First of all my concept upon humans is that they are "apes". I mean that we clap, we cheer, we dance, we boo, etc. I've just started to see a lot of animalistic actions in the world. It's what I call the "ape theory". It means that we haven't gone over evolution, but that we are still in the process. In such I feel that we are all "biological machines". If a person thinks about him/herself then we can't even think "outside the box". If a person starts to think "outside the box" - it's just because in that given action by the reality - the person started to think "outside the box", but it's not about thinking "outside the box", but the situation.
Of course that could seem a bit strange start, but what I'm on about in this subreddit in terms of such - is that I believe that when we are "biological machines" where consciousness doesn't create anything, but simply experiences. IF so then artificial general intelligence (or artificial superintelligence) doesn't seem that impossible.
Still I could be wrong, but I just don't believe in "free will" in any sense. I think that all of our behaviour is tied to our evolution, genes, environment, etc. and just how things come to be in the reality.
I know that you here most likely know about ChatGPT-4o (Introducing GPT-4o (youtube.com)) that came yesterday and you probably know about Unitree Robotics (Unitree Introducing Unitree G1 Humanoid Agent AI Avatar Price from $16K (youtube.com))? Okay, if you don't know then the latter had a pretty astonishing video about their $16000 robot that could do many things like Boston Dynamics have done before. Still for the price it was quite astonishing. (Very cheap) Also you might know about Figure (Figure Status Update - OpenAI Speech-to-Speech Reasoning (youtube.com)) which uses ChatGPT to understand surroundings and act upon them...
I mean that there seems to be a very clear future? Robots, bots, robotics, etc.? I've even started to think that the mass-production of robots, bots, robotics, etc. isn't even in year 2030 - but it would happen much faster? Maybe in couple of years the world could start to change very much?
*****
But what I'm on about is that I only see one path to utopia. I know that some could argue that prices will drop with automation and they probably do, but at the same time, when unemployment rates would hit 25 % for me the only sensible thing to do - is that you make four-day working week. But for me it - in such - makes most sense that you have "robot tax". I mean that you tax companies which automate and then you circulate that wealth through the governments for things like negative income tax. I mean that you would could even have a positive tax return. It would just mean that all workers would be appreciated. A dynamic society where - not by - minumum wage you create salary, but just by redistributing wealth. It's a very simple thing and you probably comprehend because I'm not that smart.
I don't believe in universal basic income, because people might work for a new Playstation and then just quit their jobs. The bureaucracy is important. Of course maybe when there would be three-day working week could be universal basic income - I just mean that "robot tax" is a very simple way to create the utopia. It doesn't even have to do with robots, bots, robotics, etc. (I mean tech firms), but just companies that would make high profits - and all work would be appreciated.
*****
Also like with the AlphaFold 3 (?) understanding all the 200 million proteins - I just assume that we need artificial intelligence. I don't remember correctly, but was it like million tons of plastic goes to oceans every year. Maybe we could have solar working robots for that - or better - maybe mushrooms could be used to reproduce oil from plastic? I know that the latter is a very stupid thing to think about - with a very little understanding of sciences - but also it's better to send robots, bots, robotics, etc. to Mars, asteroids, Moon, etc. to collect resources. I just feel that mankind has capped their intelligence and we need something new. Maybe we could have pharmaceutical drugs at some point that would unlock different parts of the brain. It could come from new kinds of hallucinogenics which would be simply to attack certain parts - I don't know?
*****
Still I'm a very "retarded ape" and I don't mind people saying so - because for me most of the people who write in reddit are quite "retarded". It's just that I would be very happy - if the "retarded apes" wouldn't just push out their thoughts. I just don't like the world of today where "retarded apes" - like myself - have started to think that they "know". Shut the f--- up - and let the geniuses speak their minds. "No deep state, etc." I mean that we need geniuses, we need AI and we need some kind of new form of thinking where we can live in unity in this world of constant (and very ridiculous) battles which are just coming from us being "apes"
No! There is no good and evil! If people boil dogs in China - it just means that as a species we are quite violent. If a person starts to see so then you'll start to see a lot of behavior that exists in our society coming from our past of being "a bit more apish".
But you see? I do believe that there are mysteries to the universe - like why everything seems to exist for life? I mean that we should have died with coal - but we just seem to progress? If there is progression here and some kind of weird "understanding" for such then why couldn't have there come more than the universe - which would be for life? But why do people make such kinds of thoughts as their "meaning"? "I mean maybe...", but just try to act towards the society in a good manner - and who cares? Things will be revealed or they might not be, but can't we just make the society function so that all people could have good experiences?
A bit of a rant? But even the Pope is an ape who is doing weird kind of rituals? Are we all unsane? But I don't mean that he would be wrong completely, but he still is an ape who does weird rituals?
*****
But this is just a stupid post in reddit. I see the simplicity and I'm a very simple person. I'm just waiting when the geniuses will start to speak about this kind of stuff, but much better. (I probably should have put artificial intelligence to write this...?) I have a very stupid sense of humor when I'm a bit tipsy.

