Republic 7^th Fleet, Centaurus Sector, 407 light years from Earth
RSS Vercingetorix, Independence-Class Carrier, 2174 A.D.
Vice-Admiral Mei Zhou had just finished making the final changes to the fleet’s reconnaissance patrol routes with her senior staff when the comm panel on her desk chirped, displaying an incoming comm request from Admiral Thompson. She quickly thumbed the pad being offered by her aide so that he could issue the orders they were just working on and turned to the rest of her staff. “Nice job, people. Let’s get to work. Dismissed.” As the staff filed out the door, she started entering the codes needed to decrypt the incoming comm channel and looked up to make sure the room was empty. She pressed the open channel icon, and Admiral Thompson’s holo image appeared in front of her desk, ending just below his waist and making it seem as if he was actually there, sitting.
“Mei, how’s your new ship treating you?” he asked, smiling. “She is an absolute beauty, Karl. I still can’t believe that she is mine.” She responded, returning his smile. “What can I do for you, Karl?” Thompson chuckled, and his holo image leaned back as he reclined in his chair. “Straight to business; I always liked that about you, Mei. Alright, here we go. We have received intelligence reports that the Commonwealth has begun evacuating one of their last remaining coreward periphery worlds that is now dangerously close to the expanded Insectoid border. We have also received an update from our spy drones in that same region that six Hive ships and almost four hundred cruisers that were patrolling their side of that border area have disappeared. This is too much of a coincidence, and I want you to detach a combat patrol and send them there.” Thompson finished speaking, and a flashing icon popped up on her comm panel, indicating that she had just received new orders. She tapped it and quickly scanned the new orders as the admiral waited. She looked up at his holo image. “Karl, I acknowledge receipt of the new orders and will implement them. Between me and you, why are we getting involved with this? The Commonwealth has a navy, and they should be fighting to protect their space. We can’t keep coming to the rescue and defending their members; we are already spread too thin as it is.”
Thompson nodded his head in agreement. “Mei, I agree with you in principle, but there are social and political considerations involved here. The near extinction of the V’rni has caused considerable turmoil among the citizens of the Republic. They know logically that we could not have stopped such an attack like that one, but the perceived failure to protect them or prevent the attack still weighs heavily on their souls. The Commonwealth is currently attempting to evacuate the Jaleen system, and they are one of the last surviving members that voted yes before our petition to join the Commonwealth was denied. It also doesn’t help that the Jaleeni are avowed pacifists and look like bipedal Newfoundland dogs. They are technically a bear-like species, but to humans, they look like humanoid dogs, and the government is unwilling to lose the popular support it currently enjoys by allowing the Jaleeni to be exterminated. I mean, look at these guys.”
Another flashing icon popped up on her screen a moment later, and she pressed it. It turned into a hologram depicting a typical Jaleeni family of a mother and father with a litter of six pups, and she couldn’t help but smile as she looked at the photo. They were wearing their traditional rough-spun linen clothes that made them look like dogs cosplaying as monks. They looked adorable, and she felt her heart melt while staring into their deep brown eyes, which looked sad. She understood the reasoning behind it, especially after the mass extinctions that occurred in Earth’s biosphere because of World War 3.
After the war, humanity had an awakening when they surveyed their destroyed world and came to terms with the disappearance of thousands of species and the near extinction of thousands of others. What followed were three generations of desperate measures to salvage what remained and a worldwide effort at habitat restoration and de-extinction efforts utilizing a wide array of methods such as back-breeding, cloning, and genome editing. Dogs were almost driven to extinction by the war as they were uniquely susceptible to the BioChem weapons that were developed and refined by the Eastern Coalition animal testing on poor innocent canine subjects. Between the Biochem weapons, owner deaths, abandonment, and starvation, almost 90% of the domesticated canine population and entire breeds were lost by the war’s end. Cats fared much better, but they still suffered a loss of almost half of their pre-war population, and a large percentage of the survivors reverted to a feral state. The result of all of this was an almost religious reverence for the preservation of sentient animal life on human worlds and a somewhat fanatical tendency of humans to take on the mantle of guardians for sapient alien species that resembled animals to them.
