic opportunity for both of us to showcase our talents and creativity. We'll be able to build a portfolio piece that demonstrates our skills to potential clients or publishers. Plus, there's nothing quite like the satisfaction of seeing our work come to life in the form of a beautifully crafted comic.
**Interested?**
If you're interested in joining me on this exciting journey or have any questions about the project, feel free to shoot me a message or leave a comment below. Please include any relevant writing samples or portfolio links so I can get a sense of your style and storytelling ability.
Let's create something truly special together!

submitted by Delmygonza to writers [link] [comments]

2024.05.14 07:19 istoreq8 Interior Designing in Kuwait: Elevate Your Home with Istore Q8

Are you looking to transform your home interior in Kuwait into a stylish and inviting space? Look no further than Istore Q8, the ultimate destination for all your interior design needs. With years of experience and a passion for creating beautiful living spaces, Istore Q8 is the best choice for bringing your design dreams to life.
"Istore Q8" likely refers to a specific interior design company or firm based in Kuwait. Without specific information about this company, it's challenging to provide details about their interior design services or style.
However, interior design firms typically offer a range of services tailored to their clients' needs. These services may include:

Residential Interior Design: Creating personalized and functional living spaces for homeowners, including living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and bathrooms. This may involve space planning, furniture selection, color schemes, and decorative accents.
Commercial Interior Design: Designing interior spaces for commercial establishments such as offices, retail stores, restaurants, hotels, and healthcare facilities. This often involves creating layouts that optimize workflow, customer experience, and brand identity.
Hospitality Design: Designing interiors for hotels, resorts, restaurants, and cafes with a focus on creating welcoming and memorable environments for guests. This may involve selecting durable and stylish furnishings, lighting design, and creating ambiances that enhance the overall guest experience.
Office Design: Designing functional and ergonomic workspaces for businesses to promote productivity, collaboration, and employee well-being. This may include workspace planning, furniture selection, lighting design, and incorporating elements that reflect the company's brand and culture.
Retail Design: Designing interior spaces for retail stores and showrooms to attract customers, enhance the shopping experience, and showcase products effectively. This may involve creating visually appealing displays, optimizing traffic flow, and integrating branding elements.
Turnkey Solutions: Some interior design firms offer turnkey solutions, where they handle every aspect of the design and implementation process, from concept development to construction management and final installation.

If you're interested in learning more about the specific services and style of Istore Q8, I would recommend visiting their website or contacting them directly for more information.
Interior design involves the skillful balance of artistry and scientific principles to transform indoor spaces into more attractive and conducive environments, promoting the well-being and satisfaction of its inhabitants. It involves the manipulation of spatial volume, as well as surface treatment, to create a functional and visually appealing setting.
Interior designers work with a variety of elements including color, furniture, lighting, texture, and layout to create spaces that are both beautiful and functional. They often consider the needs and preferences of their clients, as well as the purpose of the space, to develop designs that meet specific requirements.
Interior design can encompass a wide range of spaces, from residential homes and apartments to commercial offices, retail stores, restaurants, hotels, and more. Designers may specialize in a particular area, such as kitchen design or sustainable design, or work across multiple sectors.
Key aspects of interior design include:

Space planning: Determining how to best utilize the available space to meet the functional needs of the occupants while maintaining a sense of balance and harmony.
Color palette: Choosing appropriate colors for walls, floors, furnishings, and accessories to create a desired atmosphere and mood.
Furniture selection: Selecting furniture pieces that are both stylish and functional, and arranging them in a way that maximizes comfort and usability.
Lighting design: Planning the placement of lighting fixtures to enhance the ambiance of a space, as well as to provide adequate illumination for tasks and activities.
Client consultation: Understanding the client's needs, preferences, budget, and timeline is the first step. This involves discussing the purpose of the space, any specific requirements or constraints, and the desired style or ambiance.
Texture and materials: Incorporating a variety of textures and materials, such as wood, metal, glass, and fabric, to add visual interest and tactile appeal to a space.
Accessories and decor: Adding finishing touches such as artwork, rugs, pillows, and other decorative elements to personalize the space and tie the design together.

Overall, interior design is about creating environments that not only look good but also support the well-being and functionality of the people who inhabit them.
Why Choose IStore Q8 for Interior Designing?
When it comes to interior designing in Kuwait, Istore Q8 stands out as a premier choice for several reasons. Their team of skilled professionals has a wealth of expertise in creating stunning, customized interiors that perfectly reflect your style and personality. Whether you're looking to refresh a single room or redesign your entire home, I store Q8 has the knowledge and creativity to exceed your expectations.

What Services Does Istore Q8 Offer?

Istore Q8 offers a wide range of interior designing services to cater to all your needs. From concept development and space planning to furniture selection and styling, their team will guide you through every step of the design process with precision and care. Whether you prefer a modern, minimalist look or a more traditional aesthetic, Istore Q8 has the skills and resources to bring your vision to life.

The Istore Q8 Experience

At Istore Q8, client satisfaction is always the top priority. Their dedicated team will work closely with you to understand your design goals and preferences, ensuring that the final result exceeds your expectations. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to quality craftsmanship, Istore Q8 delivers interiors that are not only beautiful but also functional and sustainable.

Expertise and Authority in Interior Designing

With a proven track record of successful projects and satisfied clients, Istore Q8 has established itself as a leader in the field of interior design in Kuwait. Their team's deep knowledge of design principles, materials, and trends enables them to create interiors that are both timeless and on-trend. When you choose Istore Q8, you can trust that you're working with a team that has the expertise and authority to bring your design vision to life.
In conclusion, if you're looking to elevate your home interior in Kuwait, Istore Q8 is the go-to destination for all your interior design needs. With a talented team of professionals, a range of services, and a commitment to excellence, I store Q8 will help you create a space that truly reflects your style and personality. Contact Istore Q8 today and turn your design dreams into reality.
In conclusion, interior design in Kuwait reflects a blend of cultural influences, modern trends, and functional considerations. With a booming economy and a growing population, there’s a heightened demand for innovative and personalized interior design solutions across residential, commercial, and hospitality sectors.
Kuwait's interior design scene embraces a diversity of styles, ranging from traditional Arabic motifs to contemporary and minimalist aesthetics. Interior designers in Kuwait often prioritize creating spaces that balance functionality with elegance, incorporating luxurious materials, intricate detailing, and cutting-edge technology to meet the discerning tastes of clients.
In Kuwait's residential sector, there's a focus on creating homes that offer comfort, privacy, and a sense of luxury. Open-plan layouts, high-end finishes, and integrated smart home systems are becoming increasingly popular, catering to the lifestyle preferences of affluent residents.
In the commercial and hospitality sectors, interior design plays a crucial role in creating memorable experiences for customers and guests. Retail spaces emphasize immersive and interactive environments, while restaurants and hotels focus on creating ambiance, atmosphere, and brand identity to stand out in a competitive market.
Sustainability and eco-conscious design are also gaining traction in Kuwait, with a growing emphasis on energy-efficient solutions, natural materials, and environmentally friendly practices.
Overall, interior design in Kuwait is characterized by a dynamic and evolving landscape, driven by innovation, creativity, and a commitment to delivering spaces that inspire, delight, and enrich the lives of those who inhabit them.
Are you looking to transform your home interior in Kuwait into a stylish and inviting space? Look no further than Istore Q8, the ultimate destination for all your interior design needs. With years of experience and a passion for creating beautiful living spaces, Istore Q8 is the best choice for bringing your design dreams to life.
"Istore Q8" likely refers to a specific interior design company or firm based in Kuwait. Without specific information about this company, it's challenging to provide details about their interior design services or style.
However, interior design firms typically offer a range of services tailored to their clients' needs. These services may include:

Residential Interior Design: Creating personalized and functional living spaces for homeowners, including living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and bathrooms. This may involve space planning, furniture selection, color schemes, and decorative accents.
Commercial Interior Design: Designing interior spaces for commercial establishments such as offices, retail stores, restaurants, hotels, and healthcare facilities. This often involves creating layouts that optimize workflow, customer experience, and brand identity.
Hospitality Design: Designing interiors for hotels, resorts, restaurants, and cafes with a focus on creating welcoming and memorable environments for guests. This may involve selecting durable and stylish furnishings, lighting design, and creating ambiances that enhance the overall guest experience.
Office Design: Designing functional and ergonomic workspaces for businesses to promote productivity, collaboration, and employee well-being. This may include workspace planning, furniture selection, lighting design, and incorporating elements that reflect the company's brand and culture.
Retail Design: Designing interior spaces for retail stores and showrooms to attract customers, enhance the shopping experience, and showcase products effectively. This may involve creating visually appealing displays, optimizing traffic flow, and integrating branding elements.
Turnkey Solutions: Some interior design firms offer turnkey solutions, where they handle every aspect of the design and implementation process, from concept development to construction management and final installation.

Space planning: Determining how to best utilize the available space to meet the functional needs of the occupants while maintaining a sense of balance and harmony.
Color palette: Choosing appropriate colors for walls, floors, furnishings, and accessories to create a desired atmosphere and mood.
Furniture selection: Selecting furniture pieces that are both stylish and functional, and arranging them in a way that maximizes comfort and usability.
Lighting design: Planning the placement of lighting fixtures to enhance the ambiance of a space, as well as to provide adequate illumination for tasks and activities.
Client consultation: Understanding the client's needs, preferences, budget, and timeline is the first step. This involves discussing the purpose of the space, any specific requirements or constraints, and the desired style or ambiance.
Texture and materials: Incorporating a variety of textures and materials, such as wood, metal, glass, and fabric, to add visual interest and tactile appeal to a space.
Accessories and decor: Adding finishing touches such as artwork, rugs, pillows, and other decorative elements to personalize the space and tie the design together.

What Services Does Istore Q8 Offer?

The Istore Q8 Experience

Expertise and Authority in Interior Designing

submitted by istoreq8 to Animey [link] [comments]

2024.05.14 06:21 Honded Free way of displaying text dynamically based on URL parameters on Astra template with elementor

I'm using the Astra Theme, I picked one of their starter templates and I'm editing it with Elementor. I would like to add a text to the template that says "Welcome John" where John is replaced by a parameter name that I pass in the URL, how can I do this for free? Is there a better approach to displaying a dynamic name onto a template?
Example: if the link is mywebsite.com/?name='Mike' then the text will be "Welcome Mike" just like what's shown on this video
I'm building an invitation so that's why I require each invitation to have the name of the guest. Thanks for any help!

submitted by Honded to elementor [link] [comments]

2024.05.14 06:20 ScottsdaleGolfer Finally!