Disclaimer:
This post has heavy spoilers to the story of the version 2.2 and maybe to something else. Good luck to read all of this. I yap for Ena and maybe repeat myself little too much. Mentioned characters:
Sunday
Robin
Aventurine
Dreammaster
Bronya
Seele
Cocolia
Mentioned Aeons:
Ena
Xipe
Hooh
Long
Oroboros
Qlipoth
Mentioned organisations:
Beyond the Sky Choir
Astral Express
Family
In loving memory: Ena the Order “The one who transcends the many”
In loving memory of Tazzyrronth the Propagation “The Sand king”
In loving memory of the Great Tatalov “The Garbage King”
So, the original intent behind this post was to create a lot of puns about Order and Sunday (for example something like Golden Order Radagon Sunday, “I will have order” with Sunday and a falling train instead, Sunday working in a delivery and saying that someone’s order was cancelled).
But then I started remembering all parts of Penacony storyline that have fascinated me. And one particular part master stroked me. When Sunday used his “tell the truth or die in 24 hours voice magic” he used not the power of Order, but Harmony – the Path he supposedly deliberately left behind and betrayed.
How can I be so sure, that he didn’t use the power of Order, making it look like the power of Harmony? Well, nor Dr. Ratio, nor Aventurine, nor Welt, nor (most importantly) Robin didn’t notice any sign that the Order was used and that the power on display did in fact belong to Harmony. And mind you, all of them are quite clever, experienced and hard to deceive. And in Aventurine’s conversation with Acheron in the Horizon of existence, Acheron (who as Self-Annihilator isn’t affected by the illusions of Order and can see through them) referred to the brand, used on Aventurine as the “brand of Harmony”. And the last proof is that when Sunday uses this power, he makes a call (or if you are a pun enjoyer like me, “an order”) to Xipe, referring to THEM as “Triple-faced soul”.
So, this was a really long and a roundabout way to prove that even with his supposed devotion to Order, Sunday still remains the Pathstrider of Harmony (and the laws of the HSR universe dictate, that you become a Pathstrider by following a philosophy of a particular Path). While being a Pathstrider of two Paths is not called impossible in the game, and Harmony and Order mostly overlap, there are some key differences between them. It means, that Sunday to some extant still believes in a philosophy of Harmony and is not a complete devotee of Order, how some people could have believed.
So, the goal of this post is to delve on the philosophy of Ena and Harmony through Sunday’s story, words, thoughts and actions. And to make some obnoxious theories, but that’s later.
So, let’s begin!
Ⅰ
In his childhood, Sunday alongside Robin, was called by the Dreammaster “two best interpreters of the Great One”. That means, that as a child, Sunday was extremely close to the philosophy of Harmony.
Let’s remember what Harmony embodies as a philosophy:
“Then, they say, O you who have reached the end, enter into the paradise that envelops all! Join this great choir and feast, listen to the beating of billions upon billions of hearts, holding you in THEIR embrace...”
“To battle the brutality of the laws of the universe, intelligent lifeforms must discard their cowardly selfishness and the differences between individuals, fusing into one singular melody — to have the strong help the weak, and to protect life with death.”
That is what Harmony preaches and Sunday was a follower of this ideology. Harmony preaches selfless people not only helping and uplifting each other to build “the paradise” (a prominent theme in Sunday’s thoughts) bit also welcoming every other willing person. Harmony philosophy is about acceptance, forgiveness, cooperation, that no person is beyond redemption, that in every person has inside of them the force that genuinely cares for others and strives for good. Harmony preaches something like this: “Because if it is possible for every person to become a member of Family’s shared paradise, then we should at lest try to welcome them in it.” That’s why Harmonic Strings (Emanators of Xipe) are not people and are actually manifestations materialized as the responses to the Hive Mind’s demands. It is a seemingly naïve and romantic ideal for the sometimes and indifferent brutal universe of HSR that requires great kindness, compassion, understanding, belief in other people, ability to see the better in other people and uplift them. And Sunday-follower of Order reflects on that:
"When I appeared as a child, my speech, mindset, and soul reflected immaturity and innocence."
"As I grew into adulthood, I left behind my childlike side."
Sunday (as shown in the quest) was a person of great understanding, compassion, and love for other living beings, full of desire to protect them (bird, Robin, other people). He was able to embrace even the worst people if they would show even the slightest glimpse of desire to redeem themselves and change for the better, like people who allegedly sold their own children. It is notable that he both acts as a follower of Harmony and an enforcer of Order conspiracy because of these very character traits. The motivation is the same, just the choice how to act based on this motivation is different between him and Robin because of different experiences.
As the ardent believer of Harmony, the seed of doubt in his mind was planted ironically by the very followers of the Harmony -the Family. And the disillusionment about Harmony also began, when his belief in other people was tested. When asking Xipe to clear his doubts, Sunday asks three questions:
“Who can judge the strong when their power hides their crimes?”
“Who can vouch for the weak when they will pay any price to survive?”
“If "the strong defending the weak" is truly the foundation of paradise, then who is responsible for the suffering and anguish in this wretched world?”
The questions display that the preached Harmony doesn’t work as intended. The extremely hard ideal to follow was exactly too demanding for numerous people who couldn’t stand up to the responsibility that came with upholding it. Also, as displayed both in the main quest of Penacony and in numerous events and side quests, flaws and imperfections of Family(note: of the Family on Penacony) are numerous. We have an entire “Ode to Fool” in the Grand Theatre about internal bloodthirsty war between the Family, where two of the seven families of Penacony ceased to exist. When even Family: those who preach the Odes of Harmony don’t act as they preach, are not harmonious, don’t show compassion and forgiveness, it is extremely hard to still believe in its teachings. And from that, the belief in people starts to slowly crumble as the very belief in a possibility of a paradise preached by the Xipe, is tested.
That is what turns him to Order. The feeling that while the paradise of Harmony is theoretically possible, how much suffering must people experience before it actually arrives. And when will it arrive? And IF it will arrive? These doubts in human inherent desire to change for the better leads to the idea: “And what if they don’t change? Then why take the risks? Why not to create something that guarantees their safety, happiness and protection?” His desire for Order is still born from his love for humanity.
Ⅱ
And while the shift in beliefs did in fact happen, it wasn’t completed and some beliefs in Harmony remain, alongside doubts about the philosophy of Order.
To prove that, let’s remember the Grand Theatre part of the quest (“Everything that Rises Must Converge”).
Before that Dreammaster has a particularly interesting conversation with Sunday. Sunday not only changes their plan, taking Robin’s place in the plan and then he asks Dreammaster why Penacony was the chosen planet to bring “paradise” of the Order. If he was completely convinced, why would he pose these questions?
Sunday several times brings the part of 107,336 souls of the Oak Family in his monologues. Why? Because he uses them to give self-validation to his beliefs. It comes not only from his desire to grant “paradise” to everyone (and this guys as stated dreamed about the paradise of Order), but also from his self-perceived responsibility as the Head of the Oak Family to stand up to wishes and desires of his subordinates, to protect them, and as the man with greatest position among them, to fulfil the hardest task. Because if people he is in charge of follow and support his views, not only it gives him more belief in his set of beliefs(ha), but also gives him even greater responsibility to prove that their faith in him, in Order is not misplaced.
In first two acts he displays before us shortcomings of the Harmony, trying to display himself as the ardent believer of the Order:
In the first act “Ode to Prisoner” he says that the freedom was not really achieved in Penacony’s great Independence War, posing a doubt that the ideal of Harmony even existed in Penacony since the very beginning.
In the second act “Ode to Fool” the theme of not so harmonic Harmony remains. Sunday talks about internal civil war between the Family, that eradicated two of the seven families on Penacony. How “harmonic” it is!
But in the last and most important act “Ode to Order” has a surprisingly different theme, hidden in it.
It is supposedly talking about the future of Penacony, but there is something more if you listen to its content once again:
General: “Without a ruler who would protect the weak and fight back against the tyrants?”
Chansellor: “We must assist each other in protecting the weak, just as we must assist each other in opposing the tyrannical.”
This dialogue argues that the very measures Sunday preaches, are not required for the coexistence and unification are also an option. Case of how differently Order and Harmony solve one problem.
Jester: “Without a ruler, who will make the stars follow their paths, the tides rise and fall, and allow life to grow?”
C: “These things did as they will long before the ruler appeared, just as they will continue to do with rulers gone.”
Where the Order requires an all-mighty divine king, controlling the world (like God-Emperor of Mankind from Warhammer), Harmony simply says that actually such beings are not needed.
Minister: “However, now that we have bid farewell to our ruler. Who shall take their place?”
C: “We no longer require a ruler, for we were originally all rulers who stand above all things.”
Once again, order preaches about the ruler on the top of everything, the one who has all of the rights and makes all of decisions. But harmony doesn’t work that way. Harmony preaches that if every person has equal rights to enter its paradise, then they are essentially equal. Where Order differentiates people and treats them differently according to THEIR criteria, harmony does not as THEY are all-embracing.
The choice of the position of Chansellor as the one giving answers is deliberate. It is another innuendo on differences between Harmony and Order. In Order king takes the power and pushes everyone under his control. Chancellor, as the representation of Harmony in this argument, is a position not a person. He is subject to change, unlike king. Unlike king, Chancellor is chosen among the people, by the people. He serves as one man being the voice of many people, for they have chosen him as a Chancellor because their ideals are the same and thus, they have entrusted him to fulfil their ideals in reality in their stead.
Some people were not satisfied that the arguments were not posed against Sunday by the Astral Express. Well, this entire act serves as a counter to his arguments, showing the point of view of Harmony arguing against the necessity of ideals of Order. Most importantly, they don’t disprove hid arguments completely, but rather pose a possible alternative take on things.
The Clockwork doesn’t work on puppets because they are “satisfied”. But what gives satisfaction: Order or Harmony? In my opinion, Harmony. Remember: in THEIR paradise there is “peace bestowed, sorrows and strife released.”
The “king” in the text obviously refers to Ena the Order, and the last talk from the “Future” in the act is about “final rites” to the king, that there is no need to seek THEIR existence, nor remember THEM. It illustrates the final confusion of Sunday: if Ena didn’t fight back while being consumed, if the philosophy of Harmony prevailed in the confrontation among the Paths, why try to restore the Order?
And after that particular act he chose to reveal to us the finale of Ena’s story. That THEY were banished to oblivion by the united will of the people who defied Order. And THEIR death was praised alongside praises for the appearance of Harmony – the ideal that prevailed on Penacony in the end.
And that is what actually 3 is actually about. Puppets(Members of the Beyond the Sky Choir) ask what they and everyone else should do after the “king(Ena)” disappeared.
They feel no safety and out of their comfort zone when the one that controlled everything about their lives suddenly disappeared. And Chancellor’s answers are the representation of the ideology of Harmony, that you don’t need to be controlled to strive in life, for that there is more to universe and that the “king” is not actually required for betterment of society, that society can harmonize and evolve on their own, that the unity of people can replace the “king”. Ironically, “the Ode to Order” doesn’t glorify Order but rather disproves it from being the one and only universal truth.
In this act Sunday actually reveals, intended or not, that he doesn’t disprove Harmony’s ideal, that he subconsciously feels that it can stand on par with the ideal of Order.
Then, Sunday poses between us three questions, each one has different answers depending on your set of believes: order or Harmony. Notice, that Sunday doesn’t give his own answers to the questions.
“Is darkness equal to daylight?”
This question is very metaphorical. Radiance and light, eradicating darkness and giving protection to those under the light are a repeated theme in the ideology of the Order (“I shall ascend to the heavens, becoming the scorching sun. Bathed in my light, my people shall flourish, while all evil shall be eradicated” / “Those who live in the shadows do not bear the right to tread the illuminated stage.” / “I now permit you to gaze into the sun [hardest line in the game btw]”) But radiance is also a term sometimes used to describe Xipe. The greatest difference lies in the fact that what Order will not tolerate (“darkness”), harmony will be able to co-exist with and eventually embrace. So for Order they are different, but for Harmony not at all.
“Are sinners equal to the righteous?”
Order punishes the unjust and uplifts the righteous. For it, they are not equal. But for Harmony they are, mostly because before Xipe the very concept of sinners doesn’t exist. Harmony is all-embracing, for everyone can change for the better and be redeemed.
It is a discourse in philosophy: first question was about whether are you able to tolerate something that goes against you. While Harmony can, Order cannot (Sunday can as literally shown in the quest so he leans more to Harmony in that part). Second question was about whether people can change for the better and be redeemed. Order doesn’t believe in it, Harmony does.
“If you are born weak, which god should you turn for solace?”
It is another question to choose between philosophies because Sunday struggles to choose himself. If you are weak and you bow before someone(“king”) for the protection then this is a choice befitting Order, but if you choose to cooperate with others, uplift one another and “listen beating of billions of hearts holding you on their embrace” then this is the choice of Harmony.
Notice, that Sunday doesn’t consider us as enemies at all. As he says: “I genuinely wish to avoid a violent clash with my esteemed guests from afar.” When Astral Express team asks Sunday why did he invite us to the duel, he responds: “Because our shared goals give equal weight to the beliefs we strive for.” He regards everything happening more like a debate of two equally valid philosophies. Even in the fight with him (second one) he still invites us to join his chorus of Order. And he says “our final talk is concluded” only when he turns into his Embryo of Philosophy form, when literally everyone who could has risen against him. And then he reveals his true emotions:
“If your ‘paradise’ can save more people, sever my path with your hands”
He knows he is not infallible, that his plan can be wrong, that there is a possibility of making better choices, better decisions. And he asks us to prove, that Harmony after all is a stronger concept then that of Order. And his quote before that really makes everything extremely ironic:
“If we had never experienced solitude, how could we embark on different paths?”
Once again, this solitude refers to the times when he still completely followed Harmony. Yet he was the only person on the entire Penacony because of his great compassion, who actually followed what Xipe preached. Yet, in this he was alone. How can you be in Harmony with anyone, if you are alone. The irony is in the fact, that if Robin didn’t leave Penacony, of if he met another genuine believer, he wouldn’t have turn to Order and he would remain under Xipe. With many similarities of Order and Harmony: the epitome of Order is loneliness, being a sole ruler of everything, the epitome of Harmony is a unity of numerous people.
“And thus, my talk about Sunday has concluded. Next part is about Ena.”
Ⅲ
While his monologue about history of Ena can also be interpreted as parts above, it is much more interesting to discuss it when talking about Ena THEMSELVES.
“Let us commence with the dawning of the world… After the Dusk Wars, darkness veiled the sky, and chaos consumed the earth. Ena the Order emerged, destined to restore all existence. That marked the first day.”
The Dusk Wars are one of the most ancient (if not the most) periods of history we know about. Ena emerging at that time, makes THEM one of the oldest Aeons alongside Long, Hooh, Qlipoth and Oroboros.
” THEY gathered nebulae and forged them into picks, thus creating a grand lyre with black and white keys. Strike the white keys, and the sun rose. Strike the black keys moon and the rose. And so the cycle of day and night arose. That marked the second day. “
“THEY transmuted streams of stars into inked nibs, creating symbols to be pronounced and counted. THEY molded stardust into flowing rivers, assigning the righteous upstream and the unjust downstream. Thus, all things were marked and the world learned to discern between good and evil. That marked the third and fourth days. “
“THEY used the planetary rings to establish the law, forging a code of conduct among the masses. A grand lyre with black and white symbols of articulation and numerical notation took the form of musical notes. The downward-flowing river became a melody, and the cannon of law dictated the form. Thus, all mortals found their unique place within this symphony. That marked the fifth and sixth days. “
Ena, as we know was a control freak, at much bigger scale and extent, then Sunday could have ever hoped to become. We know that «Ena's harmonic songs seems to align within a three-dimensional framework, akin to an emperor maintaining hierarchical order among all creatures» Not only people, but the movement of celestial bodies were under THEIR control. THEY wanted to and almost controlled everything in the known cosmos. So, THEY were the only person responsible for everything. And when THEY were consumed, the manager of everything disappeared and the scales of order and discord lost their balance. That is why Hooh intervened and took THEIR responsibilities.
“THEY imbued world with meaning, perfecting all things in the heavens and earth. Then, THEY rested from the labors of creation. Yet, all beings cried to Ena – ‘Under the banner of the Order, you have defined all things in the Cosmos… but this made us realize that we are but puppets in your hands!’ – Thus, on that day, all beings united and cast the Aeon into the abyss of oblivion. That marked the seventh day. “
And this is the most interesting part. We know that Ena was consumed by Xipe, so why does Sunday refer to THEIR death as an action, made by humans?
As we know, Xipe “hails from multiple harmonious celestial words”, “a plural Aeon” and “THEY are the amalgamation of thousands of entities”. Thus, I pose that Xipe ascension was not a process of accension of a one person who somehow become an Aeon, but rather that several beings in a moment of unity (of “harmony”) were ascending as one. Next bit is purely theoretical:
But who could provide such unity before the existence of Harmony? Only the Beyond the Sky Choir – followers of Ena could understand the true extent of Ena’s control over everything and unify to create a change. Thus, mortals ascended into Aeon, befitting their shared beliefs, and from the Beyond the Sky Choir, Xipe arose with a new symphony of Harmony.
ⅠⅤ
Also, some other interesting bits from 2.2. storyline:
The most overlooked part of 2.2 quest for me is that part before boss battle when Sunday says that he doesn’t intend to either resurrect Ena or become a new Aeon of Order. While the actual possibility of such actions remains “enigmatic, we can now speculate that it could be possible to take control of a masterless Path or revive its master. I speculate that when we finally reach strongest Emanators level of poweallies/etc. the enemies we will be facing before actual Aeons will be unique beings like that: fallen Aeons in the process of resurrection or people in the process of becoming a new Aeon of a Path without one.
Another interesting bit of lore about Ena is that while she was “consumed” by Xipe, her Path still lingers in the cosmos masterless. While it was known about Paths of other fallen Aeons it is interesting that even assimilation by a broader concept Aeon isn’t enough to completely eradicate the Path from the face of the cosmos.
Some other connections that I noticed about Sunday while rewatching 2.2 quest were surprising even for me. Name a planet where the ruler intentionally left their subordinates in ignorance about the truth about the events for the sole reason of protecting them? It’s Belobog with Bronya and Seele (I could talk about similarities and differences of Bronya and Sunday but that would make already long post even longer). And this is why Ena was able to persuade Qlipoth. Because Qlipoth shares with THEM that general theme of protection. Because their Paths partly overlap. Because Preservation is about keeping everything dangerous behind the walls (in this case dangerous information about Cocolia), and everything inside the walls is safe, protected, or you could say “in Order”.
Ⅴ
P.S. I feel like in this quest there is still so much more to discuss(and I could write EVEN MORE), but this long wall of text is already too out of character from me as a humble follower of Enigmata.