“Karl, I understand; I do. I just don’t like the fact that we are operating on so many fronts. Some of our fleets and task forces are patrolling areas far enough away that I worry about them getting reinforcements on time if they are attacked, and now my fleet is being partitioned to send a combat patrol almost three hundred light-years away from our current position. After the assault on the V’rn system, half of our combat power was recalled to Republic space to prevent the same thing from happening to us, and yet we are still being tasked with properly defending Eleani and Xenxin territory with half the ships we had before. Have they lost their damn minds at HQ?” She realized she was almost yelling at the admiral, and Mei took a deep breath, recognizing that her outburst was unbecoming of a Republic naval officer. She attempted to quickly apologize to Admiral Thompson. “Karl, I’m sorry that was uncalled for-“
The admiral raised a hand to stop her, an amused expression in his eyes. “Mei, I said the exact same thing to my boss as you did almost verbatim, and not as diplomatically as you, I might add. My concerns were addressed to my satisfaction, and I think yours will be when you get to your destination. There will be a task force joining you there, and I think you will be pleased. That is all I can say for now over the comms. You will lead the combat patrol to the coordinates listed in the orders you received, and the task force joining you there will fall under your command. I have a personal favor to ask of you. Please keep an open mind when you link up with the task force. You will rendezvous with Commodore Therax, and he is instrumental in our efforts to undermine the increasingly despotic Commonwealth government. More information about him and the Nekuli were added to your orders, make sure you review it. I took a big gamble on this, and I would be grateful if you did your best to make this collaboration work. That is all for now, and I wish you and your crews good fortune and godspeed, Mei. Take care of yourself.” The admiral finished speaking, and Mei noted the personal nature of his last few words, nodding an affirmative to his request.
“Admiral, I thank you for your words, and we won’t let you down. I need to issue the orders now to get there and link up with the task force on time. I’ll send a null space comm drone to the nearest relay to confirm our arrival and integration. Vice-admiral Zhou out.” As she leaned towards the comm panel to close the channel, she saw Admiral Thompson doing the same, and he gave her a wink and a mischievous smile before she pressed the icon, terminating the connection. She leaned back in her chair and blew out a deep breath. “Now what the hell was that all about?” She asked out loud to herself, as the confusing and secretive nature of her orders and the personal request of the admiral added to the uncertainty of what she was expected to do. She keyed her wrist pad and texted her aide to come back to her office for new orders. He was going to be livid that they just wasted half a day revising the patrol routes to maximize efficiency and increase their patrol range. A small smile crossed her lips as she waited. He had an obvious tell of his lower left eyelid spasming when he was mad despite displaying no emotions on his face, and she knew it drove him nuts that he couldn’t control it. Witnessing it was one of the small joys she had in her difficult job as vice-admiral, and she was looking forward to it.
Fifty-six hours later, her task force flashed out of null space at the designated coordinates and right on time. She felt a measure of pride as she watched her bridge crew go about confirming their location and verifying it with the navigational array and astrometric sensors. Once the navigator gave her confirmation that he verified their position, she turned towards the comms officer and ordered her to send a burst transmission with the pre-arranged code and waited for the response. A few seconds later, the comms officer raised her left hand and signaled receipt and confirmation of the code by the task force waiting in null space. An agonizingly long minute crawled along as she anxiously waited for her navigator to confirm the telemetry from his counterpart in the other task force as they verified their positions. The navigator activated the main viewscreen on the forward bulkhead as they waited. Suddenly, there were a multitude of exit flashes 200,000 kilometers from the bow of her carrier, and hundreds of warships appeared at a dead stop relative to her position.
Her jaw dropped as she took in the unexpected fleet in front of her. There were dozens of Commonwealth dreadnaughts, battleships, and heavy cruisers arrayed before her, as well as an additional one hundred and twenty light cruisers, destroyers, and missile frigates. On the flanks of the main formation, there were more exit flashes, and the bridge AI started categorizing them on the screen, and she saw that they were the new Eleani and Xenxin warships that she had been hearing about. They shared a design lineage with the Commonwealth ships, but there were definite differences that became obvious as they assumed their positions next to the Commonwealth navy ships. She was particularly intrigued by the Xenxin ships, as they seemed to be bristling with weapons, almost excessively so relative to their ship sizes. The Eleani ships seemed to have taken a different design philosophy, and they gave the impression of deadly speed and grace, and she was hard-pressed to spot any obvious weapons on their hulls despite the AI confirming that the ships were indeed well-armed.