Officially achieved a golfing goal of mine being able to say I’m scratch! Probably won’t be getting any member-guests invites now lol

submitted by ScottsdaleGolfer to golf [link] [comments]

2024.05.14 06:19 TotallyNotAjay Quick Kodokan Goshin Jutsu Clinic Write up

This weekend, Ajax Budokan invited Kodokan 9th dan and former head of the Tokyo Police dojo, Michio Fukushima Sensei, to conduct a 4 hour clinic for Kodokan Goshin Jutsu. It was open to yellow belt and higher, though the majority consisted of Yudansha. My senseis had the honour of demoing the kata, as Fukushima Sensei's health did not permit presenting each technique multiple times, though he did show some of the finer details, demo mechanics, and gave comments as to what was good and displayed what could be fixed. He also talked about older versions of the techniques and how/ why they have been changed. Regretfully, it totally slipped my mind to film during the seminar, as there was a lot of good information, translated (and left untranslated) by the interpreter.
Some General Notes on Fukushima Sensei Fukushima Sensei on multiple occasions mentioned how one should carry themselves and move, more specifically he talked about how he usually sees toris get away with bad shisei as uke's attacks are generally to kind or passive, and that if they genuinely attacked, most toris would be off balance. Additionally he mentioned that a lot of IFJ competition now is power judo, where the technical aspects are replaced for brute force and speed.
The main note he makes is to keep the knees alive (slightly bent and bouncy like a spring), and that most novices have a tendency to straight leg their kata. He also made it a great point to explain the logic of the waza in the kata and how the kuzushi is created. Other important details he talked about were that uke shouldn't be a limp noodle once his attack is over, that tori should keep good sabaki (unclear if sabaki was short hand for tai sabaki as he also stated tai sabaki on different occasions (the details were paraphrased by the translator)), and the usage of rotation from the hips to maintain proper balance (tai sabaki). Additionally, he talked about things relating to karada (the body) and some anecdotes (such as stories about judoka such as Michigami, Isao Okano, and Nagaoka if I was hearing correctly, though I don't speak Japanese, only somewhat familiar with it), which were left untranslated or paraphrased sadly.
Emphasised details in the kata (not explanations or descriptions of how to do a technique) and my experiences (FYI Sensei mostly used the Tomiki names for the waza Tori applied)
Attacks when held

Ryote dori - my partner and I (both new to this kata for the most part) went in on this one and struggled as we didn't see the detail of thumb in hand for the lock (blind leading the blind, though we later worked near a kind pair after this who helped check more closely as they were experienced in the kata)
1. Yahazu (hook shape for hand) is very important to direct uke's arm
2. You aren't pulling the arm away to free it, you are pushing your elbow forward which pressures uke's arm
3. Te gatana to the uto (point between uke's eyes)
4. When applying the lock (te gatame), make sure to rotate uke's hand such that the fingers are pointing up
5. When applying the lock, take the uke's arm in the direction perpendicular to the line made by his feet
Hidari eri dori - I particularly liked this one, though my uke was confused the first few times as he kept trying to apply waki gatame.
1. Tori must grab underneath uke's hand on the lapel when stepping back
2. When grabbing uke's hand to break the grip and apply the lock (kote hineri), tori should have his thumb in between uke's thumb and fingers, and to take the uke's arm in the direction perpendicular to the line made by his feet
3. Uke should try to maintain jigo tai rather than lean so the lock is applied cleanly
4. Tori's hand should not be limp when delivering the strike
Migi eri dori - I couldn't get kote gaeshi to work properly, will have to practice and ask my sensei about it later, same with my partner
1. Tori should maintain a upright posture as uke pulls him forward, and use the landing of his foot to drive his hand for the uppercut to uke
2. Tori should try to keep uke's hand attached to his centerline as he makes tai sabaki
Kata ude dori - My uke was very stiff, so applying the initial lock to him proved difficult, though he claims he felt it. I found this kata easy to remember as the legs go left right left right (step, step, tai sabaki, kick, then lead with the right for the lock)
1. You are kicking with the side of the foot
2. The step before the kick pivot around so your feet are almost parallel
3. For waki gatame, you should be standing inside his feet, near parallel to the line perpendicular to his feet
Ushiro eri dori - I had experience with this one as sensei had taught during some free time a while back
1. The parry with the arm was stated to also be the preferred way to receive punches, though take that as you will (though it is a common method in karate as well)
2. The strike should be to the suigetsu (solar plexus)
3. Trap uke's hand with your head so that it can't wiggle all over the place when applying the lock
Ushiro jime - My partner and I both had a tendency to lift the shoulder off after spinning out, will have to work on that. I will be honest, had I known this escape, I probably would have come out of an incident a few years back (before I started Judo) rather unscathed as I was jumped and then kicked on the ground by a person who was quite a pain.
1. The attack and initial defence are identical to that of katame no kata, following which tori rotates out
2. Keep pressure with your shoulder until your grip has been changed
Kakae dori - We didn't have enough mat space to finish the throw without running into other groups, but the technique is surprisingly effective. Though I couldn't initially find out how to do the armlock and had to ask my sensei about it, now it's pretty easy.
1. Rotate the arm away from you (clockwise from your perspective) and pull uke's arm into you
2. During the initial stomp, straighten up and raise your arms to loosen uke's grip

Attacks when at a distance - I got less time to try these in general as I wanted my partner to get a feel for them as they are a bit more complicated and he is less experienced

Naname uchi - this was a fun situation, it shows how a little bit of atemi can be used to setup a randori waza, and Fukushima Sensei complimented my senseis' performance saying that it was better than the current text book
1. Te gatana is used to redirect the strike
2. Osoto otoshi is performed
3. Pushing the arm through is important to create the kuzushi necessary for the waza
Ago tsuki - I didn't actually get a chance to try this one more than once as my partner struggled with it, he kept applying a shoulder lock by pushing on the elbow without the redirect with the thumb up (shoulder is still sore)
1. when directing uke's attack up and away, do not lean back as then you are unstable
2. Use yahazu to direct uke's elbow toward his ear
3. As uke will not like this use the moment after releasing the elbow lock to throw him forward in the direction perpendicular to his feet.
Gammen Tsuki - My partner really liked this one, I can see the uses as I've used similar entries when messing around with strikes + judo with this partner as I have a bit of karate experience
1. Uke is meant to do a break fall, thus tori needs to get out of the way after releasing the choke
2. Uke should realistically be aiming for where tori's uto would be if he did not evade
Mae Geri - this was a relatively easy one to grasp, but quite a bit of practice is needed before a full force kick can be considered
1. Rotate ukes foot outwards so that it is not easy for him to rotate in to escape
2. In the original, tori would lift uke's leg high but many ukes ended up injured from hitting their heads, so now tori just pushes back
Yoko geri - My sensei has introduced this one at the dojo before as well, though he prefaced it with about a minute of just practicing a side kick. My partner (who suffers from light knee pain) couldn't kneel during the finish
1. The use of the te gatana to redirect the kick in the direction it is going, very similar to karates low block
2. During the finish tori creates a void for uke to be thrown but in real life tori would throw uke onto his knee

Attacks with weapons - I understand people dislike these (reasonably in some cases), but I've found them to be useful points to explore
Attacks with a knife - Sensei Fukushima mentioned how despite my senseis making it look easy
Both my partner and I have practiced these quite a lot (I was the only one who was taught it by sensei but we practiced it on our own time), so not as many personal notes. Though I don't have a good experience so my brain switches to serious and my heart rate increases despite the fact that I know these are fake weapons.

Tsukkake
1. The elbow should be pushed forward (I've actually experimented with this in the past by asking uke to try to stab me as I applied the defence, and we've found after the initial push and strike, tori is in a relatively good position, be it to run away or finish the kata)
2. Push the locked up arm up and towards uke, then guide him to the ground
Choku zuki - I struggled to apply the waki gatame, I'm guessing it was control of the wrist that was the problem, this form is relatively straight forward and makes sense
1. The strike should not be a boxer style punch, but more like the first punch in szkt
2. uke should not go limp
3. when moving away from uke, take him perpendicular to the line between his feet
Naname Zuki - Personally I think this form is cutting it close in many regards, but the control tori has is quite surprising
1. Don't grab the blade from the sharp edge

Attacks with a jo - PSA, no matter how much you trust your uke, mistakes happen (especially with such a solid weapon) so remain vigilant to mitigate damage

Furi age - this was a relatively easy technique to grasp as it is an application of O soto gari setup with a palm strike to the chind
1. Tori should enter as soon as uke begins to raise his arm, almost a preemptive entry
2. Tori strikes at the ago (chin) with a palm strike, then places his hand on the throat for the throw
Furi oroshi - My partner leant into the swing and wacked me on the forehead, it could've been worse but it just grazed the outer layer as I saw the jo come closer after my initial retreat and attempted to turn out of the way. Both a PSA for tori and uke. Tori do not keep your eyes off uke, and uke please don't lean into a swing, you are horribly off balance, and you make it harder for tori to read. Also uke don't speed up when you 2 are learning (I don't know why my partner chose too...)
1. Do not hop back onto one leg and then towards uke with the other, it leads you to have bad posture
2. Better to make a big retreat than get hit
3. 2 strike, one ura ken (back fist), followed by knife hand push
4. Uke's swing should be at a diagonal
Morote zuki - I didn't get to practice this one as my partner was taken a bit aback after the previous incident and couldn't get the steps right for this one. Fukushima Sensei mentioned something along the lines of how a judoka was faced with a juken and couldn't figure out what to do, and thus this form was created to address that.
1. Tori shouldn't be rowing the jow away to shake throw uke
2. The arm puts pressure on uke's arm forward
3. Tori should be trying to angle the jo down towards himself after the initial grab

Attacks with a gun - I struggled with all of these, but I think the principles are relatively sound. Though in real life, I'd most likely give up my valuables. Fukushima Sensei emphasised hip rotation in these movements, as he says that you want to direct the gun away without moving your feet, which is what uke would be seeing when looking at your pocket.
Always make sure to begin your defence after uke is clearly focused on checking your pockets, never when his focus is directly on you

Shomen Zuke
1. Grab the barrel of the gun thumb up
2. During the disarm, push the gun's muzzle to face towards him
Koshi Gamae - I kept getting the second hand wrong and thus the barallel was pointed towards me in the final attack, will need to work on that
1. Grab the barrel of gun initially with the thumb down with your right hand, and push the gun so that it is horizontal after turning left, then grab the gun from below with your right
2. make sure to not point the gun at yourself when hitting with the butt
Haimen Zuke - this is quite a dangerous move in theory, but also one of the more likely ones
1. Wrap uke's arm with your arm, but make sure to direct the muzzle up with the free arm
2. [uke] should let go of gun, as this is a hard breakfall

Overarching and repeated themes in the kata

The use of yahazu to direct the arm rather than grips
Keeping uke's hand connected to your centerline when applying kansetsu waza
te gatana is a useful tool to redirect and or strike the opponent quickly
During the gun portion, always rotate the gun off your centerline, so that even if it does fire, it doesn't penetrate too deep
Control the gun by the muzzle
most finishes are done by guiding uke perpendicular to the line in between his feet
Do not directly oppose an opponents force
Maintanence of balance at all times and moving from the hips is key
Uke should attack meaningfully
Action reaction is used quite a lot to first lock uke up towards his face, so that when he pushes back he is easily lead away

Overall, it was quite a good event, and I learned a lot. This kata isn't the most realistic with the attacks (though apparently a few people I know have used the ryote dori attack shockingly), but what I've learned so far is relatively sound, hopefully some time soon I can convince my partner to do some live resistance sparring with some gear on (which I have done with the knife portion with a plastic knife). Fukushima Sensei had a lot to say, as he was actively discussing his experiences and koshiki no kata after the seminar with another Japanese speaker, and I hope to be able to attend another one of his classes again someday.
Here are some videos featuring Michio Fukushima from a few years back, both where he was actively demoing, and where he had a slightly more corrective position.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1253474818155243
https://youtu.be/VKgdMJS9eck?si=bGMemLfG9aquAHr1

submitted by TotallyNotAjay to judo [link] [comments]

2024.05.14 06:18 Shitposternumber1337 Story inconsistency with Christopher Alvarez and Drake (Discussion)

Since 1 post that was gaining traction (8 upvotes in a couple minutes) got removed by Kendrick Lamar moderators with a strangely defensive and offended comment underneath and possibly another post removed by now I was wondering about something.
Why would a hotel employee be fired for letting an invited guest of OVO and drake inside? especially when he says he went upstairs and listened to beats. Well alright, a random civilian coming inside when the lobby is meant to be clear is fair enough, but an invited guest being let inside early would not cause someone to be fired.

submitted by Shitposternumber1337 to DarkKenny [link] [comments]

2024.05.14 06:07 FCYChen My recent experience at Lido 84.