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Resident Evil - $25
Resident Evil 2 - $100
Resident Evil 4 - $30
Resident Evil Zero - $18
The Sims Bustin Out - $12
Smuggler's Run (missing manual) - $12
Sonic Adventure Battle 2 (missing manual) - $45
Spiderman 2 - $15
Spyro A Hero's Tail (missing manual) - $15
SSX Tricky - $28
Starfox Assault - $45 (CIB; some wear to cover art)
Super Mario Sunshine (missing manual) -$35
Super Smash Brothers Melee - $60
Ty the Tasmanian Tiger (missing manual) - $12
WWE Crush Hour - $27
WWE Day of Reckoning 2 (missing manual) - $25
Nintendo DS Games (cart only unless CIB noted)
Avatar The Game - $6
Bionicle Matoran Adventures - $6
Build-A-Bear Workshop (CIB) - $6
Carnival (CIB) - $6
Deal or No Deal - $5
Guitar Hero On Tour Bundle (CIB) - $25
Happy Feet - $4
Horsez (CIB) - $6
Hot Wheels Beat That - $6
Kung Fu Panda (CIB) - $6
Mario Party DS - $13
Mario Kart DS (loose) - $15
Mario Kart DS (CIB) - $18
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (CIB) - $10
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (CIB) - $10
Megaman Starforce Dragon - $85 shipped
Metroid Hunters First Hunt - $6
Nacho Libre - $15
Namco Museum DS - $8
Naruto Ninja Council 3 - $6
New Super Mario Bros. (CIB) -$22
Nickelodeon Team Umizoomi - $6
Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney - $20
Picross 3D - $9
Ping Pals - $3
Planet Puzzle League - $10
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky (case & manual only, no game) - $55
Pokemon Ranger Shadows of Almia (cart only) - $30
Ratatouille - $5
Rayman DS - $10
Ridge Racer DS - $8
Shrek Superslam - $5
Spiderman 3 - $8
Star Wars II The Original Trilogy (LEGO) - $6
Super Money Ball Touch & Roll - $6
Transformers Animated - $11
Tron Evolution - $4
Zhu Zhu Pets - $3
Nintendo 3DS (cart only unless noted)
Animal Crossing: New Leaf (CIB) - $20
Lego Marvel Superheroes: Universe in Peril - $5
Mario Kart 7 - $12
Minecraft New Nintendo 3DS Edition - $18
Pilotwings Resort - $10
Pokemon X (CIB) - $30
Skylander Giants - $6
Skylander Swap Force - $16
Skylander Trap Team - $12
Super Mario Maker - $10
Super Smash Bros (CIB) - $15
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - $9
Wipeout: Create & Cash - $5
Wreck-it Ralph - $6
Yo-Kai Watch - $15
NES Games (cart only; unless noted)
8 Eyes - $11
A Boy and His Blob (cart, box, manual) - $40
Blades of Steel - $8
Bubble Bobble - $16
Burgertime - $15
Castlevania II Simon's Quest - $15
Castlevania III Dracula's Curse - $45
Chip & Dale Rescue Rangers (CIB) - $125
Contra - $40
Dick Tracy - $7
Double Dragon - $13
Donkey Kong 3 - $20
Dr. Mario - $10
Duck Tales - (cart & box) - $100
Excite Bike - $11
Faxanadu - $11
GI Joe: A Real American Hero - $75
Golf - $3
Legend of Zelda - $30
Mickey Mousecapade - $7
Mike Tyson's Punch-out - $40
Paperboy - $16
Punch-Out - $20
Rad Racer - $6
RBI Baseball 3 (cart & box) - $25
Robocop - $10
Rollerball - $8
Skate or Die 2 (cart & box) - $65
Spy Hunter - $5
Street Fighter 2010 - $15
Super Glove Ball - $7
Super Mario Bros. 2 - $20
Super Off-Road - $12
Super Team Games - $7
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II - The Arcade Game (cart & box) - $80
Tiger Heli - $8
Wall Street Kid (cart, box, registration card, poster) - $45
WWF Wrestlemania - $6
SNES Games (cart only)
Aladdin - $15
Castlevania IV - $45
Clue - $5
Earthbound - $350
F-Zero (Player's Choice) - $20
Jungle Strike - $9
Ken Griffey Jr Major League Baseball - $11
Kirby's Avalanche - $15
Lion King - $11
Mario Paint - $6
Mega Man X - $32
Mickey Mania - $13
Mortal Kombat - $13
Ms. Pacman - $9
NBA All-Star Challenge - $5
Pilot Wings - $10
Scooby Doo Mystery - $11
Starfox - $15
Super Adventure Island - $16
Super Baseball 2020 - $13
Super Ghouls N Ghosts - $23
Super Mario All-Stars - $25
Super Mario Kart - $40
Super Mario World - $20
Super Punch Out - $28
Top Player Tennis - $8
WWF Raw - $13
Zombies Ate My Neighbors - $30
GBA (cart only unless noted)
Aggravation/Sorry/Scrabble - $5
Barnyard - $8
Bratz - $4
Care Bears Care Quest (CIB) - $28
Cars - $5
Cars (CIB) - $16
Castlevania Double Pack - $85
Cho Makaimura R Super Ghouls N Ghost ( Japanese Import) - $95 Shipped
Crash Bandicoot 2 N-tranced - $10
Crash Huge Adventure - $11
Curious George (CIB) - $28
Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2 - $4
Disney Party - $10
Disney Princess (CIB) - $12
Donkey Kong Country (GBC/CIB) - $56
Dora Explorer's Pirate Pig's Treasure - $4
Dragon Ball Z Supersonic Warriors - $20
Elf - $10
ESPN Great Outdoor Games Bass 2002 - $5
F-14 Tomcat - $7
Finding Nemo - $5
Green Eggs & Ham (CIB) - $20
Incredibles (CIB) - $14
Kong 8th Wonder of the World - $5
Lost Vikings - $25
Madden 2005 - $5
Mario Kart Super Circuit (torn label) - $20
Metroid Zero Mission - $60
Monsters Inc - $4
Monster Jam Maximum Destruction - $6
Namco Museum - $6
Oddworld Munch's Oddysee - $12
Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl - $5
Pong Asterios Yar's Revenge - $4
Sonic Advance 3 - $25
Quad Desert Furty - $3
Shaun Palmers Pro Snowboarding (GBC/CIB) - $10
Shrek Swamp Kart Speedway - $5
Spirit Stallion of the Cimarron - $5
SpongeBob Battle for Bikini Bottom - $7
Spongebob Squarepants Super Sponge - $6
SSX 3 - $7
The Incredibles - $3
Thunder Alley - $5
Top Gear GT Championship - $10
Sony PSP (all CIB)
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII - $15
Gurumin A Monstrous Adventure - $42
LocoRoco - $10
Mega Man Powered Up - $38
Parappa the Rapper - $27
Sega Genesis Collection - $17
PS1 Games (CIB unless noted)
007 Tomorrow Never Dies - $7
Action Bass - $6
Andretti Racing (GH) - $5
Ball Breakers (sealed) - $10
Bass Championship - $7
Battle Arena Toshinden (GH) - $14
Bust A-Move 4 - $17
Driver 2 (GH) - $10
Fighting Force - $20
IHRA Drag Racing - $5
Missile Command - $6
MLB 2001 - $9
MLB 2003 - $9
Nascar Heat (CIB) - $7
NBA Live 2000 - $8
NBA Shootout 98 - $9
NHL 98 - $8
NHL Faceoff 97 (GH) - $5
PlayStation Underground Jampack Fall 2001 - $9
Resident Evil 2 (DualShock Edition) - $65
Rocket Power Team Rocket Rescue - $7
Rugrats in Paris: The Movie - $12
Spongebob SquarePants Super Pants - $7
Syphon Filter 2 (GH) - $10
Tecmo Super Bowl - $20
Tiger Woods 99 - $8
Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 - $12
Twisted Metal 2 (Greatest Hits) - $32
Toy Story 2 - $22
Walt Disney World Quest: Magical Racing Tour - $20
World Cup 98 - $12
PS2 Games (CIB unless noted)
All-Star Baseball 2005 - $5
Ape Escape 2 - $48
Ape Escape 3 - $43
ATV Offroad Fury 2 - $6
Avatar the Last Airbender - $8
Batman Begins - $13
Batman Vengeance - $19
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Chaos Bleeds - $28
Burnout Revenge - $11
Burnout 3 Takedown - $13
Buzz the Mega Quiz - $12
Capcom Classics Collection Volume 2 - $13
Castlevania Lament of Innocence -$25
Corvette - $5
Crash Bandicoot The Wrath of the Cortex - $12
Crash Nitro Kart (GH) - $9
Crazy Taxi - $10
Dance Dance Revolution Extreme 2 - $7
Dead to Rights - $6
Devil May Cry (GH) - $7
Enter the Matrix - $10
Eragon - $6
Family Feud - $5
Finding Nemo - $6
Fire Pro Wrestling Returns - $10
Ford Racing 3 - $5
Frogger the Great Quest - $7
Golden Compass - $5
GTA 3- $10
Gran Turismo 3 - $5
Godfather the Game - $14
Guitar Hero - $10
Guitar Hero Aerosmith - $7
Guitar Hero II - $7
Guitar Hero III Legends of Rock - $9
High Heat Major League Baseball 2004 - $5
Hot Wheels Velocity - $10
Hot Wheels World Race (missing manual) - $12
Hobbit - $10
Ice Age 2 The Meltdown - $7
Ironman - $6
Karaoke Revolution Party - $8
Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol - $5
Legends of Wrestling II - $12
Lego Star Wars The Original Trilogy - $6
Lego Star Wars The Video Game - $7
Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring - $10
Madden 2003 - $5
Madden 2004 - $5
Madden 2005 -$5
Madden 2007 - $5
Matt Hoffman's Pro BMX 2 - $10
Max Payne - $10
Metal Arms Glitch in the System - $16
Midway Arcade Treasures (1) - $12
Midway Arcade Treasures (2) - $12
MLB 07 the Show - $5
MLB Slugfest 2003 - $10
MLB Slugfest 2004 - $13
Namco Museum (GH) - $8
Nascar 2001 - $5
Nascar Thunder 2003 - $7
NBA Street - $12
Need for Speed Underground 2 (missing manual) - $20
NFL Blitz Pro - $10
NFL Street - $17
NFL Street 3 (missing manual) - $20
Onimusha 3 Demon Siege - $21
Pinball Hall of Fame - $5
Pirates - The Legend of Black Kat - $12
Power Rangers: Dino Thunder - $8
Reel Fishing III - $7
Resident Evil Code Veronica X - $13
Rise of Kasai - $8
Rocky - $11
Scarface the World is Yours - $45
Scooby Doo First Frights - $13
Sega Superstars - $10
Sega Superstar Tennis - $10
Shrek Superslam - $8
Simpson's Hit & Run (Greatest Hits) -$50
Spiderman - $10
Sprint Cars Road to Knoxville - $6
Spy Hunter - $7
Spy Hunter 2 (missing manual) - $7
Starsky & Hutch - $7
SSX - $7
SSX 3 - $9
SSX On Tour - $8
Superman Shadow of Apokolips - $14
Super Monkey Ball Adventure - $10
Summoner - $10
Taito Legends - $15
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battlenexus (missing manual) - $17
Teen Titans - $22
Theme Park Roller Coaster - $8
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 - $6
Thrillville - $6
Thrillville Off the Rails - $10
Time Crisis 3 - $23
Ty the Tasmanian Tiger - $11
Wheel of Fortune - $6
Virtua Fighter 4 (missing manual) - $6
Warriors of Might & Magic - $10
WWE Smackdown vs Raw - $11
WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2007 (Sealed) - $45
WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2007 - $17
WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2009 - $10
WWE Smackdown Shut Your Mouth - $15
PS3
Band Hero - $6
Batman Arkham Asylum - $7
Battlefield 3 - $6
Call of Duty Advanced Warfare - $6
Call of Duty Ghosts - $6
Call of Duty Mordern Warfare 3 - $6
Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare - $7
Call of Juarez Bound in Blood - $9
Crysis 2 - $7
Dirt 2 - $12
Dirt 3 - $10
Driver San Francisco - $25
Enemy Territory Quake Wars - $9
Fifa Soccer 11 - $5
Fight Night Champion - $13
GTA IV Complete Edition - $25
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue - $8
Gran Turismo XL Edition - $11
Gran Turismo 6 - $19
Heavy Fire: Afghanistan - $10
Infamous - $6
Infamous 2 - $8
Killzone 2- $7
Killzone 3 - $7
Lego 3: Beyond Batman - $8
Lego Harry Potter Years 5-7 - $7
Lego The Hobbit - $9
LittleBigPlanet - $9
Madden 2011 - $5
Metro: Last Night - $8
Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition - $12
MLB the Show 10 - $4
MLB the Show 11 - $4
Monster Jam Path of Destruction - $20
NCAA Football 11 - $9
Sports Champions - $5
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 [Masters Historic Edition] - $23
Transformers Fall of Cybertron - $35
Transformers Rise of the Dark Spark - $13
Virtua Tennis 3 - $6
WWE 2K16 - $12
PS Vita
Lumines Electronic Symphony - $16
Need for Speed Most Wanted - $20
Sly Cooper Collection - $50
Sega 32X (all cart only)
Primal Rage - $50
Virtua Fighter - $24
Virtua Racing - $20
Sega Dreamcast Games (disc & manual only***; do not have original cases unless noted CIB)
Centipede - $7
Plasma Sword Night of Bilstein - $50
Psychic Force 2012 - $25
Ready 2 Rumble Boxing - $12
Resident Evil Code Veronica (CIB) - $40
Rippin Riders - $5
Sega Bass Fishing - $8
Sega Rally 2 Championship - $12
Speed Devils - $15
Sword of Berserk: Gut's Rage (game only) - $65
Trick Style - $7
Zombie Revenge - $30
Sega Genesis (**CIB unless noted)
Aladdin (cart + manual) - $10
Double Dragon (cart & box) - $45
Game Genie (loose + booklet) - $20
Hard Drivin' (Missing Manual) - $15
John Madden Football (cart + manual) - $20
Lemmings (CIB) - $30
MERCS (cart & box) - $35
NBA Jam T.E. (CIB) - $20
Prime Time NFL Football starring Deon Sanders (cart +manual) - $9
Ren & Stimpy Show: Stimpy's Intervention (CIB) - $20
Road Rash II (CIB) - $22
Robocop 3 (CIB) - $40
Streets of Rage (cart only) - $22
Super Off-Road (CIB) - $30
WWF Super Wrestlemania (CIB) - $20
X-Men (cart + manual) - $15
Zero Tolerance (CIB) - $35
Sega Master System (CIB unless noted)
Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars - $28
California Games (missing manual) - $20
Choplifter - $18
Ghostbusters - $25
Great Baseball - $10
Monopoly - $10
Parlour Games - $10
Pro Wrestling - $14
Rocky - $17
Space Harrier (missing manual) - $18
Shinobi (includes map; missing manual) - $30
Xbox (all CIB)
MechAssault 2 Lone Wolf (Limited Edition) - $8
Project Gotham Racing - $6
Xbox 360 (CIB)
Assassin's Creed - $6
Assasin's Creed II - $6
Asssasin's Creed III - $6
Battlefield Hardline Deluxe Edition - $10
Battlefield 3 Limited Edition - $6
Bioshock - $7
Bioshock Infinite - $5
Call of Duty World at War - $9
Call of Juarez: Blood Bound - $10
Civilization Revolution - $6
CSI Hard Evidence - $9
Fifa Soccer 10 - $5
Fifa Work Cup South Africa 2010 - $5
Game of Thrones - $11
Gears of War - $9
Halo 4 - $5
Injustice Gods Among Us - $5
L.A. Noire - $7
Mass Effect - $5
Mass Effect 2 - $5
N3 Ninety-Nine Nights - $20
NBA 2K12 - $5
NHL 10 - $3
NHL 14 - $6
Saints Row 2 - $10
Saints Row The Third - $5
Skate 3 - $6
Star Trek Legacy - $18
Star Wars Kinect - $7
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2007 - $5
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2008 - $5
Top Spin 3 - $6
Walking Dead Survival Instinct - $8
Wheel of Fortune - $14
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire -$5
Nintendo Wii (all CIB unless noted)
Animal Crossing City Folk - $20 (includes inserts but missing manual)
Celebrity Sports Showdown - $6
Guitar Hero World Tour - $18
Little League World Series Baseball 2008 - $10
Madden 2013 - $14
Mario Kart Wii - $35
Mario Super Sluggers (disc only) - $25
Mario Strikers Charged (disc only) - $10
NBA Live 09 All-Play - $5
New Super Mario Bros - $25
Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz - $6
Super Smash Bros. Brawl - $20
Tony Hawk Downhill Jam - $5
Tony Hawk Shred Big Air - $5
Warioware Smooth Moves - $22
Wii Sports - $22
Wii Sports Resort - $30
Wheel of Fortune - $6
WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2009 - $7

Let’s do it again, friends: get stoned and listen to my thoughts on season 2, episode 2!