There was another coded signal from null space that appeared on the comm station panel, and her comm officer turned to her. “Vice-admiral, we have received a coded message on the sigma frequency for your eyes only that requires biometric and voice verification to decrypt.” Zhou nodded and pressed a button on her arm panel, activating the privacy screen around her chair and feeling the pressure change as the bridge around her became opaque and silent. She pressed the biometric toggle on the panel, and a retinal scanner popped out of its alcove on the side. She leaned in and scanned her right eye first, then her left. An icon appeared on the screen, and she thumbed it as it flashed and confirmed the print. Finally, she spoke and addressed the bridge AI: “Suzy, please confirm the voice command for verification.” The AI answered immediately. -Of course, Vice-Admiral Zhou, please proceed.- “Zhou, one-red-seven-green-four-tango-alpha-zero. Execute.” -Voice command verified. Thank you, Vice-Admiral Zhou.-
A small holographic display popped up in front of her; the admiral appeared on the screen, and his pre-recorded message started playing. “Mei, I know all this cloak and dagger stuff seems excessive, but we couldn’t take any chances. The receipt of this message will activate a program in your bridge AI and allow it to take control of the new drone ships waiting for you in null space. They are a new class of upgraded null ships and are top secret. Your AI will anchor them to your task force, and they will follow you, remaining hidden in null space unless you absolutely need them.”
“There are also two troopships with them that are carrying a complement of two thousand Mark XII ATS Bio-Synths and an expeditionary brigade each of rangers and pathfinders in stasis. They are also to remain in null space unless circumstances require that you need them; they are an insurance policy for an ongoing mission in Insectoid space. The details of that are top secret as well and can be accessed with your AI. If the troopships are required for that mission, they are to be escorted by a detachment of null ships and sent there immediately. After you have met your task force counterpart, there are orders in this packet that are to be accessed by you both and executed. I have the utmost faith in you, Mei, and I can’t wait to take you out to dinner again when we can both coordinate our next leave together. Thompson out.”
The hologram message disappeared, and she waited a little longer to allow the blush from his last sentence to fade from her cheeks and suppress the smile that was trying to form on her face before she put on her command mask and lowered the privacy screen. The bridge crew was going about their usual tasks, trying hard not to seem interested in her top-secret message. “Comms, open a channel to the task force flagship, please.” The comm officer acknowledged the order, and a few seconds later, the Bridge of the Commonwealth flagship appeared on the viewscreen.
A Nekuli male was sitting in the command chair, resplendent in the uniform favored by Nekuli officers. He took a moment to look around her bridge before settling his eyes on her. He bowed his head slowly in a gesture of respect, which she returned in proper fashion. The proper courtesies having been observed, he raised his eyes to meet with hers and started speaking. “Vice-Admiral Zhou. May the ancestors grant you and your clan honor and good fortune. I am deeply honored to meet you, and I hope our integration is a successful endeavor. I now entrust the honor of myself and my crew to your safekeeping.” He remained stone still as he awaited her reply, and she tried to remember the proper return greeting that she had been studying during their trip here.
“Commodore Therax, the honor is mine, and I promise you that I shall never ask you or your crew to undertake any action that will bring dishonor to your clans and your ancestors. We are now joined as one; may our cause be just and pure.” She finished the response, and the gravity of what she just promised to someone she had never met before hit her hard; it felt almost sacred to her. Commodore Therax heard her proper reply, and he stood up, followed by the rest of his bridge crew. He addressed her again. “Our honor has been given, and we have received a promise to safeguard it in return. Our joining is now consecrated in the eyes of the ancestors, and you are now our clan leader. What are your orders?
She recovered from the ordeal of the emotionally charged exchange of vows and stood up to give her first order as clan leader to the Nekuli. “I request the presence of you and your senior staff aboard my ship tonight. I will prepare a feast to honor our new friendship and alliance. I have studied your cuisine, and I have found a selection of Earth cuisine that should suit your taste. It is called tartare and sashimi; I think you will like it.” Commodore Therax looked at her dubiously, and she had to stifle a laugh at his expression as she knew that he was imagining being forced to eat vegetables and overcooked meat out of politeness. She spoke quickly to assuage his fears. “Commodore, tartare, and sashimi are raw red meat and fish; I would never inflict vegetables and burnt meat on you or your crew; are we not friends?”
As his translator finished converting her words into his language, he smiled at her, baring all of his fangs in true happiness.