Lido 84 is, so far, my favorite restaurant in Italy. I had their 9-course "History" menu with the "Rigatoni Cacio e Pepe en Vessie" added two weeks ago. In terms of taste, it truly stands out from many other good restaurants, not only in Italy but around the world. I can't wait to go back and try their other tasting menus.
The only dish I wasn't a fan of on the menu was the "Pennoni Pasta and Sea Urchins." I've had much better taste of sea urchin in the past, and the texture of the pasta wasn't quite what I expected. It was a bit like a sticky panne-shaped dough that was still hard in the center.
With that being said, I did have some experiences that I would like to share:

Lido 84's remote location presented a bit of a challenge. I left early from Limone sul Garda, arriving at the restaurant gate 20 minutes before my reservation time at 7:30 pm. But the gate was still closed. Before I could ring the bell, a kind man, I believe a neighbor, informed me that they only open at or after 7:30 pm. This was a surprise, but I later learned online that it might be a cultural difference. Arriving too early at Italian restaurants can sometimes be seen as rude (please correct me if it is wrong).
Lido 84 offers non-alcoholic pairings for their menus, and while some were interesting creations, I felt they didn't always enhance the flavor of the dishes themselves.
Mine was delicious, but at a nearby table, I heard the staff yell "Stop!". They were trying to prevent the guests from eating their "Rigatoni Cacio e Pepe en Vessie." The staff explained that the chef didn’t approved of the dish and would send back and remake it after tasting a sample taken from their "vessie." I understand the chef can't taste beforehand since the opening of the "vessie" is part of the presentation, but it was a bit comical nonetheless.
The wait times between some courses were quite long, with the longest exceeding 20 minutes. I overheard conversations between staff and other tables mentioning that there were some new staffs in the kitchen, which could explain the delays. However, this was not something I've typically encountered at fine dining restaurants.
After finishing our shared "main" dessert, we sat for over 10 minutes and paid the bill, preparing to leave. However, the staff stopped us and apologized, explaining they had forgotten to serve our final dessert course. This lapse did detract a bit from the professionalism of the experience. It's doubtful that the service lapse was the reason they didn't earn their second Michelin star, as the food itself was certainly worthy of the recognition.

I would like to add a last note that Lido 84 reservations for weekdays are quite easy to snag. Just be sure to be on the website when they open!

submitted by FCYChen to finedining [link] [comments]

2024.05.14 05:37 soberingthought 'Tude Talk Tuesday for May 14, 2024

Hello, fellow Sobernauts!
Welcome to 'Tude Talk Tuesday, where you're invited to share what changes you've noticed in your attitudes and perspectives since you've gotten sober.
I once heard someone say "I was avoiding living life" and that resonated with me.
As my drinking career progressed, I isolated more and more. My favorite way to drink was alone so that nobody could judge or try to stop me. In my last year of drinking, I skipped my wife's birthday just so I could stay home and drink by myself.
Oddly, when I contemplated getting sober, I was had so much FOMO. Craziness! Here I was ditching friends, holing up in the guest bedroom, drinking all by myself night after night and I was worried that by stopping drinking I would miss out on something?!
In sobriety, I'm out and about far more than when I was drinking. I've gone to music festivals, weddings, boozy birthday parties, etc and stayed sober at all these events. More importantly, I'm on field trips, at school plays, and on play dates with my kiddos...something I would surely have begged off back in my drinking days.
So, how about you? How are you engaging with life now that you're sober?

submitted by soberingthought to stopdrinking [link] [comments]

2024.05.14 05:26 Carpetfreak The Obscure Birds: A Theory Regarding Shakespeare's Macbeth

[I wrote this article about Macbeth for my college's newspaper, and I thought this subreddit might enjoy reading it!]
I have joked before that Shakespeare’s two favorite subjects–surpassing love, murder, madness, and crossdressing–are botany and birds. If you’ve been to New York City you might be aware of the “Shakespeare Garden” in Central Park, whose theoretical aim (though it proves nigh-impossible in practice) is to house specimens of all the plants which Shakespeare mentions in his plays. As it turns out, Bard quotes make for quite a diverse garden: there are roses which assuredly would smell as sweet by any other name; there are daffodils, that come before the swallow dares, and take the winds of March with beauty; there’s holly, heigh-ho; there’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance, there’s pansies, that’s for thoughts, there’s fennel for you, and columbines–no word on whether or not they could find any violets, though. I suppose there’s no objection to be made against those who complain that Shakespeare’s language is “flowery”; even as vicious a villain as Iago deigns to express his philosophy on life by way of botanical metaphor: “Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners.” And, of course, the plot of A Midsummer Night’s Dream revolves around a magical flower which makes people fall in love.
I doubt anyone will object to my claiming of birds as Shakespeare’s other poetical fixation: I suspect that the majority of falconry knowledge which most non-falconers have today comes from reading footnotes in their copies of Shakespeare plays, explaining exactly what Richard II means by “How high a pitch his resolution soars,” or why Hamlet says “Hillo, ho, ho” to Marcellus. But while plants are so common in Shakespeare that I don’t know of one play which we might say is especially densely forested with references to them, there is one play that stands out as particularly full of birds in comparison with the rest of the Shakespearean canon. That play is Macbeth.
This is the sort of thing that one only notices after having read a play so many times that the actual events of the plot become akin to the meter of a poem–beats which must be hit, and which start to feel so natural that one hardly notices them–and one’s attention drifts away from the big, important speeches and toward the more utilitarian words and odd little moments that bridge them. I am not the first to point it out, but it is, all the same, a delightful quirk of the play, and could be a good way for Sophomores to throw their classmates for a loop in seminar [Note: Students at our college study Macbeth during their Sophomore year.]: why are there so many birds in Macbeth?
KING. Dismay’d not this/Our captains, Macbeth and Banquo? SERG. Yes,/As sparrows eagles… -Act I, Scene II
LADY. …The raven himself is hoarse/That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan… -Act I, Scene V
BAN. This guest of summer,/The temple-haunting martlet, does approve/By his loved mansionry, that the heaven’s breath/Smells wooingly here: no jutty, frieze/Buttress, nor coign of vantage, but this bird/Hath made his pendent bed and procreant cradle… -Act I, Scene VI
LADY. Hark! Peace! It was the owl that shriek’d, the fatal bellman… -Act II, Scene II
LADY. I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry. -Act II, Scene II
PORTER. …come in, tailor; here you may roast your goose… -Act II, Scene III
PORTER. ‘Faith, sir, we were carousing till the second cock… -Act II, Scene III
LENNOX. New hatch’d to the woeful time: the obscure bird/Clamour’d the livelong night… -Act II, Scene III
OLD MAN. …On Tuesday last,/A falcon, towering in her pride of place,/Was by a mousing owl hawk’d at and kill’d. -Act II, Scene IV
MACBETH. …Light thickens; and the crow/Makes wing to the rooky wood… -Act III, Scene II
MACBETH. If charnel-houses and our graves must send/Those that we bury back, our monuments/Shall be the maws of kites. -Act III, Scene IV
MACBETH. Augurs and understood relations have/By magot pies and choughs and rooks brought forth/The secret’st man of blood. -Act III, Scene IV
LADY MACDUFF. …the poor wren,/the most diminutive of birds, will fight,/Her young ones in her nest, against the owl. -Act IV, Scene II
LADY MACDUFF. How will you live? SON. As birds do, mother. LADY MACDUFF. What, with worms and flies? SON. With what I get, I mean; and so do they. LADY MACDUFF. Poor bird! Thou’ldst never fear the net nor lime,/The pitfall nor the gin? SON. Why should I, mother? Poor birds they are not set for. -Act IV, Scene II
FIRST MURDERER. What, you egg! -Act IV, Scene II
MACDUFF. …there cannot be/That vulture in you… -Act IV, Scene III
MACDUFF. …O hell-kite! All?/What, all my pretty chickens and their dam/At one fell swoop? -Act IV, Scene III
MACBETH. The devil damn thee black, thou cream-faced loon!/Where got’st thou that goose look? SERVANT. There is ten thousand– MACBETH. Geese, villain? -Act V, Scene III
Above I have listed every ornithological reference that I’ve found in the Scottish Play; as we peruse them, we certainly cannot conclude that every individual reference is of the same kind, or carries the same import. I will not pretend, for example, that, just because geese and ravens are both birds, the Porter’s invitation for the imagined English tailor to cook his goose in Hell merits as much attention as Lady Macbeth’s ominous declaration that “the raven himself is hoarse”. Nor do I think that any individual reference particularly demands explication; by itself, any one of these bird-invocations seems perfectly natural. Shakespeare’s talent is such that he can repeat a motif in such a way that on the macro level it is obvious yet on the micro level it hardly feels present. But that macro level is what interests me here: what impression is created, on the whole, by the presence of so many birds in this play? I have a theory, which, though it may seem far-fetched, I think merits at least some consideration, and which, at the very least, I have not seen stated elsewhere, and so may make a novel contribution to the conversation.
Macbeth is both Shakespeare’s most supernatural tragedy and his most Sophoclean; these two superlatives are inextricably related. The appellative Weird given to the opening scene’s three Sisters–derived from the Old English wyrd, meaning destiny, and famously given its more familiar connotation by Shakespeare himself in this very play–is, among the Bard’s works, unique to Macbeth; and just as that word appears nowhere else in Shakespeare, so is the concept it represents absent in all tragedies but this one. Though Hamlet may cry out against outrageous fortune, and though Othello may rhetoricize about how no man can control his fate, it is only in Macbeth that we truly feel that the events we see play out before us are fated, predestined, inevitable. [See Note 1.] The ghost in Hamlet commands his son to revenge his foul and most unnatural murder, but does not tell him it is certain that he will succeed; indeed, would not the drama be sapped of its intrigue if that level of certainty were present? Meanwhile, the supernatural interlopers in Macbeth offer the Scottish thane not a mission, but a prophecy: All hail, Macbeth! that shalt be king hereafter! From its mystical opening word–When, not If–the Scottish play makes us aware of the certainty of all that is to befall our tragic antihero. Macbeth is thus a different sort of tragedy than Shakespeare’s others, and it works by an inverted mechanism. While the tragedy of, for example, Desdemona’s death is that it may have been prevented, the tragedy of Macbeth’s destruction is that it represents the fulfilment of fate; and this is the very same mechanism by which Oedipus Rex operates, complete with its own “Weird” character in the form of the seer Tiresias. Though Calvin managed to accept that some men are destined for greatness and others for ruin, this idea is, to Shakespeare and Sophocles, nothing short of agonizing–the stuff of tragedy.
Now: what does all of this have to do with birds? Consider these words from Antigone, spoken by Tiresias to Creon:
You shall learn, when you hear the indications of my art! As I took my place on my ancient seat for observing birds, where I can mark every bird of omen I heard a strange sound among them, since they were screeching with dire, incoherent frenzy and I knew that they were tearing each other with bloody claws, for there was a whirring of wings that made it clear… (Lloyd-Jones translation)
Consider next these words from Oedipus Tyrannus, spoken defensively by Oedipus to Tiresias:
Why, come, tell me, how can you be a true prophet? Why when the versifying hound was here did not you speak some word that could release the citizens? Indeed, her riddle was not one for the first comer to explain! It required prophetic skill, and you were exposed as having no knowledge from the birds or from the gods. No, it was I that came, Oedipus who knew nothing, and put a stop to her; I hit the mark by native wit, not by what I learned from birds. (Lloyd-Jones translation)
The practice of divining the future from birds–be it from their behaviors, their cries, or their innards–was, to Sophocles and his contemporaries, not superstitious hokum, but a practical science at which one could be skilled or unskilled, and it bodes ill for Oedipus that he is so quick to disregard it in favor of his own native wit. [See Note 2] By Shakespeare’s day, the practice had long been relegated to the realm of outdated hocus-pocus, but the Bard still saw some truth in it; in Macbeth, there is a recurring sense that, when the world is sick with some great wrong, its first symptoms manifest in the behavior of birds. When the “fatal bellman” the owl shrieks in the night, Lady Macbeth takes it as a sign that her husband is about his bloody business. The day after the murder of Duncan, as Ross converses with an Old Man about the strange things they’ve seen the previous night, “unnatural/Even as the deed that’s done”, the killing of a falcon by a mousing-owl–an omen straight out of Sophocles–is mentioned before the madness and cannibalism of Duncan’s horses, even though the latter would surely be more immediately noticeable and ghastly than the former.
These are the most obvious examples of birds as ill omens in Macbeth; yet even the more innocuous invocations of birds throughout the rest of the play continually turn our thoughts back to the ancient Greek understanding of fate and prophecy, and thereby remind us that, however savagely he may fight at Dunsinane, Macbeth’s fate is as fixed as that of Oedipus. The birds have already foretold all.
Note 1: The closest thing there is to this kind of fatalness in another Shakespearean tragedy is the several superstitious occurrences in Julius Caesar–both the soothsayer’s message of “Beware the ides of March” and the bestial portents such as the lack of a heart in an offering and the whelping of a lioness in the streets. Still, I will insist that these omens do not convey a sense of fatedness to the audience as strongly as the Weird Sisters in Macbeth by virtue of their being told to Caesar himself, not to Brutus, the play’s true protagonist, and by the fact that Shakespeare elsewhere uses dialogue to throw some doubt upon the idea of predestination: "Men at some times are masters of their fates:/The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,/But in ourselves, that we are underlings." -I.ii
Note 2: The Liddell-Scott Greek Lexicon identifies at least two separate verbs referring to bird-based divination, both of which are present in the quoted passages: Tiresias uses ορνϊθοσκοπέομαι, observe birds, interpret their flight and cries, while Oedipus uses οιωνίζομαι, take omens from the flight and cries of birds. The latter term comes from οιωνος, a large bird, bird of prey, such as a vulture or eagle, and so distinguished from a common bird, while the former comes from ορνις, which more generally refers to a bird, including birds of prey and domestic fowls. Birds of both kinds are present in Macbeth; there are οιωναι, such as the “falcon, towering in her pride of place”, as well as ορνες, like the Porter’s goose and cock. I therefore see little value in interrogating the kinds of birds invoked by Shakespeare, the specific cultural associations and significance of the owl, the raven, or the wren; rather, if we reduce them down to their barest existence as birds, animals of the class Aves, and consider them in an ancient Greek light, then things become a bit clearer.