• Anthony and benedict are getting shaved and all i hear is the sweeney todd pipes
• kate in this beautiful jewel-toned bridgerton blue 💙
• Anthony obviously in love with kate while actively trying to court edwina. His cocky little smile kills me
• Lmfao “i cannot think of any cleverer way to say this, but noooo”
• Pen: goddamn it eloise i did exactly what you wanted and you still criticize LW
• The look colin gives pen 💗 theyve done a great job building up the polin romance
• I also hate guns and hunting and would be pissed as fuck if some dude comes in my home and starts hanging that ugly shit
• I’m honestly really happy phili gets a love match with finch
• Lord lumley seems sweet honestly. And he’s right, poetry is better read aloud. Its a type of song really. I hate that poetry is usually taught to kids by reading it silently or reading it aloud in class for the first time without any idea how to intonate or understand what theyre expressing. I had the opportunity to see a shakespeare play performed before i had read or even heard of the story and i was shocked that i was able to understand it and enjoy it. I was like why isnt this how we do it always??
• sorry i have half an english degree and i’m a real pain in the ass about it
• Also btw has anyone read the book much ado about mean girls? Its mean girls but written in shakespearean style. Its a hoot if you’re also a nerd like me
• Ok sorry back to bridgerton. I paused it for so long to type all that my tv went to screensaver mode
• Was mr dorset earnest in trying to meet with kate or was it actually orchestrated by anthony?
• I also prefer a warm spicy chai to a milky black tea
• Benedict to mondrich: sorry anthony’s an ass, I am not tho, please tell me more
• Eloise has another ribbon hat contraption. This one is like a straw beret
• I think its a bit of a weird styling choice for eloise to wear these ribbon head things. They dont offer any practicality: they dont keep her hair up or out of her face, they dont keep her head warm or shield her from the sun. they seem to be purely decorative and i feel like eloise would just rather nothing than something simply pretty
• I liked the look she had in colins return scene when it was just pinned to the side. I feel like that would be her go to
• Edwina trying so hard to hook kate up and get her off her back
• Pen is so clever. Eloise literally tells her, look i figured out where you print your LWs and pen just smirks and el goes oh your right im acting silly
• A & K arguing about the horses and once again the chemistry is so damn oobvious i’m surprised the whole of the stands isnt shouting get a room
• Lol i just noticed lumley brings back 2 cups (presumably for edwina and kate) and anthony takes kates
• The look he gives her when she whistles…boy is S M I T T E N
• Stop hollerin like a newsboy - i say this to my dog when hes outside barking at the neighbor
• Eloise finding a locked door in a place she’s not supposed to be, knocking on the door, and then immediately bothering the first person she sees is just a perfect example of her character lol
• The new lord featherington is like fuuuuck i thought this was m lucky break but i’m screwed
• Love QCs colorful wigs. Were the ornate wigs back then different colors? I can only picture them in white
• This is the first time kate’s not in blue. We’re coming out of our bridgerton blue and into our purples era. Purple represents royalty, opulence, ambition, and power. Edwina is in pink almost exclusively. Pink represents young love, girlhood, innocence
• “You are the one who is always right” benedict is good with the quick comebacks
• “Why should i be the one to admit defeat??” aka her sister hates me but i love her so im not giving in
• Zeh-bruhs
• anthony showing up with that horse is like mentioning you liked curious george and him showing up with a chimpanzee. Never gift a pet/live animal
• I like that mondrich is like fuck that snobby other club, i’m opening my own place with blackjack and hookers
• Anthony doesnt get invited to one party and he’s like WOW rude
• Time for the loser suitor show
• Surprised none of these losers did a stand up act
• Poor pen so sick of yellow. We’re gonna add that bridgerrton blue soon and see you in beautiful greens 💚
• Colin being the corniest: I really got to know someone i didn’t know at all: me
• colin to pen: you’re not a woman, youre my friend. I dont find you worth loving or fucking
• Lady F would have been happy to scheme with jack and get the cowpers money. Shed probaby end up killing cressi somehow
• Lol i love what a critic of the arts benedict is. a true artist
• i read somewhere once that its a staple of the regency romance to diss byron because he was a very popular poet at the time, so its kind of like yeah i'm a corny romantic type but i'm a cool corny romantic type. i dont like whats on the radio, i have good taste
• Anthony to benedict. Write that shit down write that shit down
• Anthony was definitely the “can i copy your homework” kid
• Anthony: you forgot to invite me. That was your mistake right? Im obviously supposed to be here??
• Literally speechless when he sees kate
• Anthony: I might not be able to give you romance, but i can take care of you and give you a happy life. Kate: you hear that shit? He’ll never love her what a pig
• Kate is treating the ton the way i treated my last job. I dont care if they like me, i’m here for the money
• Penelope once again being a shrewd business woman. Give me the discount to keep me away lol
• QC literally has no idea who pen is lol

Keep in mind I measure exactly 15mm!!!! According to sizing charts and measurements from a tape as well. I also have extremely elastic nipples so a tight fit works best for me especially with silicone.
So I’m 3 months postpartum with my first. I am a SUPER-Producer of milk (gallon ++ a day!) I started out with my Elvie Stride with 21mm flange. I had no idea sizing mattered. My nipples hurt so bad and I couldn’t get completely empty even tho the pump itself can and definitely emptied me the best and fastestout of the ones I’ve tried so far. I stopped using it due to the tubing connectors constantly breaking, and I would need inserts then it would be a perfect pump setup. I just don’t want to spend extra money on that pump anymore. I then went on to use the Medela pump in style from LC (which I hate and broke on me within literally 8 days) I used 21 mm flange and it hurt like Hell with that pump. Then I order MayMom 17mm one piece flange from Amazon. They fit perfectly. My only complaint is they aren’t truly 17mm they are truly 15mm by measurement. I used that setup with the Ardo Alyssa and it worked well. I have then gone on to use Pumpables Super genie with 17mm liquid shield kit. The 17mm from Pumpables aren’t truly 17mm they run slightly bigger!!!!! I ordered the 15mm and they fit perfectly. That is my primary go to. I also use Legendairy milk cups with the 15mm inserts that come with it and Baby Buddha and it’s perfect as well. Only plan to use when traveling from my house. I have pumpin pals small flanges with spectra bottle adapters from pumpin pals and like them I just want to try Lacteck flanges as well. I’m going to be exclusively pumping even if I was to be nursing because my body produces milk regardless and won’t stop. I want to have different options that I love to use. Cos if I hate it I’m going to get on medication and stop my breastfeeding journey. :( Getting past empty is important for me because otherwise I get clogs so bad they are LITERALLY SOLID. My husband has had to help with with those! That’s how I found out I was having solid clogs the size of pebbles coming out of my breast in the first place. The pain is immense. Seeing my doctor tomorrow about it.

I'm in Minnesota. There was damage to our house from a hail storm last August. We were solicited by a construction company to fix the damage, where they would work with our insurance company and the only thing we would have to pay is our deductible. The damage was: roof, windows, interior damage from leaking, garage door, gutters.
When the construction company/general contractor (GC) got into it, they said that there was more damage to the roof and windows than our insurance company (IC) was providing funds for. The GC and IC couldn't come to an agreement, so our GC told us that it would need to go to appraisal. The GC provided us with the appraiser they use in these situations and told us everything we should communicate to our IC. We made sure to get a supplement to our contract with the GC to ensure we would not have to pay for the appraiser. An award was given from that appraisal and the GC seemed happy with the result.
The GC then scheduled a subcontractor to do the work on the interior damage (drywall/etc.). When that subcontractor came, he said there was much more damage than what was provided in the scope of the claim, about $3,000, so he went back and worked out a new estimate/invoice with the GC, about $10,000, and then the GC and I went to our IC to get an addendum to the claim. Our IC refused, saying they wouldn't allow any addendums. The GC said this was odd since it's fairly standard to get addendums when additional damage is found. The GC suggested I talk with my IC agent to see if he could help.
I did that, and my agent seemed confident that an addendum would be possible and he went off to talk to the claims department. When he finally came back, he said he was previously confident because he didn't realize an appraisal was done, and that since the appraisal was done everything awarded in it was now set in stone. Since only $3,000 was awarded in the appraisal for the interior work, that's what we have to work with.
Our GC has now sent us an invoice for the balance due for work completed (roof and windows), but I explained if we paid them that invoice in full ($33,000) we would not have enough money to fix the interior damage (we only have $38,000 left from the claim money). He said that doesn't matter, you need to pay for work we've completed. We offered to put the money that's supposed to go towards the garage door and gutter replacements towards the interior work since the former is only superficial dings/etc and that the interior damage is more important to get fixed. They also talked to the drywall subcontractor and he was willing to come down too, but we were still $3,000 apart.
I asked why we were expected to pay for this out of pocket when we were only supposed to have to pay our deductible, and the GC said it's not their fault the appraiser didn't come on site to inspect the interior damage. I said it was the GC that said to do an appraisal and to use this appraiser, and we were never asked to coordinate anything so it should fall to the GC to make sure that happens. The documents the GC sent us from the appraiser also states the GC should be onsite with the appraiser when the appraisal happens. The appraisal also awarded some Overhead and Profit, and I suggested the $3,000 that we're apart should come from that since it was a failure in coordination which what Overhead is supposed to be. The GC said there was no O&P awarded in the appraisal, so I screenshotted where the appraisal award states that, and he replied he's not going to argue with me anymore about it, and that we need to pay for work done or "next steps" will be taken.
The only recourse the GC has suggested for us is to file a claim with the state commissioner. Our IC agent was skeptical this would do anything since everything the IC has done is above board.
The Payment Terms in our contract says that we need to pay them the initial insurance check plus the deductible upon delivery of materials, and then the balance is due upon completion of the work. I replied to their invoice email saying that work has not been completed since there's still the interior, garage door, and gutter work that is not done yet. They said they only invoiced for work they've done (true), and that they don't do everything listed on the claim, that they are an exterior construction company that does roof and window work, and don't do that other work. They work with our IC to get monies for us to so we can have that work done. That we need to pay the invoice for work done or penalties, interest, and liens will be issued.
I said their contract says that they will fix all damages laid out in the insurance claim, quoting back their contract to them that says:
"By signing this contract, you authorize [GC] to discuss the damage to your real property with your insurance company for the purpose of coming to an agreement on project scope and price. Upon agreement by [GC] to the scope and price as defined on the insurance loss statement provided by your insurance company, you authorize [GC] to complete the replacement of said damaged property with ~no additional cost to you except for the insurance deductible,~ subject to terms and conditions on the reverse side. Payments will be made as outlined above.
ADDITIONAL TERMS - Page 2

1. Performance Guidelines. Contractor agrees to complete the Work set forth in this Contract in accordance with manufacturers' specifications for installation of all materials and all applicable construction codes. You acknowledge receipt before signing this Contract of these Performance Guidelines as required by Minnesota Statute 326B.809(b)."

I have not gotten a reply back from them after I sent that on Friday. Today is Tuesday.
I spoke with the appraiser and asked why an onsite inspection wasn't done so the interior damage could have been inspected and a appropriate award given for the damage. He said that even if the appraisal was done onsite, he would not have been able to award any more money than the $3,000 because the bid the GC put in for the appraisal only had $3,000 for the inside work. He's legally not able to award more than that bid the GC gave him.
So to me, it sounds like the GC made the mistake of asking for an appraisal without first getting an accurate estimate of the inside work, and because of that, we are stuck with only $3,000 for the inside work when it'll cost $10,000 to complete.
The contract says that we can pay contractors to complete work and deduct that cost from the contract price. The email from them discussing the invoice also says as much, that we can use the claim money to get the work done ourselves.
So I was thinking about saying we will do the rest of the work ourselves, and subtracting from the contract price ($85,000 that was awarded in the appraisal) the garage and gutter work that's in the claim, plus the interior estimate that the GC worked out with the subcontractor ($10,000), leaving a balance of $25,000 instead of the $33,000 they invoiced for. I'd send this check in the mail and consider the project with them complete.
I assume they'll file a Mechanic's Lien after that and will have to sue us in civil court to enforce it, and after researching it looks like I don't need an attorney in Conciliation or District Court to defend myself in MN. I feel fairly confident in presenting my side of things before a judge. The only concern I have right now is if the judge decides in favor of the GC and we have to pay for the GC's attorney fees. Otherwise I'm fine leaving this to a judge to decide. I understand where the GC is coming from, that they want to be paid for the work they've done, but to me it seems like it was their mistake that got us in this situation, and we're entitled to have our house's damage repaired just as much as they are entitled to being paid for work done.
What advice would you give me in this situation? Should I follow through with paying them $25,000 and allow them to file a lien? How much in attorney fees would you guess I'd be on the hook for if the GC wins before a judge? Is there a better option for me to take?
Thank you for reading if you've made it this far.

Hi there! IM LOOKING FOR GENUINE EFFORT AND CARE. I value chemistry very highly. If you are going to send a short/small reply, ESPECIALLY as an opener, please do not bother. (I play a lot of TFT so pls let's Double Up! :pray:!)
What I'm looking for:
Silly - I'm an energetic and goofball, I can't be with someone who is too serious and doesn't embrace being silly with me. That doesn't sound fun to me!
Communicative - I absolutely loving talking to my partner, but what's most important is BEING ON THE SAME PAGE. Communication is very important. I'm a patient and understanding guy. Unfortunately I can't read minds! (If you know how to read minds, DM pls). This also goes for knowing how to actually converse. I can't stand lack of effort and short responses. Not my cup of tea.
Effort - Effort, time, consistency. These are all very important to me. It's so draining to put these things into a friendship or relationship (anything really) and not get it back. I'm not settling for anything less.
Common interests/hobbies - Some people are able to date others who have nothing or little in common with them. Impossible for me. I want to spend a lot of time with my partner, enjoying the things WE BOTH ENJOY. My partner is my best friend, we don't have to have everything in common, but there needs to be a solid amount to work with.
Those are the main things. Yes, attraction matters too. I'm being real about it. I'm not looking for a model or anything, but I'd be lying to say attraction doesn't matter to me. If you send a selfie, you happily get mine. I'm up front about things.
Now about me:
30 years old
Capricorn (for those who are curious).
6 feet tall (6'1 on a good day), white.
Cat dad
Work in the gaming industry
I've been told I'm a goofball who brings some energy and liveliness to those around me. I aim to make those around me comfortable and ensure they enjoy their time. Those are my top two priorities when I'm with or around people.
I love to talk and get to know people. I'm the clingy type, and I'll take every chance to talk to someone if I enjoy their company. I also know how to read between the lines and give space when needed. The energy you give is the energy I return. That's why I look for silly and comfortable energy; that's what I work best with and want. People come and go (including myself); I'm not the type to be bothered about it. Everyone has different lives and responsibilities.
The right people will communicate and stay. I'm the type to work on a problem if I notice one. I hate giving up if I think there's even a small chance of fixing it.I want to learn from every experience I have. My mind is always on and thinking. I often replay a lot of the interactions and events during my day at night and try to figure out what I could've done differently and why, what other outcomes were possible. It's entertaining to me but also helps me learn and grow.
I'm not perfect; I just want to be a better person and work on myself when I can.I love to play TFT and Aram! Recently finished my first playthrough of Baldur's Gate 3 and FF7 Rebirth. I do what I can to learn more about the game I'm playing to get better and have even more fun.
Pokemon TCG! I play in real life and online! I'd say semi-competitively these days. It's hard to find the time to go to big tournaments often when you have other things going on. I play mostly for social reasons, but it is another way to scratch that competitive itch. Pokemon, in general, though, I'm a huge fan of! Aipom and Piplup are my two favorites!
Reading (with a little bit of writing)! I'm not the type to read fiction books; most of that is taken care of via shows, games, movies. I enjoy psychology and business books, self-improvement, memoirs!
I enjoy watching anime and kdramas! There are some occasional shows on Netflix I enjoy watching when they are new, but most of my entertainment from shows will be anime and kdramas. There's a lot more to say; this post is getting long, though, so I'll save it for later. If you are still reading, congratulations! I hope to hear from some of y'all! ^^
Ps - Hopefully the formatting isn't too awful and I didn't make too many mistakes haha

Hi all. Been going to OTF for a couple of years, fairly dedicated for the first year and a half, but this year so far I have been focused on making it part of my day and improving my numbers on the cardio side. I have ramped up my running, my running speeds for all three facets. Through all this, I have seen my VO2 max jump about 8 numbers, mind you that it is the Apple watch figure but still consistently increasing. I have been reading and learning about VO2 Max and how important it is. I can see the relationship between feeling like I have more endurance now and the number gradually increasing over the past few months.
Anyway, not really a question in this, just proud of the hard rock and results being shown in my endurance and in readings. Has anyone else noticed this? Or have anything insightful info you wanna share about VO2 Max and OTF.
Thanks!