I’m 29F and have had a tough go with my sexuality.
I have slept with/dated dozens of men before I came to my queer reckoning 3 years ago when I met a girl I was immediately infatuated with and hooked up with a few times before falling out. Since then, I have only ‘come out’ to my friends and have never truly specified what my sexuality really is. Most just assume I’m bi since I had such a history with men, and honestly, I don’t really clarify to anyone because the truth of being a lesbian feels so deeply personal and sometimes isolating that I use my stories and experiences with men as an entertaining shield to hide my real honest feelings about my sexuality.
My family is extremely evangelical and alt-right. If they ever knew I was queer it would blow up my life. I already have a rocky relationship with my parents and this would just be the final straw. I’ve been holding back from truly opening myself up to romance because I feel it would be unfair to someone who is out and proud to not be able to date someone who can be their true self 100% of the time.
It feels like I’m stuck in no man’s land, no desire to have any relationship with a man ever again, and stunted by having to hide myself from my family. I’ve dated some women but always let things quietly fizzle out because I can’t face how hard my future is going to be if I ever decide to fully come out.
I don’t want the rest of my life to be like this but I also can’t face that I will be so exposed and vulnerable as an out lesbian.
Does it get easier?

We’re ONLY ONE WEEK away from the start of the 3rd Annual Maine Fungi Fest - May 17-19th at USM in Portland, ME! 🍄🌿💃🏼
Area A offers educational keynotes, panels, & workshops on “all things fungi, plant based healing, & expanding consciousness.” 📚🌿💡🍄📝
Area B offers nature-inspired 🎶 musical performances, 🎨 live painting, 🎙 comedy & spoken word, 🥁 healing arts, 🤹‍♀ circus arts, 💝 local vendors, 🖼 an art gallery, 💆‍♀ wellness practitioners, 🤸‍♀partner acrobatics, 🧘‍♀ acro jam, 📖 mushie storytime for kids, 👩‍🎨 face & body painting, 🍄🥬 mushroom parades & veget-balls, & more!! 🌈🌿💚
We hope you can join us for this multifaceted educational & uplifting community gathering! 🌻 Grab your 🎟 ticket 🎟 to access Area A + Saturday night’s offerings featuring @hilatheearth @toninagy @dustinrosata @amelia.aglow & @djdamienpaul 💃🏼🔥🥁🎶🌎💚 Learn more at MaineFungiFest.com
GET YOUR TICKETS HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-maine-fungi-fest-tickets-751791407337?aff=oddtdtcreator
For the best showcase of what will be at the festival, follow Permatours on IG. @permatours
- Seeking local Earth-conscious brands to join (tables start at $50 & get each vendor 2 tickets to the paid section of the event) Outdoor vendors.
PROCEEDS:
All proceeds from this event are put towards the work of the Maine Consciousness, Healing and Living Medicine Project - M.C.H.L.M.P.
2024 VENUE DETAILS:
Maine Fungi Fest will be held at the University of Southern Maine - Portland, located conveniently in downtown Portland and only minutes from Interstate's Rt. 95 and Rt. 295
ON CAMPUS LODGING:
Portland Commons is located right next to our event program area. All rooms within Portland Commons have in-suite restrooms. All bedrooms have a full XL or twin XL bed w/linen (double apartments), an individual closet, a desk, a chair, and a bureau.
Rooms can be purchased on ME Fungi Fest’s website for both Friday Night and/or Saturday Night. Check in time & check out time TBD.
Parking I just checked with the organizer and when you buy a ticket, you get a code to purchase parking for $5.

We’re ONLY ONE WEEK away from the start of the 3rd Annual Maine Fungi Fest - May 17-19th at USM in Portland, ME! 🍄🌿💃🏼
Area A offers educational keynotes, panels, & workshops on “all things fungi, plant based healing, & expanding consciousness.” 📚🌿💡🍄📝
Area B offers nature-inspired 🎶 musical performances, 🎨 live painting, 🎙 comedy & spoken word, 🥁 healing arts, 🤹‍♀ circus arts, 💝 local vendors, 🖼 an art gallery, 💆‍♀ wellness practitioners, 🤸‍♀partner acrobatics, 🧘‍♀ acro jam, 📖 mushie storytime for kids, 👩‍🎨 face & body painting, 🍄🥬 mushroom parades & veget-balls, & more!! 🌈🌿💚
We hope you can join us for this multifaceted educational & uplifting community gathering! 🌻 Grab your 🎟 ticket 🎟 to access Area A + Saturday night’s offerings featuring @hilatheearth @toninagy @dustinrosata @amelia.aglow & @djdamienpaul 💃🏼🔥🥁🎶🌎💚 Learn more at MaineFungiFest.com
GET YOUR TICKETS HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-maine-fungi-fest-tickets-751791407337?aff=oddtdtcreator
For the best showcase of what will be at the festival, follow Permatours on IG. @permatours
- Seeking local Earth-conscious brands to join (tables start at $50 & get each vendor 2 tickets to the paid section of the event) Outdoor vendors.