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2024.05.14 05:12 WishboneHot8050 The Airplane Game

TLDR: I heard about an old scheme called The Airplane Game recently. It reminded me of Bitcoin.
Someone on another sub suggested The Dream podcast, which covers modern scams that prey on people's desire for growing wealth. The first episode kicks off with the story of The Airplane Game. I had never heard of this until yesterday.
The Airplane Game allegedly started in New York City in the 1980's. It organically sprung up in different circles. People participating in the game were pitched to come to a business network seminar that included a life coach guest speaker. Chairs were arranged in a ~~pyramid~~ triangle formation. 1 seat at the top (the pilot), 2 seats behind them (the co-pilots), 4 seats behind them (flight attendants), and 8 seats on the last row (passengers).
The guest speaker would talk about "human potential", prosperity gospel themes, and all kinds of new age advice for growing your wealth and gaining financial independence. Somewhere within the presentation, the game was introduced. Put in $1500 to get a seat on the 4th row. Once all 8 seats on the back row were bought out, the pilot at the top would graduate with $12000. Then triangle would then split into two new triangles - with everyone moving up a row and leaving a new set of back rows for the next round of recruits. Everyone with a seat up front was incentivized to recruit new participants in the game. As that would speed up their path to cashing out as a pilot.
If I recall the woman being interviewed on the Podcast, the original participants were a high energy crowd and no one really connected the idea with it being a Ponzi scheme. They had no trouble recruiting and they bought in to the new age BS about the prosperity they rightfully deserved. The Airplane Game simply reinforced it. The groups would meet periodically with different speakers, introduce new players, give payouts, and talk more enlightenment. Even pilots who cashed out had no reason to not play again for another $1500.
Eventually, they ran out of suckers. And eventually some "low energy" folks would be left holding the bag and complaining loudly since they were unable to sell more seats on the plane. Then the cops and feds started raiding the Airplane Game parties across the country. And the whole thing collapsed.
Now here's where I think this intersects crypto. Bitcoin is just the Airplane Game on a bigger scale. Both are Ponzi schemes. Both are backed by a farcical philosophy promising a path to financial prosperity. There's gurus that espouse the philosophy to gain the trust of new recruits and so on. Without the hype factor being whipped up by those most incentivized to do so, both Bitcoin and and The Airplane Game seem dumb. But once the self-help prosperity philosophy is sprinkled in, it becomes a magnet for certain people.
If we can understand the psychology of people enticed by the Airplane Game. We can probably extrapolate that level of thinking to Bitcoin fanatics. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.

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2024.05.14 04:50 cwtguy Moldy air coming from neighbors house - how can we improve the air quality and smell outside?

I've already spoken with my neighbor. She doesn't notice or pretends not to. She's a renter and is currently staying in a hotel while her place is being remodeled on the inside.
Long story short she let a toilet leak into the floor for years and it finally rotted the wood and fel through. When the landlord came in to fix the problem he has also been at work replacing a sink, hole in roof, leaking shower into floor below, rotted drywall and that's what I he told me. He also mentioned she's a hoarder and it was disgusting to be in there.
The contractor has a window open with a fan constantly blowing air out of the house. It's the same rancid smell we as neighbors always smell when she has her AC unit exhaust attached to the window to vent outside.
Due to the nature of the reno situation going on I feel now is the time to help her out or take action on our front with outdoor fans, Tiki torches and whatever else will combat the smell. Maybe it's dangerous but it's definitely uncomfortable. Guests and delivery people comment on it each summer. I want our outdoor area to be inviting and pleasant.
Any suggestions?

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2024.05.14 04:35 user87666666 Anyone's dad suppressed your emotion?

I'm not even a "son". I remember when I was like 15 or 16, I saw someone having a lift inside their house when we went to their house-warming party, so I was excited and told my dad "a lift!" and was bringing this up to other people in the party too. Then my dad was like, why is your tone so excited etc. This happens a lot of time. I managed to make a sale by myself from selling stuff online, or when I was excited to tell my dad the type of customers that came to buy my goods, dad was like, why your pitch is so high?? However, note that when he invites his guests over, they can be laughing that I hear it upstairs with my doors shut. Also, my brother's gf can be gushing over something with a "high tone" and my dad says nothing. Other females can be in high pitch and he sometimes say stuff like they are so cute.. I dont even have a high pitch when I talk and some mistaken my voice for a guy... I realized this translate to me not showing my emotions everywhere I go. People think I am calm in all situations, but I'm actually squeeling inside or freaking out inside

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2024.05.14 04:07 edgiscript [FF4M] Mafia Dog - Part 1 of 7 [Paramilitary Group] [Rescued Listener] [Severely Wounded Listener] [Concerned Caring Speakers] [Good Boy]