I've been using ProNail Complex for a few weeks now, and I'm happy with the results so far. It's a spray that is designed to strengthen nails and improve their appearance.
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Easy to Use
ProNail Complex is very easy to use. The spray bottle makes it simple to apply the product to your nails. I simply spray it on my nails twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. The spray dries quickly and doesn't leave behind any greasy residue.
Early Signs of Improvement
I've noticed that my nails are already starting to look and feel healthier. They are less brittle and more resistant to breaking. I'm also starting to see some improvement in the overall appearance of my nails. They are becoming smoother and more even in color.
Overall Impression
Overall, I'm impressed with ProNail Complex. It's a great product that is easy to use and effective. If you are looking for a product to help improve the health and appearance of your nails, I would recommend giving ProNail Complex a try.
Things to Consider
It is important to note that I have only been using ProNail Complex for a few weeks, so I cannot speak to the long-term effects of the product. Additionally, it is always best to consult with a doctor before starting any new product, especially if you have any underlying health conditions.
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Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) is the subject of heated debate. How are mast cell activation syndromes defined? Which diseases are included? What is the diagnosis and treatment of mast cell activation syndrome? Prof. Dr. Knut Brockow, Clinic and Polyclinic for Dermatology and Allergology at the Biederstein, Technical University of Munich answers these questions in an interview with MeinAllergiePortal.
Mast cell activation syndrome: The most important facts!
-The prototype of mast cell activation syndrome is recurrent anaphylaxis
-Other forms of idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome are being sought; however, there are mainly symptom descriptions where the diagnosis cannot be made
-Clinical suspicion of MCAS is based on recurring allergy-like symptoms on the skin, nose, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract and circulation
-The diagnosis of MCAS is made according to recognized international criteria based on three criteria
-MCAS is often suspected even when symptoms are inappropriate and the diagnosis is unclear; the suspicion is then not helpful for patients
-The same medications are used to treat MCAS as are used to treat allergies, in particular antihistamines and cromoglicic acid
Prof. Brockow, what kind of disease is MCAS?
Mast cell activation syndrome is not an established diagnosis, but rather a concept. Historically, this concept arose because an increasing number of patients came to the doctor's office with complaints that gave the impression of having been triggered by mast cells. These patients sometimes showed symptoms similar to those of allergic reactions, anaphylaxis or mastocytosis, but a clear diagnosis for these diseases could not be made. Nevertheless, it was suspected that there could at least be a connection with mast cell diseases. Unfortunately, the term MCAS created more uncertainty than understanding. This is because MCAS is now thrown around as a diagnosis for many patients with many symptoms and an unclear diagnosis. This is not helpful for patients and fuels short-term hope of diagnosis and cure, which cannot be fulfilled later.
Is MCAS an autoimmune disease?
No, in autoimmune diseases mast cells are not primarily involved and not as lead cells, but lymphocytes that attack the body's own structures, in some cases by forming antibodies.
Is there a connection between mast cell activation syndrome and autoimmune diseases?
No, there is no known connection between MCAS and autoimmune diseases. It has also been claimed by specific authors that other diseases, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) are related to mast cell activation syndrome. However, there are no good arguments for this. Unfortunately, such claims are easy to make and difficult to refute.
What is the cause of mast cell activation syndrome?
Mast cell activation syndrome is actually more of a symptom description than a diagnosis in its own right. Mast cell activation syndrome is fully applicable to recurrent anaphylaxis (severe allergic reactions in several organ systems such as the skin, respiratory tract, digestive tract and circulatory system), for example due to insect bites. All the criteria for mast cell activation syndrome are met here. Severe allergic reactions are the most common cause of MCAS. However, although the term MCAS is correct in this context, it does not provide any additional information, as patients with such events are better described as patients with a diagnosis of anaphylaxis or allergy, and the term MCAS is somewhat confusing.
Is mast cell activation syndrome genetic?
MCAS itself is not genetic, but patients with the genetic disease mastocytosis often suffer from anaphylaxis, particularly to insect venom, and therefore MCAS. In addition, it is currently being investigated whether people with genetically determined hereditary alpha-tryptasemia suffer more frequently from MCAS.
How did the term mast cell activation syndrome come about?
There were many patients without a clear diagnosis, some of whom predominantly showed the symptoms typical of mast cell diseases. Accordingly, the experts dealing with mast cell diseases saw the need to develop a concept that took into account the “undiagnosable” symptoms of the patients. In the course of this, the terms “mast cell activation” and “mast cell activation syndrome” were defined. In addition, an attempt was made to sort all mast cell diseases into a classification with regard to mast cell activation. However, the difficulty in classifying these complaints is that many of the complaints described by patients are subjective, relatively non-specific and can be both organic and psychosomatic.
How have you defined mast cell diseases and which diseases do they include?
Mast cell diseases are defined as recurring chronic symptoms that are compatible with mast cell activation.
Mast cell activation is classified on the basis of three criteria:
Recurrent typical clinical symptoms in at least two organ systems
An increase in mast cell mediators can be detected in the blood, most frequently by determining the serum tryptase level during an acute attack
Good response of symptoms to anti-mast cell mediator-directed therapy, especially H1 antihistamines
What types of mast cell disease are there?
The classification of mast cell diseases associated with mast cell activation syndromes defines three groups:
1. primary mast cell activation syndrome
Primary mast cell activation syndrome is explained by a clonal expansion of mutated overactive mast cells. It manifests as systemic or cutaneous mastocytosis. If these criteria are not completely fulfilled, but clonal mast cells have been detected, it is referred to as monoclonal mast cell activation syndrome.
2 Secondary mast cell activation syndrome
Secondary mast cell activation syndrome is present when clear triggers of mast cell activation are known. There are established terms for secondary mast cell activation syndrome that we are more familiar with, such as “anaphylaxis” to a known trigger. The classification in the second group of mast cell diseases is therefore merely a reclassification. Examples of mast cell activation are physical urticaria or cold urticaria. Allergies such as pollen allergies are also secondary mast cell activations, as hay fever also causes symptoms typical of mast cell diseases. In pollen allergies, mast cell mediators are found in the blood serum and drugs directed against mast cells have a good effect. If the symptoms recur in several organ systems, this is referred to as mast cell activation syndrome.
3. tertiary or idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome
Tertiary or idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome refers to mast cell diseases whose triggers are unknown. This group would include, for example, chronic spontaneous urticaria, which has additional symptoms in other organs. Here we know that mast cells are activated, but not by what. This group of idiopathic mast cell activation syndromes would also include patients with as yet undescribed clinical pictures who do not fulfill the diagnostic criteria of known mast cell diseases, e.g. allergy, anaphylaxis, but in whom the disease is triggered by mast cells. In these patients, however, the connection between the symptoms and the activities of the mast cells must be proven.
Does this mean that tertiary or idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome is a diagnosis of exclusion?
Idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome can be described as a diagnosis of exclusion insofar as the prerequisite for the diagnosis is that there is no other disease causing the symptoms. However, the symptoms described are often very, very unspecific and could also be caused by a variety of other diseases. However, there are the three criteria for mast cell activation syndrome already mentioned. If these are not all fulfilled, this diagnosis cannot be made.
How common is mast cell activation syndrome?
Anaphylaxis and severe recurrent allergies are not uncommon and represent the vast majority of appropriate cases for MCAS. In addition, mastocytosis patients often have multiple anaphylaxis and therefore also MCAS. However, our initial idea of finding a new disease, idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome, has not yet been confirmed. There are many patients with many symptoms for whom a clear organic diagnosis cannot yet be made. However, it is almost never possible to prove that a defect in the mast cells is primarily responsible for the symptoms. Many of these patients describe symptoms that could fit, and in some patients anti-allergic drugs also have a positive effect. But in only very few patients can an increase in mast cell mediators be detected during an acute attack. I now believe that somatic stress disorders could play a significant role in many of the patients examined.
Histamine intolerance is also a diagnosis of exclusion, is there a connection with mast cell activation syndrome?
Histamine intolerance can cause similar symptoms, but is not a mast cell disorder and has nothing to do with MCAS. When mast cells are activated, the messenger substance histamine is released, which in turn can cause symptoms. In histamine intolerance, the mast cell is not activated - it is not involved in any way. Rather, histamine intolerance describes patients with an increased sensitivity to histamine, which is supplied, for example, via the diet. This can lead to similar symptoms, but in contrast to mast cell activation syndrome, histamine intolerance has a clear trigger, histamine. As a result, the symptoms occur after eating histamine-rich foods, but disappear again if the patient follows a low-histamine diet. A test is also available to diagnose histamine intolerance.
So there are also patients with suspected mast cell activation syndrome who cannot be assigned to a classification group, even though they have corresponding symptoms?
There are many patients in whom no mast cell activation syndrome can be detected despite suspicion. They do not fit into one of the three groups. However, this also used to include monoclonal mast cell activation syndrome. These patients showed anaphylaxis and a KIT mutation, but not the full criteria for mastocytosis. In the meantime, a separate disease diagnosis has been created for these patients. The independent accepted disease of these patients therefore lies between mastocytosis and normal findings.
We thought that there might be other forms of idiopathic MCAS with clinical pictures that have not yet been described. However, this is not supported by the findings to date. There are patients who show symptoms but do not meet the necessary criteria for idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome. In these patients, the diagnosis remains unclear. In how many of these patients functional physical complaints play a role still needs to be investigated.
Are there risk factors that favor mast cell activation syndrome?
There are hardly any recognized studies on this. In a study conducted by Cem Akin in the USA, patients were examined who met the three criteria for idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome. They had the right symptoms, there was an increase in mediators and their symptoms improved with treatment. It was shown that many of these patients suffered from urticaria factitia, a scratch-induced urticaria, abdominal pain and flushing.
Recently, a genetic trait was discovered, hereditary alpha-tryptasemia with elevated basal serum tryptase levels. In patients with this trait and insect venom allergy, the severity of the allergic reaction appears to be increased. It is also discussed that the frequency of mast cell activation syndrome is increased in patients with this genetic trait. However, the published studies are not yet unanimous in this respect.
What symptoms can occur with MCAS?
The following symptoms could be signs of mast cell activation syndrome:
MCAS symptoms on the skin:
Appearance of sudden intense redness (flushing)
itching
wheal formation
Deep wheal formation (angioedema or Quincke's edema)
MCAS symptoms on the nose:
Nasal congestion
Nasal itching
MCAS symptoms in the airways:
Swelling of the upper airways
Wheezing
Shortness of breath
MCAS symptoms of the digestive tract:
Vomiting
abdominal pain
diarrhea
Systemic MCAS symptoms:
Syncope - where you suddenly lose consciousness, but only for a short time
Sudden drop in blood pressure
Allergic shock
These symptoms can occur together or individually. In principle, symptoms must occur in two or more organ systems for MCAS. These symptoms, together with the typical skin changes and anaphylaxis, are also typical of mastocytosis.
Are muscle pain and hair loss also symptoms of MCAS?
No, why would anyone think that these symptoms are primarily caused by a malfunction of mast cells? Mast cells are not important cells for muscle pain and hair loss.
How is MCAS diagnosed?
MCAS is a diagnosis of exclusion, i.e. there is no mast cell activation syndrome test. However, this does not mean that all other diseases must be ruled out before a diagnosis of MCAS can be made.
When testing directly for mast cell activation syndrome, three criteria would be examined, all of which must be met, not just two:
First, there must be a matching of symptoms to see if the above symptoms are leading, recurrent and occur in at least two organ systems.
Is there a substantial or complete improvement in the clinical symptoms when taking anti-allergic medication, antihistamines or cromoglicic acid? Then this criterion would apply.
The blood levels of tryptase in the serum can now be examined at two different points in time. This would check whether there is an increase in mast cell mediators or tryptase in the blood serum in a highly symptomatic phase or during a seizure compared to a time when there are no symptoms.
What does the tryptase level in the blood mean in the diagnosis of mast cell activation syndrome?
If the mast cell mediator tryptase rises by 20 percent of the basal value, i.e. the initial value, + 2 ng/ml during such an episode, the diagnosis of mast cell activation syndrome has been made without the need to rule out other diseases beforehand. However, taking blood samples to determine the tryptase levels is very time-consuming, because a blood sample should be taken in the normal state and then another blood sample should be taken during a seizure or a highly symptomatic episode. This means that the patient must see a doctor in good time for a blood test during the acute phase. If these tests are negative, mast cell activation syndrome cannot be confirmed.
Elevated tryptase levels also play a role in anaphylaxis, is there a connection with mast cell activation syndrome?
Anaphylaxis is an extremely strong mast cell activation, the “prototype” of mast cell activation, so to speak. The tryptase level rises, so that it is considered an indicator of anaphylaxis. Here too, the basal value is measured and compared with the value during an episode. The relevant factor is the resulting increase in the tryptase value. The therapy against mast cells is effective in this case. In this respect, anaphylaxis is the classic form of mast cell activation syndrome.
The tryptase value also plays a role in the diagnosis of mastocytosis, what are the correlations here?
Mastocytosis patients also have an elevated baseline tryptase level. This is therefore an indication of mastocytosis and an indication for a final diagnosis by means of a bone marrow biopsy. However, there is also a mastocytosis-independent correlation between tryptase and anaphylaxis. People who have a higher number of mast cells often develop more severe anaphylaxis than people with fewer mast cells. The tryptase basal value is therefore considered a kind of indicator for the total mast cells in the body. For example, insect venom anaphylactic patients with elevated basal mast cell tryptase levels in the blood are at increased risk of severe anaphylaxis.
What can be done against MCAS and which medications help?
The aim of treatment for mast cell activation syndrome is to slow down the effect of the overactivated mast cells and to calm the mast cells. In particular, the avoidance of allergic triggers is available for this purpose.
Histamine receptor blockers are tried as medication to block the effects of mast cell activation by histamine. Mast cell stabilizers or blockers of mast cell release, cromoglicic acid, can also calm the mast cells. Cromoglicic acid is also used in mastocytosis patients. It is important to know that the use of cromoglicic acid is not advisable if the attack has already run its course. On the other hand, many patients achieve a significant improvement in symptoms if cromoglicic acid is taken continuously as a preventive measure and in a sufficiently high dose. This has also been shown to be the case with antihistamines.
Another option would be leukotriene receptor antagonists and corticosteroids in the short term, but never over a longer period of time.
Unfortunately, many patients with previously unexplained complaints are given a suspected diagnosis of MCAS in the hope that this knowledge will lead to better treatment or perhaps a cure. However, apart from the drugs mentioned, which can also be used on a trial basis in cases of suspected MCAS, there are no other useful drugs available. In this respect, the suspicion of MCAS unfortunately does not offer patients any additional treatment options.
Are there foods that activate or deactivate mast cells?
No such foods are known in humans. Of course, it is possible to bombard mast cells in a test tube with high concentrations of food and measure whether the natural activation of mast cells is increased or reduced. However, such tests are generally not meaningful for humans when consumed.
Can naturopathy help with mast cell activation syndrome?
I don't know how it could help. Naturopathy is the attempt to achieve a positive effect through naturally occurring active substances. Is the avoidance of allergens in our natural environment already naturopathy?
Could certain vitamins, for example vitamin C, be beneficial for MCAS?
This is claimed by a few doctors without any convincing results. Vitamin C is also said to help against seasickness. After all, vitamin C, taken in normal amounts, is not harmful and is beneficial. Sometimes the conviction that a substance is good for you also helps. That's why the experiment doesn't bother me.
Is it possible to prevent mast cell activation syndrome?
Yes, by avoiding MCAS with a known trigger. This is the case with allergies. In the case of allergies and recurrent anaphylaxis as a form of MCAS, omalizumab, an antibody against immunoglobulin E, can also be used in individual patients.
Prof. Brockow, thank you very much for this interview!
https://www.mein-allergie-portal.com/mastozytose-mastzellaktivierungssyndrom-mcas/925-idiopathisches-mastzellenaktivierungssyndrom-ein-neues-krankheitsbild.html