PROCEEDS:
All proceeds from this event are put towards the work of the Maine Consciousness, Healing and Living Medicine Project - M.C.H.L.M.P.
2024 VENUE DETAILS:
Maine Fungi Fest will be held at the University of Southern Maine - Portland, located conveniently in downtown Portland and only minutes from Interstate's Rt. 95 and Rt. 295
ON CAMPUS LODGING:
Portland Commons is located right next to our event program area. All rooms within Portland Commons have in-suite restrooms. All bedrooms have a full XL or twin XL bed w/linen (double apartments), an individual closet, a desk, a chair, and a bureau.
Rooms can be purchased on ME Fungi Fest’s website for both Friday Night and/or Saturday Night. Check in time & check out time TBD.
Parking I just checked with the organizer and when you buy a ticket, you get a code to purchase parking for $5.

We’re ONLY ONE WEEK away from the start of the 3rd Annual Maine Fungi Fest - May 17-19th at USM in Portland, ME! 🍄🌿💃🏼
Area A offers educational keynotes, panels, & workshops on “all things fungi, plant based healing, & expanding consciousness.” 📚🌿💡🍄📝
Area B offers nature-inspired 🎶 musical performances, 🎨 live painting, 🎙 comedy & spoken word, 🥁 healing arts, 🤹‍♀ circus arts, 💝 local vendors, 🖼 an art gallery, 💆‍♀ wellness practitioners, 🤸‍♀partner acrobatics, 🧘‍♀ acro jam, 📖 mushie storytime for kids, 👩‍🎨 face & body painting, 🍄🥬 mushroom parades & veget-balls, & more!! 🌈🌿💚
We hope you can join us for this multifaceted educational & uplifting community gathering! 🌻 Grab your 🎟 ticket 🎟 to access Area A + Saturday night’s offerings featuring @hilatheearth @toninagy @dustinrosata @amelia.aglow & @djdamienpaul 💃🏼🔥🥁🎶🌎💚 Learn more at MaineFungiFest.com
GET YOUR TICKETS HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-maine-fungi-fest-tickets-751791407337?aff=oddtdtcreator
For the best showcase of what will be at the festival, follow Permatours on IG. @permatours
- Seeking local Earth-conscious brands to join (tables start at $50 & get each vendor 2 tickets to the paid section of the event) Outdoor vendors.
PROCEEDS:
All proceeds from this event are put towards the work of the Maine Consciousness, Healing and Living Medicine Project - M.C.H.L.M.P.
2024 VENUE DETAILS:
Maine Fungi Fest will be held at the University of Southern Maine - Portland, located conveniently in downtown Portland and only minutes from Interstate's Rt. 95 and Rt. 295
ON CAMPUS LODGING:
Portland Commons is located right next to our event program area. All rooms within Portland Commons have in-suite restrooms. All bedrooms have a full XL or twin XL bed w/linen (double apartments), an individual closet, a desk, a chair, and a bureau.
Rooms can be purchased on ME Fungi Fest’s website for both Friday Night and/or Saturday Night. Check in time & check out time TBD.
Parking I just checked with the organizer and when you buy a ticket, you get a code to purchase parking for $5.

For those who have to move between these places whether they walk, bike, or drive what are the must knows between the legislation and more importantly local customs? Thus I am asking here.
Apparently I hear in the UK there is a general consensus that pedestrians have the right to travel on most roads including even some farm/private ones with a few exceptions ie roads closed by a constable or motorways.
However I hear drivers are not as keen in observing pedestrian right of way at crossroads with no separate pedestrian signals.despite rule 170-172 And may expect pedestrians to avoid them even if they reached the junction first and the driver is behind them moving in same direction. There has been a recent rule change on this but most of Highway code is not legislation. Violation alone cannot be citable.