Title: Mafia Dog
Carissa is in her early 40s. She’s a higher ranking officer in this group.
Jane is in her mid/late 20s.
Note: I believe this series will most likely never be performed. It's a 7-part series that requires either an extensive collab or a VA that can do multiple voices as the same 2 speakers are in every chapter. It varies per chapter as to who has more lines. It also gets loud at times with explosions and gunfire and the like which is not very conducive to ASMR. So, I'm releasing it here without it having been performed. I usually wait until someone performs one of my pieces before I release the script publicly. I hope you enjoy the read.
Info you might want if you do perform it: An Introduction To The Book That Is Me : ASMRScriptHaven (reddit.com)
Note: This takes place after an untold horropsychotic yandere story. If any writer wishes to write that story, be my guest. If you notify me, I'll link it here. This series deals with the recovery, recuperation, and care for the rescued victim.
My masterlist: [FF4M] Mafia Dog - Part 1 of 7 [Paramilitary Group] [Rescued Listener] [Severely Wounded Listener] [Concerned Caring Speakers] [Good Boy] : ASMRScriptHaven (reddit.com)
(All talk and sfx are muffled until the secrete door is opened.)
(Sound of muffled gunfire is going on in adjacent rooms. Door is opened roughly.)
Carissa: Clear. Damn it, she’s not in here.
(Pause.)
Yes, our informant advised that this is her office. And look, here’s the information we needed about the shipments coming in tomorrow on her desk. At least we ended up with that.
Damn it, damn it, damn it! I really thought we had her this time. Our contact said she was here right now. How could she have gotten away?
(Pause.)
Yeah, I know, Mike. Obviously Kent’s not gonna like this. He was hoping this strike would put down this upstart gang for good. We cleared out the rest of her goons at this location, but if Francine is still alive… well, I don’t want to think about that right now. Jane?
Jane: Yeah, Carissa?
Carissa: Jane, you and Mike take the others and double check every room we’ve already cleared. Look for any clue as to Francine’s whereabouts or plans that we can bring back to Kent.
Jane: You got it. Come on, Mike.
Carissa: Ronnie, you stay here with me. If our intel was right and Francine was here, maybe there’s a secret passageway she used to escape, or maybe there’s something else to discover.
(Some light tapping on walls as they look. Then a tap closer to the listener.)
Carissa: Hey, I think I’ve found something. This wall, right here. There’s something behind it. Now, how to get it open.
(Pause.)
Ronnie, great work.
(Pause.)
Yes, hit that button.
(A door slides open and all is now clear to the listener.)
That did it. There’s a secret opening here that leads to… Oh, my God! Ronnie, come here.
(Pause.)
Hey, are you all right? Can you hear me?
(Pause.)
Ronnie, put that gun down. You’re scaring him.
(Pause.)
Yes, I know Kent’s orders were to eliminate everyone we find, but this is different. He’s obviously not one of them. Look at him. He’s tied and gagged, and it looks like he’s been beaten to within an inch of his life. He’s still got dried blood on him. Whoever he is, he’s not a threat to us and he clearly needs our help.
(Pause.)
Ronnie, besides the fact that what you just said reveals you to be an inhuman prick and should be ignored on its own, you need to consider the fact that he may be some use. At the very least, he may know some things about Francine.
(Pause.)
No, calling you inhuman was not a compliment. Kent’s orders didn’t account for us finding someone like this in here, and I’m going to help him.
(Pause.)
I don’t care if it is easier to put him down. I’m taking him with us. God, what is wrong with you?
(Pause.)
Yes, it will be on my head if he turns out to be one of them.
(To the listener.) Hey, you, look at me. I’m going to remove the gag, ok. I want to talk to you.
(Pause.)
No, no, no. Don’t shake your head. Stop thrashing. We’re here to help. I’m not going to hurt you.
(Pause.)
(To Ronnie.) Ugh. Damn it. He’s scared to death and he’s going to hurt himself further if he keeps this up.
(Pause.)
Yeah, Ronnie, we’ve already established you don’t give a rat’s ass if he kills himself, but just accept that I do and that I’m in charge right now and give me the bag. I’m going to use the sedative on him.
(Pause.)
Of course, I know we brought it for Francine, but she’s not here, now is she?
(To the listener.) Ok, buddy, I’m sorry if the needle stings, but this will relax you while we move you somewhere safe. See you on the other side.
(Time passes.)
Jane: Carissa, come here. He’s waking up.
Carissa: (Whispering softly.) Hey there, big guy. How are you doing?
(Pause.)
(Not angry, but forceful like she knows what she’s doing.) No, no. Stop struggling, ok? STOP!
(Pause.)
(Calm.) Good. That’s very good. You’ve been wounded. You’re in our infirmary and you’re strapped to the bed. Any struggling could possibly cause you serious harm.
Jane: Carissa’s right. At best it will make it so our medical staff have to reconnect your IVs, and you don’t want to make them work any harder than you have to, do you?
It’s ok. We’re here to care for you. Do you understand? We want to help.
(Pause.)
Carissa: Ok, good. Good. Stay calm. Look, I’m being soft and tender, see? Jane will brush your hair with her hand while you and I talk for a bit.
I know you’ve got to be scared out of your mind right now, but if you just stay calm, we’ll do what we can to reassure you that everything’s all right. Ok?
(Pause.)
(Sigh.) Good. Good boy.
Jane: Carissa, I think he likes it when you call him that.
Carissa: (To Jane.) Yeah, I think you’re right.
(To the listener.) You like that? Ok, then. That’s what I’ll call you, ok? Good boy.
Here, now I’ll hold your hand while you lay still. My name is Carissa. That gentleman over by the door is Mike, and I already told you that this is Jane. And you are my good boy.
That’s right. I’m going to take care of you, good boy. I’m not going to let any harm come to you anymore. You’re not in any danger. These two, Mike and Jane, they’re here for you specifically to make sure nobody comes in here to hurt you.
Jane: Carissa’s right. You’re completely safe. You can rest easy while we’re here. Ok? You just rest and recover and leave everything else to us.
Carissa: And I’m going to see to it that I do everything I can to make you feel safe and protected as well. Now, to do that, we need to know a few things about you. The doctor wants you to rest. She’s telling us we can only have a few minutes with you, so we’ll make this quick. Ok?
Jane: You’re being such a good boy right now. I’ll keep running my fingers through your hair while you answer Carissa’s questions, ok?
Carissa: Now, we just need you to confirm a few things. Did Francine do this to you? Was she there in the place where we found you?
(Pause as listener doesn’t want to say anything.)
Jane: It’s ok. You can tell us.
Carissa: You’re afraid, aren’t you? She did this to you and you’re afraid if you tell us anything, she’s going to punish you.
(Pause.)
No, you don’t have to say anything. I’m not trying to frighten you. I want you to feel safe with me. You’re my good boy, remember? I wouldn’t do anything to hurt my good boy.
Here you go. I’ll just stroke your hair gently as well with my other hand. I can see you really like that when Jane does it. Does that make you feel better, good boy?
Jane: It certainly does. You’re being so good.
Carissa: Yes, you are. So, let me ask an easier question. Do you know how long Francine had you there?
(Pause.)
You don’t know? A long time? They picked you up off the street in a blizzard by offering you a warm place to stay.
Jane: My God. It’s summer now so it’s been several months at least. You poor boy.
Carissa: Well, we’ve got you now, ok?
(Softly aside to Jane.) And now we’ve just confirmed that it was Francine who was there and did this to him.
Jane: (Softly to Carissa.) Ooh, clever.
Carissa: Don’t worry, good boy, you are safe with us. You can count on that.
(Aside.) Yes, Ronnie? Kent needs me? Ok, I’ll be right there.
(To the listener.) Ok, good boy. I have to go, but Jane and Mike are going to stay just outside of your room while you get some more sleep, ok?
Jane: And I’ll stay right here beside you until you fall asleep.
Carissa: The doctor will be in periodically to check on you. Her name is Suzanne and she’s very nice, so you don’t have to worry about her. When she comes by, do what she says, ok? She’s only trying to help.
And I’ll be back as soon as I can. You’re safe as long as you’re here. I can see that you’re still very tired. They’ve given you a lot of medication so you don’t feel any pain. You be my good, good boy while I’m gone and everything will be ok.
Here. (Kiss.) Just a kiss on your forehead for my good boy. You sleep now.
Jane: And if you wake up and Carissa’s not here and you’re scared, just let me know and I’ll sit with you too. Ok?
Carissa: Good boy. Get some rest.
(Time passes. Listener wakes up and hears what Carissa’s saying to Kent, but Carissa initially doesn’t notice.)
(To Kent.) No, Kent, what I’m telling you is that he was her dog, only I think she got her kicks out of… well literally kicking him. Did you hear what Suzanne said about his injuries? That bitch Francine is twisted.
(Pause.)
No, he’s been fine since we brought him in. He’s a little scared, but that’s to be expected.
(Pause.)
What? No, you can’t do that to him. He needs protection! I’m not sending him away. I’ll care for him myself if I…
(Pause.)
Oh, I’m sorry, Kent. You weren’t saying get rid of him.
(Pause.)
Yeah, I guess I am a little zealous over this one. You know where you found me twenty years ago. I guess my heart went out to the guy as soon as I saw him. I can empathize with where he’s been.
(Pause.)
Yeah, thank you for understanding, Kent.
(Pause.)
No, you’re absolutely right with that. He’s going to need some special attention for a while.
(Pause.)
Yes, of course. I’ll take full responsibility. Mike and Jane have agreed to help too. I think they feel sorry for him like I do. I promise, I’ll… Oh, hold on, Kent.
(To listener.) Hey there, good boy. You feeling better?
(Pause.)
That’s right. I told you I’d be back as soon as I could.
(To Kent.)
No, Kent, I understand. Go ahead. I’ll stay here with my good boy.
(Pause.)
Yeah, I’ll keep you updated. And thanks, Kent.
(To listener.) Did you sleep well, good boy?
(Pause.)
That’s good to hear. I’m glad you’re feeling better.
(Pause.)
Yes, the straps are still on. This is a new situation and we wanted to make sure you weren’t going to hurt anybody because you got scared, including yourself.
(Pause.)
No. I don’t think you’re violent, but it’s a precaution we take with everybody. Understand? They’ve even had to do it to me a couple times when I’ve been down here injured. I tend to move around a lot when I sleep and I can hurt myself by pulling out everything the doctors have attached.
(Pause.)
(Taken aback.) Wha…? Mistress? No, no. I’m not your mistress.
(Pause.)
Oh, don’t cry. I’m not mad at you for saying that. You’re still my good boy. Here, let me hug you. Does that feel better?
(Pause.)
There, there. You’re ok. I wasn’t mad at you, and I wasn’t rejecting you.
(Pause.)
No, you don’t have to call me… You know what? It’s ok. You can call me mistress for now if it makes you feel better.
(Pause.)
I can tell that it does. You’re more at ease. Ok, I’m your mistress.
(To herself.) I guess that’s something we’re going to have to work on.
(Pause.)
What? Oh, nothing, my good boy. Nothing you have to worry about right now.
Now that you’re awake, Suzanne has some tests she wants to run. Mostly she’s just going to talk to you, show you some lights, that kind of thing. I don’t think any needles are involved this time.
(Pause.)
I know. I hate needles too. So just relax and do what she says. And when she’s done, Mike will come in to keep you company for a while. I have some business to take care of.
(Pause.)
What should you do while I’m gone? Well, you need to make sure that when I come back, everybody tells me what a good boy you’ve been. Ok?
(Pause.)
Yes, Jane will be here in a while too. She’s out right now on an assignment, but she’ll be back.
(Pause.)
Oh, that makes you smile, does it? Well, good. I’m glad she makes you feel better. Ok, so long for now, my good boy. Know that you’re safe.
Part 2 coming.