Update post on my progress and protocols for my treatment with side effects and how I managed it all.
Now that I'm done with treatment, I hope that this can help others who may be starting the same journey and have questions. I attribute my easy time to the premeds and my mental willpower. I focus on the positives and silver linings over the negatives. You can only control one thing -- your reactions. The rest requires you to practice acceptance.
Diagnosis: Stage 2 Endocervical Adenocarcinoma Gastric Type with LVSI
Treatment Plan: Surgery (cervix, uterus, and ovaries) followed by concurrent Chemo with Radiation with a PET Scan scheduled 2 months after treatment to determine if NED or more treatment is required.
I was scheduled for 6 chemo cycles, once a week, and 28 radiation beam therapies. Chemo happened on Monday and Radiation was Monday through Friday. I had to skip Cycle 3 on Chemo only because I was hospitalized with Norovirus and my counts were too low. I still did radiation those days.
Chemo Protocol in order of meds:

1. Magnesium Sulfate + Potassium Chloride. Cisplatin strips this from your body, supplements.
2. Emend (Fosaprepitant) - antiemetic. I had to get a port for this, it burned my arm vein and I had to use other arm for Chemo, no fun.
3. Aloxi (Palonosetron) - antiemetic.
4. Decadron (Dexamethasone) - steroid. It burns in your nether region, if it burns too much, ask them to push it slower.
5. Lasix (Furosemide) - diuretic. Cisplatin is hard on kidneys, this is to help purge the chemo faster. Be close to a bathroom and ask nurse if you can just unplug your IV pole and go to bathroom freely vs. pushing call button -- its easier.
6. Cisplatin (Platinol) 70mg (my dose). Didn't make me feel any different than the other infusions.

Plan for at least 5 hours for the above. I started at 7:30am and ended between 12 and 12:30pm.
Cisplatin Symptoms: This is going to vary person to person and you may get different premeds than me.

• Mon (Day 1) - just the cold feeling in your veins from all the fluid infusions. You also gain like 5lbs of water weight that day. I was typically ravenous and ate whatever I wanted, the antiemetics made this possible. Be wary of constipation from chemo, it took me by surprise the first week. The other weeks I ate a few prunes on Sunday and then after chemo on Monday to help. Otherwise you won't poop for a week and be miserable.
• Tues (Day 2) - no appetite and I don't eat. Even marijuana does not work to stimulate. I'll force myself if DH forces me, but since I eat everything in sight Day 1 I'm not too hard on myself. Important to have first BM this day, if nothing then you need to start addressing. Of course I BM daily so this may not apply to you.
• Wed - Thu (Day 3 - 4) - acid reflux and indigestion. Keep some Tums handy or use pills, it doesn't really help and you get used to it. All in, better than throwing up, so take it as a win if this is the worst for you. Appetite back.
• Fri - Sun (Day 5 -7) - less side effects, should be at normal BMs, if you are not you need to address for next cycle. Very important to purge your bowels if you are constipated before your next chemo. I ended up doing Miralax my first week, I had zero BM before Sat and I could feel the pressure. The following weeks I just did a handful of prunes Sunday night after dinner and Monday when I got home from chemo. I happen to like prunes and they worked to keep me regular.

Pelvic Radiation Symptoms: This is going to be different based on what areas are treated. My bladder, vagina, and pelvic nodes were heavily treated. Be sure you understand the side effects before you start treatment - so you can be on top of everything. Below is my experience and I had a fairly easy time of it.

• The fatigue sets in slowly. By week 3/4 I needed 12 hours a night to sleep. Don't ignore this important rest. I adjusted my work schedule from day 1 -- from 7a to 1p Tue - Thu. I didn't work Mon due to Chemo and Fri I had to get labs done and radiation so I worked from 7a to 11am. I did this from day 1 to set the tone with my boss and ensure I had the time needed to rest even if I didn't need it. I ended up working Sat and sometimes Sun to make up for things. I am a WFH executive - right hand of CEO and in charge of operations. Helps to have a great boss pick up the slack and an amazing team who supported me every step of the way.
• Bowels get softer over time, they do not go from hard to diarrhea overnight. If you have diarrhea fast, don't ignore it or let your doctor's ignore. I thought it was the prunes week 2 that did it, no it was norovirus. They didn't catch it until I had a 102 fever week 3 and had to be hospitalized. The chemo constipation masked it during the week.
• AZO is your BEST FRIEND. Take it every day. It is made to as a pain reliever for the bladder. I missed it for a week and paid for it so bad. Do not skip this important drug. I need to keep taking it for a few weeks until the symptoms subside.
• When you go in for your initial telemetry setup for the machines, make sure you are comfortable before they start anything. The moment you lay down on the machine bed, you need to make sure you are in a good position. They used a mold on my legs and I was not in a good position so it really hurt my hips every session thereafter.
• You have to put your hands on your chest. They give a ring, I hated it. I recommend relaxing your shoulders or you'll have a hard time while they do the treatment.
• You get used to the flow. You walk into the treatment room, hop on a bed while two techs adjust you (I had x marks on both hips and belly that they lined up). Then you get a quick CT to ensure your bladder is full and you're in a good position. Adjustments are made as needed. You know when the radiation beam starts because it is the only thing with noise. Don't move until they say you can. Whole thing is 10 mins or less.
• Bladder management is the worst part. You need to have a full bladder for this and as the treatment progresses you will have a harder time determining if your bladder is full or not. Your kidneys will also work slower (I attribute to the chemo) as the weeks go on, so you'll need to drink earlier. I recommend drinking what will fill your bladder two hours before your treatment. It is easier to let of some pressure than it is to fill the bladder. Tea is a natural diuretic and is very helpful to giving your kidneys a boost. I usually drank 20+ oz of Powerade two hours before (chugging), then tea when I arrived (they had fancy machines) and this worked 90% of the time.
• Be wary of foods you eat. I did great until Week 4 when I had lots of stuff with red sauce and it caused gas. I had to pass this gas before they could do my treatment, it was a riot but you don't want your visits to be like that every day. Stay away from tomato products and anything else that gives you even mild gas outside of treatment. It is nearly impossible to pass gas with an overfull bladder.

Nurses are your best friend. Having cancer and going through treatment sucks, but the nurses are there for you and my experience was all-inclusive resort service. Take advantage of the snacks (yes they have ice cream) when you're getting chemo. Don't be shy about asking them about your meds, they did a good job explaining this to me, but I still had questions now and again. It takes a special person to be an oncology nurse and you feel it. It never felt fake or like they were putting on a show/smile just for me. They truly cared. I never want to see them again either way :)
Edited to add: get a port. You will not regret it. I plan on keeping mine for a year after NED, which will require a monthly flush. It makes things so much easier, especially if you have to be hospitalized. I didn't need the numbing cream, it hurts less than the arm pokes for labs and infusions. I asked for mine before chemo and doctor didn't think it was necessary. First treatment proved it was - I had three IV's that day and I'm still suffering from the Emend infusion (not the chemo surprisingly) on my arm. Yes, its surgery but its easy. I had it in place before my 2nd chemo and it was lifechanging. I'd keep it for life it wasn't for the monthly flushes lol, my arm veins were crap to start and the more they are poked the worse they get.

My coworker and I have been watching mold grow in and on a cup of tea left behind by a former coworker. It’s been growing for exactly one month tomorrow. We are arguing about whether or not drinking it would kill us (purely for fun, we won’t drink it); would it? Thank you for any information!

I’ve been blown away by the level of responsiveness and expertise from Redditors for a few related topics which have been a huge help to me. Thanks in advance for any feedback here and I hope I’m in the right place!
I’m in a level of ‘negotiation’ with my Employer (a global Tech company) about a relocation from Southend, SE England to either Alpharetta or Tampa as part of a promotion within my existing Team on what is expected to be a ‘3 year gig’ (at which point the company is expected to be sold which would inevitably see changes of personnel almost certainly those who I am currently ‘negotiating’ with!). Naturally there are a million and one things to consider, especially as a (married) father of two young children.
As I await more formal details of the offer (including the $!), I am trying to speed through all the various research needed which I am simplifying into the below, in order to make negotiations effective and ultimately lead up to a point where I will be able to make an actual decision (likely in the next two weeks)

1. Understanding the ancillary costs associated with relocating to the US as well as the expected on-going living costs in either location (to also include the likely requirement to relocate BACK in ~3 years time)
   
2. Understanding which of the many risks associated with this opportunity I should attempt to have mitigated by my Employer
   
3. Understanding any fundamental blockers/showstoppers that could prevent the move from being viable
   

I’m starting to build up a picture across all three but there were some specific questions I’d really appreciate some insights on. We’re mostly concerned about the number of ‘hidden’ costs there may be, to the extent where the financial gains we are expecting could end up being significantly diminished by the end of the 3 year period (our main objective here is primarily to financial gain – to ideally outright purchase a large family house back in the UK after 3 years and not primarily the ‘experience’ for our family, which we would of course consider a bonus).

• (re: 1) What are some of the more ‘obscure’ costs which I may not have factored in?

·

• I have been told informally that the company would fund my ‘relocation costs’ but those have not been specified and nor is there a dedicated function within my company to support this. I suspect the onus may be on me to even negotiate these elements. What could be considered normal and reasonable? The obvious costs which I would assume to be covered would be the travel expense including shipping of likely clothing and other valuables we’d want to take with us (see below), VISA, documentation etc.. But there are plenty of other expenses which I am not sure are a direct expense or not and therefore do not know whether to push for their inclusion? Such as preliminary trips to the location (with or without family) to visit potential areas to stay, temporary accommodation (hotel? Serviced apartments?) temporary car-hire? Getting US driving license? Storage of furniture and equipment back in the UK (for use in 3 years)? Relocation of household Pet? Advance on salary for settling in (and deposit for house rent etc.)?
  
• Are there costs in ‘moving’ money from my UK bank account to US (as part of the move) and also moving money back after 3 years? All being well, I am hoping for a sum of $300K-$500K to ‘return home’ with after the term
  
• What would a general/sensible approach be to finding accommodation – renting a hotel/serviced apartment for 1-2 months to allow us to visit neighbourhoods and find a suitable property which I assume would usually be on a 12 month contract?
  
• Use of storage for 3 years in UK – I am weighing up the pros and cons of renting out our current family house (3 bed Semi) furnished, which would likely mean we would not need to pay for any storage for the duration, and could make use of Parents’ house for storage of any equipment/items which we would not want to take with us, nor leave in the house (but want to use on our return). The alternative would be to empty the house and rent-out unfurnished and to likely incur costs of £10K-£13K overall to keep it in storage – which would certainly be worth more than the items/furniture themselves. I have read that there are insurance implications with renting out furnished houses and also that renters would be more likely to ‘move on’ in a furnished house. We’d not be fussed about the furniture being damaged, and we would probably replace on our return regardless, so with the potential extra rental cost there could be a £13K-£16K swing? What’s normal/usual to do in this situation?
  
• Is it considered normal to move into a fully unfurnished rental property and purchase new furniture? There doesn’t seem to be a market in either area for Furnished rentals, from what I have seen. Is it normal and reasonable to purchase mostly second hand furniture, electricals etc. at the start of the term and sell on after 3 years to recoup some funds? Or not realistic?
  
  • (re: 2) What risks/outcomes could and should I be asking (vs mandating) my Employer to mitigate contractually? I’m acutely aware of the general ‘hire and fire’ culture in US although I have a very long tenure at this company (~25 years) and with the promotion/relocation being one of strategic importance (which the Company approached me on) I would have some reason to be confident that at least the company would not enforce a negative scenario on their terms?

·

• If the family doesn’t settle adequately in one of the locations, should I be able to relocate to the other? Accepting the company would not pay for that relocation
  
• If I elected to leave the company, I should be free to do so? Although it would mean having to find another company to sponsor VISA otherwise I would need to return home
  
• Protection against redundancy – moving to a general US contract would leave me with little protection and perhaps a standard ‘one week’ notice period. Should I request an abnormally long notice period – for example, 6 months? My priority would be to protect myself against the Company making me redundant, not giving myself the flexibility to move to another company whilst there (I have no desires to leave the company in the short or mid term). Assuming a notice period would maximise my chances to find alternative employment without having to go back home?
  
• Protection against dismissal/performance-related firing – could/should I request a bespoke compensation in the event of this? If I was to have to relocate back home with no VISA then I would incur additional relocation costs and also significant additional costs related to new agreements in the US (house rental etc.)
  
  • (re: 3) Interested to know if there are others who have emigrated and any nasty surprises? For example, I have read about the challenge in building up credit rating in the US and how long that may take? I have a (UK) Amex card which I will port to a US card when over there and use it as much as possible and set up a US bank account as quickly as I can.

Entirely personal, but also wondering on recommendations for Alpharetta vs Tampa? It would seem cost of living would be comparable (of course, dependent on neighbourhood) with the major differences being probably differences in climate, and I suspect Tampa would be generally much busier, perhaps less safe? For a reasonable 3 bed house it seems around $3K rent per month is the norm, with Alpharetta prices seemingly due to proximity to the tech hubs and Tampa due to the pull of the beaches, climate?
My Wife and I are very excited about the prospect, just trying to be as cautious as possible especially given this will be likely to move quickly!
Many thanks in advance
Mark

I’m about to post a slightly edited version of a comment I (35f) left on someone else’s recent post. We’re working on it, but I need support in supporting my partner (48m, father of my 2-year-old twins) through his addiction. Anyone who suffers from this or is with someone who suffers from this knows it isn’t something you just talk to anyone about. 1. it’s embarrassing 2. they tend to immediately tell you to write the person off bc they’re “disgusting” and too far gone 3. you love the person and don’t want others to think or talk negatively about them.
Anyway, here is a very, very short summary of what I’m currently dealing with, and what I have dealt with for much longer than my comment (the copy/paste below) portrays.
Idk, I just need someone who gets it. I’ve cried the last two times we’ve had sex because this relapse was the first one that shocked me. I’d truly believed that he was clean, whereas I’d always doubted him before. Now I feel like I have lost the ability to talk freely about my feelings with my best friend, because I don’t want to kick him while he’s down, and everything that needs to be said (for now) has been said. That doesn’t mean the hurt or paranoia (?) just evaporates.
Keep in mind I was replying to someone else, so there are parts that relate directly to that comment.
Here it is (edited to make more sense in this context):
i’ve been deeeep in the trenches with my partner, too. he has been seeing a counselor (who also suffered from porn addiction) on and off for two years. he loves him; that is key. when he sees him weekly, he is good. he has relapsed a few times, despite the “fail safe” of me having complete access to his phone via “myactivity.google.com”. we are logged into his gmail on our respective phones, and even incognito use shows up as “used google chrome”, but it will have no additional details attached, signaling incognito. yes, he has deleted activity during relapses, but sooner or later, they’ll miss something. guarantee it. Tbh, checking his activity online is secondary. His “tells” are setting earlier alarms (more time in the morning while everyone else sleeps), taking an abnormal amount of time “changing the wash over”, constantly having “stomach issues” which cause him to be in the locked bathroom, sometimes for an hour+, and so on.
I know that it’s just like any addiction. HE has to want it. I was addicted to opiates, and I know that no one can force you or convince you to get clean. I also know how hard it is and how easy it is to relapse and justify as “just this one time.” what matters most to me are the following points: 1. he willingly goes to counseling 2. he does not push back on me checking on his usage and instead asks me to please check his activity so he’s less likely to relapse, knowing something could (will) slip through the cracks 3. when he has relapsed, and I called him on it, his very first reaction was to call his counselor. he did not try to justify or lie.
all that being said, i’m at my breaking point. it cannot happen again without him coming to me and telling me he slipped, rather than me finding out on my own. I have asked again and again only for honesty, not perfection. (struggling with my own addiction, I know temptation sometimes wins. it’s not ok, but what’s worse is deceit,) I will not do it again. I cannot let it consume me. He knows I mean it. When I caught him this past time, I did not cry, did not pack bags, did not yell. I told him I was sorry he was overwhelmed enough to feel that relapse was worth it, and I believed in him. but enough was enough, and I would love and support from a distance. (edit: if I’m being honest, this isn’t true. I said all of that in May 2023. we have since moved six states away from everyone we know and love, and everything I own is here. the government won’t pay to ship all of my things back like they paid to get them here when he was hired into his current job. I no longer have a house or a job there, and because public transportation is so readily available, we didn’t replace my car when it had to be scrapped; I have nothing of my own, even though my mom would let us live with her in a heartbeat. I gave him another chance because not doing so was harder. If it happens again, I don’t care about my stuff. The twins and I will go home and stay with my mom. Stuff is stuff. My babies living in a healthy environment is the most important thing in the world to me—my feelings are secondary. for now, staying here is what’s best, as their father and I are continuing to work through it, as outlined below.)
I went as far as to email his counselor, and he (bf) thanked me for it, surprisingly. I knew ethically he couldn’t respond, but I want him to have 100% truth so he could help accordingly. He put my bf on a strict plan, and he has been sticking to it. The most important thing is that he has ZERO phone usage when he is home, except to check bus/metro times or when his daughter, who lives in another state, is playing softball and his ex wife is sending him updates. otherwise, as soon as he steps in the door, it goes straight to the drawer. (he works at the pentagon in a division that requires top secret clearance, so his phone is not on him during the day and he clearly cannot indulge in that environment).
I fully understand that this has nothing to do with me or his love for me or attraction to me. we have sex often, it’s passionate and fulfilling for us both. not to get too personal, I just want to state that I know he enjoys it, because we typically will have sex for an hour+, and he cums an average of six times. I know he sometimes doesn’t even masturbate (very likely often no erection) when watching. I mean, he’ll turn it on for three mins if he gets the chance, just to get the dopamine hit. it’s that hit of dopamine and, as fucked up as it is, a sort of “companionship” (bf’s word) that requires no effort that keeps the hold on him.
there is much more to the backstory, including him being raped (let’s called it what it is, it was not assault) when he was 10. a 17-year-old girl decided to “teach him what girls like”, which ultimately led to her “showing him” how to have sex. again, he was 10. she was 17. He also did two combat tours in Iraq. there is just so much trauma, but these are all reasons, not excuses. If someone does reach out to me, I’ll share aspects of our relationship that are also relevant.
Anyway…does anyone want to talk? This is my throwaway, but I still get alerts.
apologies for typos or just generally shitty writing—I don’t feel like going back to reread everything.

I’ve been blown away by the level of responsiveness and expertise from Redditors for a few related topics which have been a huge help to me. Thanks in advance for any feedback here and I hope I’m in the right place!
I’m in a level of ‘negotiation’ with my Employer (a global Tech company) about a relocation from Southend, SE England to either Alpharetta or Tampa as part of a promotion within my existing Team on what is expected to be a ‘3 year gig’ (at which point the company is expected to be sold which would inevitably see changes of personnel almost certainly those who I am currently ‘negotiating’ with!). Naturally there are a million and one things to consider, especially as a (married) father of two young children.
As I await more formal details of the offer (including the $!), I am trying to speed through all the various research needed which I am simplifying into the below, in order to make negotiations effective and ultimately lead up to a point where I will be able to make an actual decision (likely in the next two weeks)

1. Understanding the ancillary costs associated with relocating to the US as well as the expected on-going living costs in either location (to also include the likely requirement to relocate BACK in ~3 years time)
2. Understanding which of the many risks associated with this opportunity I should attempt to have mitigated by my Employer
3. Understanding any fundamental blockers/showstoppers that could prevent the move from being viable

I’m starting to build up a picture across all three but there were some specific questions I’d really appreciate some insights on. We’re mostly concerned about the number of ‘hidden’ costs there may be, to the extent where the financial gains we are expecting could end up being significantly diminished by the end of the 3 year period (our main objective here is primarily to financial gain – to ideally outright purchase a large family house back in the UK after 3 years and not primarily the ‘experience’ for our family, which we would of course consider a bonus).

• (re: 1) What are some of the more ‘obscure’ costs which I may not have factored in?
  • I have been told informally that the company would fund my ‘relocation costs’ but those have not been specified and nor is there a dedicated function within my company to support this. I suspect the onus may be on me to even negotiate these elements. What could be considered normal and reasonable? The obvious costs which I would assume to be covered would be the travel expense including shipping of likely clothing and other valuables we’d want to take with us (see below), VISA, documentation etc.. But there are plenty of other expenses which I am not sure are a direct expense or not and therefore do not know whether to push for their inclusion? Such as preliminary trips to the location (with or without family) to visit potential areas to stay, temporary accommodation (hotel? Serviced apartments?) temporary car-hire? Getting US driving license? Storage of furniture and equipment back in the UK (for use in 3 years)? Relocation of household Pet? Advance on salary for settling in (and deposit for house rent etc.)?
  • Are there costs in ‘moving’ money from my UK bank account to US (as part of the move) and also moving money back after 3 years? All being well, I am hoping for a sum of $300K-$500K to ‘return home’ with after the term
  • What would a general/sensible approach be to finding accommodation – renting a hotel/serviced apartment for 1-2 months to allow us to visit neighbourhoods and find a suitable property which I assume would usually be on a 12 month contract?
  • Use of storage for 3 years in UK – I am weighing up the pros and cons of renting out our current family house (3 bed Semi) furnished, which would likely mean we would not need to pay for any storage for the duration, and could make use of Parents’ house for storage of any equipment/items which we would not want to take with us, nor leave in the house (but want to use on our return). The alternative would be to empty the house and rent-out unfurnished and to likely incur costs of £10K-£13K overall to keep it in storage – which would certainly be worth more than the items/furniture themselves. I have read that there are insurance implications with renting out furnished houses and also that renters would be more likely to ‘move on’ in a furnished house. We’d not be fussed about the furniture being damaged, and we would probably replace on our return regardless, so with the potential extra rental cost there could be a £13K-£16K swing? What’s normal/usual to do in this situation?
  • Is it considered normal to move into a fully unfurnished rental property and purchase new furniture? There doesn’t seem to be a market in either area for Furnished rentals, from what I have seen. Is it normal and reasonable to purchase mostly second hand furniture, electricals etc. at the start of the term and sell on after 3 years to recoup some funds? Or not realistic?
• (re: 2) What risks/outcomes could and should I be asking (vs mandating) my Employer to mitigate contractually? I’m acutely aware of the general ‘hire and fire’ culture in US although I have a very long tenure at this company (~25 years) and with the promotion/relocation being one of strategic importance (which the Company approached me on) I would have some reason to be confident that at least the company would not enforce a negative scenario on their terms?
  • If the family doesn’t settle adequately in one of the locations, should I be able to relocate to the other? Accepting the company would not pay for that relocation
  • If I elected to leave the company, I should be free to do so? Although it would mean having to find another company to sponsor VISA otherwise I would need to return home
  • Protection against redundancy – moving to a general US contract would leave me with little protection and perhaps a standard ‘one week’ notice period. Should I request an abnormally long notice period – for example, 6 months? My priority would be to protect myself against the Company making me redundant, not giving myself the flexibility to move to another company whilst there (I have no desires to leave the company in the short or mid term). Assuming a notice period would maximise my chances to find alternative employment without having to go back home?
  • Protection against dismissal/performance-related firing – could/should I request a bespoke compensation in the event of this? If I was to have to relocate back home with no VISA then I would incur additional relocation costs and also significant additional costs related to new agreements in the US (house rental etc.)
• (re: 3) Interested to know if there are others who have emigrated and any nasty surprises? For example, I have read about the challenge in building up credit rating in the US and how long that may take? I have a (UK) Amex card which I will port to a US card when over there and use it as much as possible and set up a US bank account as quickly as I can.