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2024.05.14 04:07 Delmygonza Seeking Writer for Romance Comic Project

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2024.05.14 03:46 DukeOfDerpington Duality of Prey-Chapter 11

Huge shout out to & for helping with Brainstorming and Co-Writing this.
As always, all credits for the original Nature of Predators and it's content goes to Space Paladin15, thank him for allowing artist and writers to use his original work of art for their own uses.
Gaian Ref Sheet-Here, Done by the artist
As well as a *Huge* thank you for Julian Skys for filling in for the editor for this chapter. I'll post a comment as to why I haven't been posting too much, safe to say though, kept ya waiting huh?
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[Subject Memory Transcription: Rux Limpbut, Venlil News Anchor and TV Show Host]
Date [Standardized Galactic(?) Time]:August 1st, 2136
Now I'm regretting not taking that transfer last week. This just keeps getting better.
I was in my car outside of the Network’s station. I was at my wits end yesterday and was trying my damnedest *not* to freak out on air. Now? Now I had the pleasure of my network telling me they needed me to come in way early to report on some breaking news. Just as I was about to leave for Solgaliks sake!
I took a small sip of the “coffee”. Now this was a blessing, coffeehouses on Gaia were open paw around, no matter what. I was giving a small prayer to those “ancestors” for their love of anything strong. Well, anything strong that wasn't alcohol. They could stomach one drink or two but after that? They were out.
Slurrrrrp
I let out a relieved sigh as the warm liquid flowed down my maw, the reward of caffeine soon following after this. Hopefully in time for the recording. With that I opened the door, grabbing my briefcase as I greedily drank the rest of the coffee as I approached the wide doors of the Networks station.
They creaked a little as they always did as I appeared in the doorway, a sleepy, overworked ghost. I tossed the coffee cup into the trashcan by the door as I nodded over the after work plans that I had to either postpone, or completely not do.
No bar time, going to be too tired. Not going to have enough time to do more digging in what that Farsulian diplomat released, even after it's been nearly two months. Brahk. Still need to be ready for the shift tomorrow-
“Rux?” The front desk secretary pulled me up and out of my thoughts as I blinked a couple of times, my ears raising as one of my eyes focused on her, a bit frizzled from the overtime I was clocking at the moment.
“Hm? Oh. Hey Liakal, caught me off guard almost as bad as the padcall I got. What's up?” I rubbed my eye as I fully focused on her, making my way over to her.
“Well, whenever you're ready for them they'll give you all you need, apparently, when you get into the studio. What they told me is uh, it's not a pleasant amount of news.” She nervously played with her claws and her headset, her lips quivering a bit.
“That bad? Speh. What about that uh, guest? She gets off-”
“O-oh! Mrs Tarva. She got off the planet easily. I can't say anything else though Rux. They said whatever they have to tell is very, very pertinent not to be let loose until you broadcast it… sorry Rux.”
I patted the top of the semi circle desk that Liakal was sat into, before giving her a quick, albeit small smile with a finger gun before I quickly deflated. It was that bad. With a nod from me I departed into the hallway to the left of the front desk, approaching one of the elevators.
A button press, a chime and the feeling of gravity and anxiousness about to make me hurl later, I was on the floor with the studios. I retraced the steps I had taken only claws before to mine. The green sign saying “Predator Problems” told me I hadn't failed as usual. Something had to be done with our program and segment name, if for nothing else there was apparently much more juicy stuff to talk about.
Opening the door, I expected the hustling and scrambling of the cameramen, the lighting crew, audio specialists. But nothing except a small huddled group of uniformed men. Brahk, I was hoping this wasn't the case but I was never that lucky. I resigned myself to fate as the group finally paid attention to me, and the door clicking and shutting behind me.
“Mr. Rux. Please come over here and sit. You're all good, we just need to go over what we need you to announce in this upcoming impromptu broadcast.” Why the hell were the Gaians on Prime? Wait no. That's not the problem. Why are officers from their military here? Oh stars.
However I could feel my body coming towards the oval shaped table. Eventually knocking into a chair and pulling it out, resting my briefcase onto the ground and taking a seat, pulling up to the desk. I rested my paws on it as I gave a look to the group assembled around it.
All were wearing roughly the same uniform, their fur patterns one of the only differing things between them. Aside from the one at the end of the table. They wore a green beret atop their head, nestled in between the horns that adorned it. They cleared their throat and slid a small packet of papers towards me, startling me a tiny bit.
“While I wish to be polite and respectful, there's simply no way to say this without being blunt. Sole Speaker Jikem is dead. With the current atmosphere on Gaia we thought it'd be best to announce the formation of an emergency government and a leader to head it. All of which has been done in a roundabout manner so as to not alert any radicals or terrorists.”
I had only taken a cursory glance at the front of the small packet before that bombshell of an information was dropped onto me nonchalantly. My paw was halfway to the front page to turn it before my gaze looked up at the Gaian at the end of the oval table who had done so.
“What? Sorry can you-”
“Rux. Come on, you know what I said. Now, I know it isn't everypaw that you get to report on the death of a head of state, let alone be the first one to do so. I'll most certainly give you that. So, we'll give you some time alone…well mostly, to get acquainted with the packet and once you and your crew are roaring to go we'll release the news to the Commonwealth.”
I took a small lookover of the second page but had to pause for a short moment again as I took it in. Yes, yes I did have some questions. Half from the large info dropped on me and the other half that I was now reading with my very own eyes now.
Before they could fully get up I had worked up the courage to get a short clearing of the throat and read out of the lines in the packet out aloud after I had decided it would be better to ask now rather than after. “In conjunction with recent attacks the Armed forces has decided to-” I put down the packet in its entirety now.
“What in the stars could you possibly mean by “safeguarding” democracy? This just seems to be some type of justification for a military takeover. I mean, who's going to fall for this?”
The chairs of the small clique of officers seem to find themselves filled once more as they returned to their positions, most of them now gazing between me, some random crew member scurrying near me and the head honcho with the green beret.
The intensity of the stare of the Gaian at the opposite end of the table seemed to intensify, seemingly his gaze looking through me. “Mr. Rux, I can assure you any such speculation to that matter and that, frankly, justified if albeit imaginary fear is going to be the last thing people on Gaia are going to worry about. Alright?”
I anxiously nodded back, sighing. “L-look I'm just-”
The Bereted officer seemed to nod while holding up his paw, my line of reasoning and thought being stopped by the intrusion. “Worried, you ancestors are always worried. It's why we're here, yes? Anything too dangerous or otherwise unsafe we've always volunteered for so as to save our more cultured self from such. Think about this announcement like that. A warning and an update from our side of the Commonwealth about current affairs, nothing more, nothing less.”
With that it seemed settled for the time being, as the small clique once again rose, and this time was actually able to depart to the booth that overlooked the studio, keeping what I was sure to guess a keen pair of eyes to observe anything.
I settled into my seat more as I gave the small packet a read. It was general stuff as of this point when it came to announcements. Why it's happening, what happened in more details, what they planned to do in the upcoming future, all that juicy stuff. Overall a very plain, if very informative script to go by. Still, being the first to announce the death of a head of state via “Unnatural Causes” would make even some of the most resolved Gaians a bit jumpy, yes?
Once I finally gave the entirety of the packet a quick read over I sat it down giving a glance to my, by now, very familiar set that we used for “Predator Problems”, the entire reason for why I had started it had been to educate and warn people about what to do with predators and the like. Now I was going to have to educate them, apparently, about the fact that our “brothers” in species so to speak were having a bit of topsy-turvy time on their capital planet. Now I was kinda hoping I was one of the more conspiracy theorist nut jobs just so I didn't have to get contacted.
Resigning myself to fate, and the fact that apparently I of all Vens was the most level headed to announce this, I looked over the studio, eventually finding the small group of uniformed men again. I got up and out of the chair as I made my way over to them, flicking my tail into a questioning sign as I did so, my approaching presence quickly noticed.
“Seems like you've got some questions, you read the packet though yeah?” One of them said, I simply signaled a yes with my ears to respond.
“So, is this immediately being aired? Or is it being aired later on tomorrow-well, this paw? Should it be the first thing or the last thing or is it the only thing I'm doing for this one?” With these questions the small clique seemed to talk in-between themselves, small glances were made in my general direction, they seemed to come to some type of conclusion though as they turned back to me, the bereted one now taking center stage again once more.
“Yes. It's being immediately aired. You do realize you are a bit of a celebrity on Gaia, yes? A special breaking news from you would certainly draw the right eyes. Then it'll spread from there. We do have other stuff for you to read, but it'll appear on the prompter. Other than that though we'll take our leave once everything is said and done.”
I gave a small thanks to Solgalik, as that would mean I would be able to go back home and get at least a claw or two of rest. Speh, if I just slept here I could get an extra one easy. But I didn't have much time to dwell on that, instead I apparently had a job to do right now.
With that bit of information I decided to go around, talking to the crew, who as of this point has finally settled down and has stopped scattering from the Gaians. A small conversation with each helped us plan out the next few tantalizingly painful minutes that were about to unfold live on air.
With everything and everyone in place, I took my seat at the curved table in the middle of the cameras, getting my little tie ready. With a countdown from 3, I settled into my on screen persona as the red lights of the cameras went on.
“Good Paw to everyone tuning in! I'm your host as always, Rux Limpbut, and this is Predator problems. This time though, we do have some breaking news that we need to get to. So with that being said, I suppose it's time for me to get to it.”
I straightened my back, placing my paws firmly as I closed my eyes, breathing in and then opening my eyes again.
Alright. Just gotta break the news that the head of state of the other half of our Commonwealth is dead and their Army just decided to seize power for democracy's sake.
“I have some sad, and what some can and should be saying is unsettling, news. Sole Speaker Jikem of the Gaian Cooperative, has died earlier this paw. Details are scarce and hard to come by as of this point, but from preliminary reports and investigations, it seems as though he *may* have been assassinated while at a checkpoint. As many of you know he was elected on a lockstep ticket with the current governor of Venlil Prime, Veln. He oversaw the last closing years of the Dominion-Federation war, as well as the beginning of closer federation ties. Many people are bound to ask as of this point what is going to happen, and the easiest and most truthful answer is…we don't know.”
I shuffled some papers, discarding the packet to the side of the table before continuing on with the information I was to spout out.
“Already reports are coming in that the Armed Forces of Gaia have declared a state of emergency and already there are rumblings that they have formed… an emergency government?”
I gave a bit of a confused look before continuing, I could see the group of uniformed Gaians nodding as I did so, apparently that was good enough for them.
The rest of the news report was generally a bit unsettling, or at least info packed by many people's standards. Updates on the federation at large, some reports on the status of the Venian Commonwealth and what was the plan going forward and before I knew it the red blinking light on the cameras had vanished, and the lights overhead had dimmed.
“Alright, that's good for us. We'll have one of our guys stay over the paw to help your team edit it but other than that? You can head on home.” The bereted one informed me, before signalling to one of the clique, most likely the one to stay here and “help” us edit.
I rested back in my chair and closed my eyes, I think it was time for me to get some shuteye.
—----------
Smoke billows out from the mouth of the Uniformed figure, a lit cigar cradled in his claws. He takes a survey of the trio gathered in front of him.
“So.” The figure grunts out, leaning back into his chair.
“So, what?” One of the trio asks inquisitively, shifting in their seat.
“So now what? Not many paws you get to make a masterstroke of a situation like this. Sole speaker is dead, people are looking to any type of stability and we perfectly fill the slot.” The Uniformed figure takes the cigar up to his mouth, smoking it lightly.
“Well there are numerous concerns.” The most center of the trio speak.
“Like what to do with those brahking predators that apparently still exist.” To the right of the first speaker.
“I vote we integrate them posthaste!” And finally the one on the other end.
A thick billowing cloud of smoke escapes the lips of the Uniformed figure, fidgeting for a moment before rolling forward. His face now fully lit.
“Gentlemen. Calm down. We have plenty of problems with plenty of solutions. But that's why you put me in charge of this little emergency government anyhow right? Levelheaded, warhero, clean political record.”
The trio murmur for a moment before returning a nod, the middle one piping up as he did so.
“Yes, that is why we decided to throw our towel in with you Marshal.”
The Uniformed figure now places his elbows on the table, his paws bridging each other while the cigar is still in-between in his paws.
“That's Marshal-at-Arms Jyuvernik to you. Now where were we? Ah right. The Dark corner. I want you to send a diplomatic team to assess the cattle debacle.”