Entirely personal, but also wondering on recommendations for Alpharetta vs Tampa? It would seem cost of living would be comparable (of course, dependent on neighbourhood) with the major differences being probably differences in climate, and I suspect Tampa would be generally much busier, perhaps less safe? For a reasonable 3 bed house it seems around $3K rent per month is the norm, with Alpharetta prices seemingly due to proximity to the tech hubs and Tampa due to the pull of the beaches, climate?
My Wife and I are very excited about the prospect, just trying to be as cautious as possible especially given this will be likely to move quickly!
Many thanks in advance
Mark

SABOTAGE?! And it all started out as such a nice idea… A cliche as tall as my ex-roommate’s erection live-blending Kelly Bundy Mike Kelley and Ted Bundy parafernalia wearing blondes to the sound of gekko’s mating in the Amazon. Cut the bullshit! There’s no such thing as a nice idea getting detourné by some smart art postpostsituationist pranker or right-wing gaswhitey flexfrat, no, my dear well-meaning peace dove friends, if an idea can gets turned into its opposite during its execution, it probably was flawed from the start! Sometimes people use Woodstock 99 - the limp dickshit rape and pillage slash and burn disaster edition - as an example of how a great, positive, wonderful, hell, holy idea can turn into the worst kind of evil in the hands of the wrong people. Well, dear naivopino’s, let me inform you: bull-shit! The whole idea of Woodstock, be it ’99, ’94, ’69 or 2219, is just batshit dumbwhat asking for the baddest kind of trouble right from the bat. Or, what? Do you honest-to-dogly think that during the original (I retrovulsely puke into my stomach even using that wretched word) edition of 1969 nothing was burned, stolen, no women were raped? What, just because there were no sperm dna tests, nigh to none options for women to speak up against sexual violence let alone the fact that speaking up against rape during that whole shitshebang of a weak acid trip’s campfire get-together was near to blasphemy in the hippie community means that no women were raped? Because men all of a sudden turned into meek little dickies lambs for three years from 1968 to ’71? Fuck that shit. Please. I don’t even want to spend a single move of a single digit of my old hands having to make anything about that largest circle jerk-off in history clear to you. Read your books. Do your homework. Anyway, that’s what I was thinking about when a friend told me recently about another of those so-called great ideas gone hilariously wrong in a little map smudge of a town in of all fucking places Belgium for chrissakes. Let me admit to you, right here and now, no smirk no smile on my face: I laughed so hard when I heard it I shat my new Calvins. Framed them afterwards, too, in a nice little Nielsen A2 birch. It’s sitting there, stinking the fuck out of my storage, waiting for a good stock market crash to come. Never underestimate the potential of the future art market gold rushes. My shit, my gold, bruv. So, these two clowns of artists in Belgium (are there any other there? don’t get me started on rené ma bite or marcel bread arse here!) had the ammazing idea to get themselves funded by the local government in this hamlet of three houses called Watou which apparently would be part of - ok, stop me here. Not in the history of mankind has ever ended a sentence well which tried to explain any aspect of Belgian politics, topography or whatever the call the thing there where a man rides a horse stark naked and bites the neck of living goose hanging from a tree? (See, that sentence didn’t end well either, did it, what’d I tell you? Cursed stuff!) Let’s try that again: two artists in the Belgian town of Watou had the splendid idea to organize a festive event, in the middle of summer, whereby all the people of this little village (if you’re thinking of blue skinned vikings charging Roman legionnaires in a berry-induced bad trip frenzy, well, so am I) for one day left their houses, dropped the key of their house in a transparant bowl on the town square and all went to the field adjacent to their village to well be (as in: not fornicate) together and thereby, if I had a press release I’d quote this from it: practiced a performative experiment in hospitality and neighborship where no fixed rules are applied. I’m guessing if you’re sensitive like I am to the finer things a life, you might as well start looking for your nearest Nielsen frame too by now, but hey: we haven’t even gotten to the joke yet! This was all the serious stuff. Let me summarise it even more briefly for you, just to get it out of my haemorrhoidical system: Imagine a village. Everyone leaves their house at the same time. Leaves their front door open. Drops the key to said door in a large bowl. Drifts into a field somewhere off to do fripp knows what (no rules applied, but probably: no fornication whatsoever.) Got the mental image? Good. Now get the fuck out of that dream and imagine any sad little teardrop of a town you know. Imagine who lives there. Imagine all the people you know who live in a town, or rather, fuck that, imagine all the people you know. Now imagine that some dogoodydoodydoobywah wants to “bring the people together again” and “mend the social bonds which had been broken by” yaddah yaddah yaddah. Okay? Now imagine the fucking assholes - they might even be you - who get they absolute mostest pleasure out of ruining the naive, well-intentioned ideas of others? You see what I see? The doodygoodoo is a bit all alone on his white ivory hilltowertop, right? All the others apparently prefer to start mayhem, to jinx other people’s efforts, to laugh - loud! - at their friends tripping over their own feet. No? You think in your ‘reality’ people are ‘decent’ and ‘rough diamonds’ or ‘deeper than you’d think they are’? Well, my dear, that paradisiacal odor you’re smelling all around you is the smell of your own shit cause you got your head up your ass! Listen and suffer! Because what happened in our not-just-proverbial Belgian village on that sunny morning in July… a couple of the townspeople - we’ll never know how many but I’m guessing almost everyone except for the government-funded, from-the-city hippie artists was in on the joke - had invited some acquaintances from the town next door to quietly enter the village while everyone was not-fornicating on the idyllic field, to take all the keys from the bowl, lay them on the train tracks which run along the town, flattening them to perfectly unusable little steel flabs and placing them back in the bowl. So when our supposedly resocialised townspeople entered their village that afternoon, ready to get their key, run to their house and close their door for at least the next 364 days, the immediately realised they couldn’t close their doors anymore. Total mayhem ensued. Men started chasing women, people pillaged their neighbours houses, children and adults alike pooped on all toothbrushes they could find, underwear was thrown into compost heaps, compost heaps were thrown into unlawful indoor spas, hundred thousands of untaxed euro piles were find inside old televisions and grandmas paintings. There was no stopping them. Housewifes hung themselves after their portrait, tits out and all, was found hanging above at least three beds in different houses. It was bad. Real bad. By the time news of this feast of anarchy and murder had spread to the nearest villages and the police arrived, the artists had of course long disappeared, no doubt to narrativise their failure into a story of experiment and learning and cash in a couple of fat pay checks.
And you know what the name was the artists had given their beautiful day of harmony and collective connecting: Open Doors Day. They sure got it, their open doors day, they sure got it. Serves them right. Serves them damn right.
peace - out!

Contract negotiation is a fundamental process in business, crucial for establishing agreements that are mutually beneficial and legally sound. It involves two parties discussing, proposing, and fine-tuning the terms of a contract until a consensus is reached. This process is not just about reaching an agreement but about ensuring that the agreement aligns with the strategic objectives, legal requirements, and risk tolerance of all involved.
Effective contract negotiation requires a blend of skills: clear communication, a deep understanding of legal terms, strategic foresight, and the ability to align diverse interests. It's a delicate balancing act that seeks to create value for all parties, fostering long-term business relationships and minimizing potential conflicts.
The contract negotiation process is often supported by various tools designed to streamline and enhance different aspects of negotiation. Understanding the critical capabilities of these tools, their strengths and limitations, and how they align with the critical aspects of negotiation is key to choosing the right resources for successful contract negotiations.

Critical capabilities of contract negotiation tools

First and foremost, it's important to acknowledge that contract negotiation tools will not replace the strategic decision-making, legal acumen, and interpersonal skills that only human negotiators can provide. These tools are designed to support the negotiators, offering invaluable assistance in managing the logistical and administrative elements of the negotiation process. The ideal negotiation tools enhance these human capabilities, facilitating a more efficient and effective negotiation process.
Given this point of view, what are the critical capabilities of ideal contract negotiation tools, and why are they important?

• Trust-Building and Neutrality: The tool must create a neutral platform that does not favor any party, thereby facilitating trust and fairness in the negotiation process. A “neutral space” helps ensure that no party feels disadvantaged, fostering a sense of fairness which is crucial for building trust, an essential element of successful negotiations.
• Transparency Features: Fosters clear visibility of the negotiation process, including changes and decisions, which is essential for building mutual understanding and trust among all parties. Trust building is a key part of the contracts process, and tools that promote transparency aid in building mutual understanding and trust. It ensures that all parties are on the same page regarding changes and decisions made during the negotiation process.
• Ease of Use and Intuitive Interface: A tool that is easily navigable and user-friendly is crucial, as it ensures broader adoption and effective utilization across negotiators with varied technical expertise.
• Version Control and Document Management: Efficient management of documents, files, and their versions prevents confusion and errors in negotiations. It ensures that all parties are referencing the most current document and clearly understand the evolution of the contract terms.
• Security and Compliance: Given the sensitive nature of contractual discussions, tools must meet high standards of data security and comply with relevant legal and regulatory requirements.
• Collaboration Features: Negotiations often involve multiple stakeholders. Tools that enable seamless collaboration and communication ensure that all parties can contribute effectively, regardless of their location. The tool should support both synchronous (e.g., Slack) and asynchronous collaboration (e.g., email).
• Mobile Accessibility: The ability to access negotiation tools and documents on mobile devices is increasingly crucial, ensuring flexibility and the ability to negotiate effectively from any location.

By integrating these capabilities, contract negotiation tools not only enhance the efficiency of the negotiation process but also support the critical human elements that drive successful outcomes.

Best Tools for Contract Negotiation

Various tools are available to professionals, each offering distinct advantages and addressing different aspects of the process. Among them, three types of tools stand out due to their widespread use and particular relevance to different stages and styles of negotiation: Email, Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) Platforms, and External Collaboration Tools. These tools have been selected for detailed analysis because they represent a broad spectrum of functionalities: from general communication (Email) to specialized contract management (CLM Tools), and enhanced external collaboration (External Collaboration Tools). Understanding their strengths and limitations is crucial for negotiators to choose the right tools that align with their specific requirements.

Email - “The Ubiquitous One”

Email is a fundamental tool in business communication, known for its widespread accessibility and ease of use. It is often the first tool of choice for initiating negotiations and exchanging basic information.

• Key Strength: Universally accessible and easy to use.
• Key Weakness: Lacks sophisticated version control and document management capabilities.
• Overall Evaluation: Email scores well in neutrality and mobile accessibility but is limited in transparency, security, collaboration features, and poor in version control and document management.

Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) Tools - “Inward Focus with a Hint of Outside”

CLM Tools are primarily geared toward efficient internal contract management within an organization, focusing on automating workflows, ensuring compliance, and managing contract databases. While they have some capacity for external interactions, it's limited and not their primary function.

• Key Strength: Their core strength lies in their robust internal management capabilities, including version control, compliance monitoring, and centralized contract storage.
• Key Weakness: Besides being less equipped for direct external negotiations and collaborations, a significant weakness of CLM tools is the potential loss of perceived neutrality when used in external settings. When one party's CLM system is used, it may give the impression of an uneven playing field, which can be a critical concern in negotiations.
• Overall Evaluation: In the realm of internal contract lifecycle management, CLM Tools are highly effective, excelling in security, compliance, and document management. However, for external engagement, they fall short in offering neutrality and flexibility in collaboration with outside parties. Additionally, their user-friendliness can vary, and mobile accessibility is not always a given feature across all such platforms.

External Collaboration Tools - “Bridging the gap”

Designed specifically for managing external collaborations, these tools offer structured communication channels, secure document sharing, and features that facilitate transparency and efficient negotiation with external parties.

• Key Strength: Strong capabilities for external collaboration and maintaining neutrality.
• Key Weakness: User experience and functionality can vary significantly across different tools.
• Overall Evaluation: External Collaboration Tools are strong in neutrality, transparency, external collaboration, and mobile accessibility, with good performance in version control and security and compliance. Ease of use can vary.

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Detailed Analysis

The evaluation of each tool against critical capabilities—trust-building and neutrality, transparency, ease of use, version control and document management, security and compliance, collaboration features, and mobile accessibility—reveals their suitability for different negotiation scenarios. Email, while versatile and user-friendly, falls short in advanced negotiation requirements such as version control. CLM Tools offer robust internal management features but may not be as effective in external negotiations. In contrast, External Collaboration Tools excel in facilitating negotiations with external parties, though the effectiveness can vary based on the specific tool.

1. Trust-Building and Neutrality

- Email: Good - Email is inherently neutral, not favoring any party.
- CLM Tools: Limited - May be perceived as biased if one party's system is used.
- External Collaboration Tools: Good - Designed to be neutral, promoting fairness in negotiations.

2. Transparency Features

- Email: Limited - Provides a record of communication but can be disorganized for tracking detailed negotiation progress.
- CLM Tools: Good for Internal Use - Offers excellent internal transparency but may not extend effectively to external parties.
- External Collaboration Tools: Good - Excellent at fostering clear visibility and transparency in external negotiations.

3. Ease of Use and Intuitive Interface

- Email: Good - Widely used and familiar, email is accessible to most business professionals.
- CLM Tools: Limited - Often complex and may require training for effective use.
- External Collaboration Tools: Good - Generally user-friendly with intuitive interfaces.

4. Version Control and Document Management

- Email: Poor - Struggles with managing multiple document versions, leading to confusion.
- CLM Tools: Good - Robust in providing version tracking and document management.
- External Collaboration Tools: Good - Effectively manages document versions, especially useful in external negotiations.

5. Security and Compliance

- Email: Limited - Security varies, and compliance management is not automatic.
- CLM Tools: Good - Typically strong in security and designed for compliance.
- External Collaboration Tools: Good - Often feature strong security measures and adhere to legal standards.

6. Collaboration Features

- Email: Limited - Supports asynchronous communication but lacks real-time collaboration features.
- CLM Tools: Limited for External Use - Effective for internal collaboration but may not facilitate external collaboration seamlessly.
- External Collaboration Tools: Good - Specifically designed to facilitate both internal and external collaborations effectively.

7. Mobile Accessibility

- Email: Good - Highly accessible on mobile devices.
- CLM Tools: Limited - Mobile accessibility varies depending on the specific tool.
- External Collaboration Tools: Good - Most are accessible and functional on mobile devices.

Why External Collaboration Tools Should Be in Your Toolkit

External collaboration tools bridge the gap between the traditional email method and the more sophisticated but internally focused CLM systems. They offer a middle ground where the parties can negotiate more effectively and efficiently. These tools:

• Improve Communication: By providing structured and clear communication channels, external collaboration tools make it easier to track negotiation progress and changes.
• Enhance Security: They often come with enhanced security features for sharing sensitive contract details, which is a significant improvement over email.
• Facilitate Neutrality: Using an external collaboration tool can provide a neutral platform for negotiation, which is especially important when dealing with new or multiple counterparties.
• Save Time and Resources: By streamlining the negotiation process, these tools can reduce the time and resources spent on back-and-forth communications.
• Support Better Decision Making: With organized information and clear communication, decision-makers are better equipped to negotiate terms that align with their organization’s interests.

In conclusion, while email remains a standard tool for its simplicity and ubiquity, and CLM tools offer advanced features for internal contract management, external collaboration tools emerge as the ideal solution for the negotiation phase of contract lifecycle management. They complement the strengths of both email and CLM tools, addressing the limitations of each and providing a balanced, efficient approach to contract negotiation.