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2024.05.14 03:42 Agreeable-Total-4882 AITA for not inviting someone I don't like to my post-prom plans?

Hey everyone. 18F here, and I am a current high school senior (so yes, this will be very high school drama-esque). In my area, it's common that, after senior prom, people will go away without parental supervision for the first time for the rest of the weekend.
Earlier this year, I was talking with my cousin and we brainstormed to go to a very similar place in another state as the place most people go tends to be packed and VERY dingy/unsafe because of the type of people such an event attracts. This was a perfect solution, because while I wanted the experience of going somewhere, I'm definitely not the party type and would rather spend the weekend hanging out with friends and relaxing. A few months ago, I ran this idea by my best friend, M (17F). They were really excited by this idea, and the two of us started to plan. We ended up with six people total, including us.
Where the problem comes in is that my friend, M, is also friends with another person, V (17F). V is a very headstrong person that tends to be obnoxious and bossy. She's not a bad person by any means, but is someone that I personally can only handle in small doses. She also tends to take over other peoples' plans, such as taking it upon herself to decide the guest list and everything else for a party she wasn't even hosting, excluding myself and others from the list. She has also borderline bullied me over small things and using her loud voice/bigger figure in a way that would pressure me not to respond or to agree. She has also specifically implied to other people that she does not like me.
I didn't want V to come, because not only do I dislike her, but I fear that she will 'take over' our plans, and make our trip into something it's not. Also, she tends to be a very anxious person, and I do not want her anxiety to be my problem. V tends to be very self-centered, and will bring things that are not about her to make them so that they are. Also, with the obnoxiousness, if I am hypothetically consuming things that wouldn't be particularly allowed, she would only draw attention to our group.
Anyway, the trip. M had half a mind to invite V, but I insisted for reasons above that it was a bad idea, and that V had mentioned she already had plans. This wasn't a total lie, because M did suggest that V was going to go to someone else's house that weekend. After a while, it was apparent that M did feel guilty about not inviting her. I urged her to throw me under the bus and that we were both under the impression that she had other plans, as flaky as they did seem. M did insist on telling V about the trip, which I understood, because she didn't want V to find out over social media and think that M had gone behind her back. Apparently, V didn't respond well, and according to M, she did throw me under the bus as I'd urged her to.
I've been struggling because while I feel O.K. for not inviting V (this trip was my idea, after all), I do feel like a bad friend to M for putting her in the middle.
AITA?

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2024.05.14 03:41 khugftw Formal/Black Tie church ceremony

First time poster, long time lurker! I was invited to a summer wedding and the invite says formal/black tie for dress code. It is an evening reception and I have no concerns there. My uncertainty comes in with the ceremony, it is mid afternoon in a church, so there will be several hours between ceremony and reception where guests will have time to kill. Do I wear the same thing I plan to wear to the reception to the church? Do I need two separate dresses for each part of the day? Same question for my husband. Does he wear his suit/tux all day or change in between? Does he need two suits? I don’t know why this feels so confusing to me.

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2024.05.14 03:09 CalyWitsune The Games That Scared Me Away

Long time lurker, first time redditoposter. I've been listening and reading a lot of these horror stories and figured it might be fun to share mine.
I haven't actually played a game of DnD or DnD adjacent since about 2020/2021, mostly because of what transpired during the games I actually did play before that. I love the concept, I love creating characters and stories and worlds, but I get a pit in my stomach when I actually try to play again.
I had my first opportunity to play DnD my freshman year of college. I dropped in on the campus tabletop club and I was quite anxious. I was the only girl in the room, everyone seemed to have known each other or clicked well, but I wanted to branch out of my comfort zone. The first night went well! We played a very quick heist one shot where we made a character with one flaw and one interesting trait. Through unfortunate rolls and circumstances, we had a TPK, but it was a fun time. I was invited afterwards to join a Pathfinder campaign that a few of the members were going to start up for the new semester, and so I scheduled a time to meet with the DM and create my first full fledged character.
Now, the DM was kind of eccentric, a little whack if you will but very excited to help me make my first character. I thought he was just goofy and really into the game. God I wish I picked up on all the red flags that would come.
He first asked me what kind of race I'd like to play as. I had always been drawn to tiefling characters because I liked the aesthetic. His eyes lit up at that for some reason. Then he asked what class I'd like; if I'd like to be primarily a support or tank or what have you. I didn't want to get overwhelmed in my first game and thought support might be nice. I could watch how combat worked while just keeping everyone going and buffed. I said let's try bard! The grin that crept up on his face...
He immediately started talking about how saucy that would be, how my character would be so flirty and fun. I expressed some discomfort in having my character immediately fall into the "h*rny bard" category I had seen meme'd on so much, but he laughed and waved it off by saying he "was a theater kid in high school! Everyone was super h*orny and making out backstage all the time. It just comes with the environment!" Being a new player, and wanting to fit in, I pushed down my discomfort and thought okay, I'll play her as a joke character I guess.
For awhile it was fine, I got to play her as a dancelyre player who was part of a traveling circus. Nothing weird was coming up the first few sessions. Most of the other PCs either joined together by taking quests from the town job board, or had ties built in to their backstory. My first red flag should have been that the DM, despite constantly raving about all his planning, was frequently skipping around the story. He would suddenly decide the plot point we were on wasn't interesting enough for some reason, and just throw us into another scenario. We left so many lose ends because he just didn't feel like finishing them, regardless of if we were engaging in it or not. But hey, he's the DM right? That's what I thought, he had the right to change it. I had no prior experience to see this was just bad DMing.
We ended up joining an archery competition as we were tempted by a mystery grand prize. At the sign up table, out of nowhere, the DMPC attending to registration suddenly starts flirting with my character. I got flustered in a negative way because this DM got very into character (giving me looks, leaning in as he spoke to me, the whole shebang). I panicked, all of a sudden being the focus of a room full of men seeing how I'd react to it. I again, stupidly, went along with it. I had her (nervously) flirt back lightly, and I was relieved it didn't go much further at that point. Skipping to the end of the archery competition, my bard ended up in the final two and sabotaged an assassination on the town's mayor mid competition. The party was invited to a celebratory dinner at the mayor's house afterwards, where we once again ran into the NPC that flirted with my character at registration. He invited her to bed, and again I got extremely uncomfortable and flustered. None of this was discussed beforehand, nor was I even asked if I was comfortable with such topics before joining the campaign. The guys at the table were egging me on, and I felt pressured to accept. With a few hoots and hollers, we had a fade to black scene (thank god). I went home feeling very icky, but convinced myself I was being a wimp. And the table had enjoyed my antics that night, so I should be grateful.
I had the thought between sessions to write in a childhood friends to lovers interest for my bard to try and avoid any more unexpected encounters like that again, thinking if the DM had another character to play as with some personal tie to my bard, that would make be feel better about the interactions. He was brought up once, where I milked the f*ck out of my character's attachment to him, hoping to drive home that this was juicy potential relationship to build over the campaign. He never came up again during that campaign. The DM also completely disregarded many of the notes I gave him detailing this love interest's personality, and took many 'creative liberties' with him, but not enough where I would decide to say something.
Another few sessions happened where we struggled through the DMs inconsistent storytelling and jumping around to whatever plot point had his interest at the moment. He was constantly putting us in fights we could not hope to win, way too challenging for our lvl. 1-3 party. We often sat around the table in disappointment and defeat as we got absolutely destroyed by monsters (no one being able to land hits for sometimes 3-4 rounds at a time because of how high the AC or CR was), while the DM laughed and basked in the dreary nature of the table. He would usually eventually fudge rolls to give us an out when we were close to TPKs. He even gave us a deck of many things and insisted our PCs "felt compelled" to pull cards despite the players disagreeing they that wanted to. He attempted to force my character to drastically change her alignment to an evil one for shits and giggles because of one card pull (later allowed me to ignore it because I didn't even WANT to use the deck), and got three of us killed by having them pull a card that summoned the highest CR monster you could use.
One night he texts the group chat that he decided he's done running that story, and wants to run another one shot instead. We had one last session to "close" that first campaign and discuss the one shot options. During our meeting, he gleefully admitted to me that he had planned for my bard to get PREGNANT in that one night stand with the NPC from the archery competition. Not only did he plan to do that without my consent or knowledge, he had planned for it to be a HAG baby that would have entirely f*cked my PC up (he explained it as the man having been a witch in disguise or something?? And said that's how hags are made? Which to my knowledge is entirely incorrect. Maybe it was a homebrew rule, but regardless, I was mortified. And now very grateful he lost interest in that campaign).
Moving on to the one shot, another player decided to try DMing, and so the Problem DM had a chance to be a PC, yay! He privately messaged me and asked if I'd be interested in connecting our characters and their backstories. I said yes and we got to work. We spent a few nights discussing their dynamic and I was really excited to go into this game. Well, come the night of the session, we were going around the table introducing our characters. The Problem DM went before me, and introduced an entirely different character than the one we discussed, and one that would often almost kill us during the one shot (to which the guy would cackle and mock us for getting upset each time). I asked him what happened to our plan, and he said earlier that day he decided he wanted to do something different. I sighed and let it go, because at least it was just a one shot and my character could still function without his connection to the other PC. Another one shot where the Problem DM got to be a PC, he seemed to make it his goal to be the biggest asshole to everyone else's character. My PC was an archaeologist, and when she excitedly discovered some old pottery in a dungeon, he had his PC run up and smash everything and laugh in her face.
The next campaign we tried that had issues was a Starfinder campaign. Our party was considered its own crew for a space ship, plus one DMPC that was placed into the mix supposedly to help us if we fell short, since we were all unfamiliar with Starfinder and spaceship battle mechanics. She was honestly a really cool character! And we had one or two sessions to establish the story and how the crew interacted. Now, this was my mistake, not taking any of the other creepy habits of the DM into consideration, but I offhandedly mentioned to the table at large that my PC (a woman) might be developing a crush on this DMPC (also a woman). They had gone through a lot together in-game at that point and it felt natural. The next session, you'll never guess, the DMPC started flirting hard core with my character. I was confused and asked the DM what that was about, as we had never had any interactions between those two that would be read as romantic. Even if I mentioned my character was crushing, she had never let it on, and the DMPC had never indicated she felt a similar pull as well. The DM didn't really have an explanation, just that apparently in-universe, the DMPC had been flirting more and more with my character since their last adventure together alone. I thought, okay, I guess...
Honestly? What transpired would have been an insanely cool plot twist if we had had the time to actually roleplay and develop the relationship between my character and the DMPC, as well as the crew at large and the DMPC. She ended up being part of a cult that wanted to steal an artifact we had acquired. She was apparently trying to 'romance' my PC because my PC was the one who often guarded the artifact, and needed her to let her guard down. It would have been a super impactful betrayal, but it was literally only a handful of sessions between the first meeting, and the plot twist. We just had to trust the DMs word that we had all gotten super attached to her between actual session meetings and we all should feel like we were stabbed in the back by this trusted individual. And I especially should feel heartbroken because she never really was interested in me anyway.
Later on down the line, despite some very interesting story points, it got creepy again. Our PCs ended up being sucked into a death game show, and isolated from the outside world while being broadcast to universal TV stations. At some point we were all given access to the internet after a few weeks in isolation to search up anything we wanted. Everyone searched up their names among other things. The DM described us finding our newly formed fanbases. He described the other PCs fanbases (men played by men) as having hot debates on their intelligence and decisions during the show, or bets on if they'd be the last ones standing; that sort of stuff. He described my fanbase as leering creeps saying the most unhinged things about what they wanted my PC to do to them s*xually, as well as some spreading photos of my PC without her face covering (she was a Kasatha, which canonically keep their mouths covered. But she had been forced to remove it briefly when it almost waterboarded her after she fell into a river).
Eventually, we weren't able to meet consistently enough to warrant running campaigns anymore, and I fell out of touch with all involved. Oh, we also lost a player at some point right after he confessed to me and I declined his interest.
I went another year not playing before another friend group of mine invited me to play as a guest character. I thought this would be a nice way to ease back into the game slowly after my horrid experiences before. Rather than make an entirely new character for one or two sessions, I brought back my tiefling bard because I still really liked her character, and had started to reshape her personality without being pressured to have her be a s*xual chess piece. The new DM dropped my character in a labyrinth their current party had been trapped in for awhile. I was made to be a level or two higher and be an ally they encountered to help them escape. We did, it was fun! But I was only there as a guest, and had only planned my character to be in one to two sessions before leaving. I was consistently mentioning to the party that my PC would be leaving as soon as they get to her major city, but either they didn't think I was serious or didn't remember. I may have been convinced to come on full time, but unfortunately, history repeats itself. We got to a session where the party got to a tavern and drowned their sorrows and nursed their labyrinth bruises with beer, and the idea of a threesome was thrown in the air between my PC and two others. Now, half of this group were dating someone else in the group, and seemed very comfortable roleplaying casual s*x between their PCs because of it. They started a damn chant pressuring me to say yes, already trying to roleplay it, and I felt sick. I was too anxious at the idea of saying no with how aggressive everyone was for me to agree, so I tried to "roll for yes or no" as an out; the dice failed me, and it rolled a number assigned to yes. I was very quiet the rest of the session, and afterwards messaged the DM that I want my character to leave at the beginning of the next session.
The DM then tried to convince me to stay, despite me saying a clear no multiple times within the same conversation. They begged me to stay saying the party loved my PC a lot, and they would hate to lose me. When they finally relented, they then tried to smoothly transition to talk of making me a new character so I could permanently stay with the party, without compromising my bards story and decision. I kind of got on their case about that, and told them to stop pressuring me and I did not want to play with that group anymore. Eventually, they gave up, but not without some low key guilt tripping.
I tried playing with one more group after this, and while it didn't get creepy, it was also a disappointment as none of the players seemed to care besides me and the DM, despite everyone having encouraged starting the game because they wanted to learn how to play for the first time. Players slowly started ghosting us, drama happened between two players that joined just to have an excuse to talk and try and date (which ended up very messy and they both left), and the new players would get angry at me or the DM if they got confused with the rules or combat dynamics (the wizard rushed ahead of me, the tank barbarian, and then acted like it was my fault when they nearly got killed in the first round because "the tank is supposed to protect the damage dealers").
The DM and I stayed in contact after all the other players ghosted the chat, and ended up bringing over some other new players who had also played before, and re hauled the campaign. This one had so much promise...then quarantine hit, and we couldn't keep up with regular meetings.
At this point, with all my games ending with creeps, messy player dynamics or falling through, I decided maybe these kinds of games weren't for me.
I have new friends now inviting me to play, who have very functional groups (experienced professional DMs, closeknit friend groups, long-running campaigns), but I am too wary to accept any more offers for games, despite deep down really wanting to try again and be part of something I know can be amazing. Maybe I will one day, but until then, I just have these horror stories to think about.

submitted by CalyWitsune to dndhorrorstories [link] [comments]

2024.05.14 03:01 Resident-Common9012 Wedding Coordinator's Shady Practices: Hidden Fees and Overpriced Packages

Hello everyone!
I am a Bride2Be, and I want to post this not only to ask for advice but also to raise awareness.
My fiancé and I are planning to have our wedding in the Philippines, and we hired a Wedding Coordinator (WC) a year ago. Recently, I came across a review from another bride about a supplier that my WC recommended to me. The bride mentioned the price they paid for the exact package I am interested in. I was surprised because the package prices my WC sent me were different. Acting on my suspicion, I sent an anonymous inquiry to the supplier, and they provided me with a set of prices that are 4,000-5,000 pesos lower than what my WC quoted.
I have already paid a substantial amount for FULL COORDINATION (Package details below), so why are there still under-the-table deals to get more money out of me (the client)? If there is a referral fee, it should come from the supplier, not as an extra cost on top of the prices that are not disclosed to the client.
It's worth mentioning that before hiring my WC, I had already booked 30% of the suppliers for our wedding. As a hands-on bride, I've been looking for suppliers and most of the time, I contacted and booked them myself, even after hiring her. I made her job easier and I've been very reasonable and trusting.
What can I do in this situation? I believe this is a shady practice, and my WC is not acting in my best interest. I think she is taking advantage of me because I am an overseas bride.
___________________________________________________________________ Full Coordination PACKAGE 80,000 pesos CONTRACT SIGNED AND PAID
Preparation:

Assist in determining and planning the budget and help manage to stay within the budget.
Monitoring wedding timeline spreadsheet
Assist in finding the perfect location: Church or Ceremony Venue, Reception Venue and/ or Caterer
Refer and set-up appointment with various pre-screened Vendors: Wedding Gowns; Caterer, Printer, Florist, Cakes, Photographer, Videographers, Bridal Car, Sound System and other bridal needs to the last details.
Assist in negotiations and reviewing contracts with vendors.
Assist with wedding documentations (Limited to submitting of requirements only)
Follow – ups and overall coordination with booked suppliers (through emails, phone calls and meetings)
Monitoring and Management of deposits / balances /payments made to suppliers by the client.
Assist in reviewing wordings and addressing of invitations.
Assist in advising & coordinating schedules for measurements, fittings, pre-nups, trial make-ups and other wedding related appointments
Recommend and source out gifts for the principal sponsors and bridal entourage
Plan and coordinate Wedding Rehearsal if necessary. (additional payment)
Coordinate and confirm with all the vendors chosen in reviewing details of arrangements.
Instruct all attendants of their duties during the ceremony and reception
Assist in conceptualizing Wedding reception program and preparing the wedding day timetable

Wedding Day

7 Professional Coordinators
Head Coordinator
Bride Manager
Groom Manager
Church Coordinator
Program Manager
Assist couple in confirming details, services, and final agreements with wedding suppliers (banquet manager, florist/event stylist, photographer. videographer, cake designer, musicians/band/strings/sound system, gown designer, stationer etc.)
Assist in reviewing service contracts of previously booked suppliers
Guest management and Registration, floor plan layout, and seating arrangements
Provide an outline with exact time of reception program
Help organize and route ceremony and reception materials (e.g. gifts for principal sponsors, entourage, offertory materials, souvenirs, etc.)
Provide a CREW MEAL REPORT to the client for actual advice on cash allowances or meals required by supplier
Preparation of church processional

submitted by Resident-Common9012 to weddingplanning [link] [comments]

2024.05.14 02:55 Artistic_one11 Bridesmaids dropping out, lost a 4 year friendship, guests cancelling last minute

Hi everyone. I’m getting married early this summer. I’ve had 3 out of 4 bridesmaids drop out. My MOH (friend of 4 years) and I have had a falling out. She was supposed to plan a bachelorette party, agreed to it over a year in advance. So fast forward to 3-4 months out from wedding day and I am panicking because she hasn’t mentioned anything or avoided the conversation when I’ve brought it up, me and another bridesmaid discuss and she says she will message her privately and inquire about it. She gets no answer. Then I message along the lines of “hey just checking in, is there a plan? Do you need help?” She briefly discusses it, asking me who should be invited. Fast forward to 2 months before wedding day. She brings it up telling me she will send out a group message with a date and a rough plan. And now less than a month away there is no plan. None of the other bridesmaids have heard anything from her, and she isn’t speaking to me because she’s mad at me for an unrelated reason. So I message each bridesmaid individually to see, find out another one is not able to come. So now I have 1 bridesmaid left and no bachelorette and guests keep sending last minute cancellations. Anybody else’s wedding turning into a hot mess? I love my fiancé, and I would marry him even with no one there, but this experience so far has been super rough for me. And I’m too deep in now to tuck tail and elope. Any advice or similar horror stories welcome❤️

submitted by Artistic_one11 to wedding [link] [comments]

2024.05.14 02:37 Honded Display text dynamically based on URL parameters on Astra template with elementor

I'm using the Astra Theme, I picked one of their starter templates and I'm editing it with Elementor. I would like to add a text to the template that says "Welcome John" where John Doe is replaced by a parameter name that I pass in the URL, how can I do this? Is there a better approach to displaying a dynamic name onto a template?
Example: if the link is mywebsite.com/?name='Mike' then the text will be "Welcome Mike" just like what's shown on this video
I'm building an invitation so that's why I require each invitation to have the name of the guest. Thanks for any help!
EDIT: Preferably a free approach

submitted by Honded to Wordpress [link] [comments]

2024.05.14 02:03 Born2BeBoo Personal Statement Advice

Hi everyone! I’m a prospective 2026 applicant dedicating this summer to writing my personal statement (materials are due in December to receive a letter packet + portfolio from my school). For background, I was diagnosed with hEDS, Pain Amplification Syndrome, POTS, and a lot of other issues after sustaining my first concussion eight years ago. As a result of my experience, I decided to become a chronic pain advocate several years ago— currently, I serve on a peer advisory board and guest speaker for a pediatric pain rehabilitation workshop program, and I also serve as a panel member for a NIH HEAL initiative. These two experiences are major parts of my journey to medicine. How do I go about talking about chronic pain advocacy without focusing too much on my personal pain and disability? My personal experience has also been important, but advocacy has been the most fulfilling part of my life.

submitted by Born2BeBoo to DisabledMedStudents [link] [comments]

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