In North America this concept is mostly absent in most cases pedestrians are severely restricted where they can go and vehicles have general Priority. As with much of the world most everything is codified and citable offences.
However while rules/codes vary between states and provinces it appears in general pedestrians have right of way at intersections(junctions) without traffic signals there isn’t much mention of turning. In practice though drivers give way if they are expected to give way to traffic in the same scenario, ie if they are approaching a turn or facing a stop or yield(give way) sign or end of a T. it’s expected to give way to the pedestrian and traffic on the through road. The line onthe ground is generally behind the pedestrian walkway. In NA junctions w/o are often referred to as unmarked crosswalks. If one isnt marked it’s to be treated as if it is marked.
But it appears in UK the line is often ahead of the walkway. So drivers often overlook pedestrians in this situation. Even though the code even prior to revision does say to give way to peds if they reached the junction first, or along with traffic you are going to give way to on the main road. I am not so sure about Aus or NZ. Or Gibartair. Though anyone can shed some light on this that would be great.

We’re ONLY ONE WEEK away from the start of the 3rd Annual Maine Fungi Fest - May 17-19th at USM in Portland, ME! 🍄🌿💃🏼
Area A offers educational keynotes, panels, & workshops on “all things fungi, plant based healing, & expanding consciousness.” 📚🌿💡🍄📝
Area B offers nature-inspired 🎶 musical performances, 🎨 live painting, 🎙 comedy & spoken word, 🥁 healing arts, 🤹‍♀ circus arts, 💝 local vendors, 🖼 an art gallery, 💆‍♀ wellness practitioners, 🤸‍♀partner acrobatics, 🧘‍♀ acro jam, 📖 mushie storytime for kids, 👩‍🎨 face & body painting, 🍄🥬 mushroom parades & veget-balls, & more!! 🌈🌿💚
We hope you can join us for this multifaceted educational & uplifting community gathering! 🌻 Grab your 🎟 ticket 🎟 to access Area A + Saturday night’s offerings featuring @hilatheearth @toninagy @dustinrosata @amelia.aglow & @djdamienpaul 💃🏼🔥🥁🎶🌎💚 Learn more at MaineFungiFest.com
GET YOUR TICKETS HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-maine-fungi-fest-tickets-751791407337?aff=oddtdtcreator
For the best showcase of what will be at the festival, follow Permatours on IG. @permatours
- Seeking local Earth-conscious brands to join (tables start at $50 & get each vendor 2 tickets to the paid section of the event) Outdoor vendors.
PROCEEDS:
All proceeds from this event are put towards the work of the Maine Consciousness, Healing and Living Medicine Project - M.C.H.L.M.P.
2024 VENUE DETAILS:
Maine Fungi Fest will be held at the University of Southern Maine - Portland, located conveniently in downtown Portland and only minutes from Interstate's Rt. 95 and Rt. 295
ON CAMPUS LODGING:
Portland Commons is located right next to our event program area. All rooms within Portland Commons have in-suite restrooms. All bedrooms have a full XL or twin XL bed w/linen (double apartments), an individual closet, a desk, a chair, and a bureau.
Rooms can be purchased on ME Fungi Fest’s website for both Friday Night and/or Saturday Night. Check in time & check out time TBD.
Parking I just checked with the organizer and when you buy a ticket, you get a code to purchase parking for $5.

We’re ONLY ONE WEEK away from the start of the 3rd Annual Maine Fungi Fest - May 17-19th at USM in Portland, ME! 🍄🌿💃🏼
Area A offers educational keynotes, panels, & workshops on “all things fungi, plant based healing, & expanding consciousness.” 📚🌿💡🍄📝
Area B offers nature-inspired 🎶 musical performances, 🎨 live painting, 🎙 comedy & spoken word, 🥁 healing arts, 🤹‍♀ circus arts, 💝 local vendors, 🖼 an art gallery, 💆‍♀ wellness practitioners, 🤸‍♀partner acrobatics, 🧘‍♀ acro jam, 📖 mushie storytime for kids, 👩‍🎨 face & body painting, 🍄🥬 mushroom parades & veget-balls, & more!! 🌈🌿💚
We hope you can join us for this multifaceted educational & uplifting community gathering! 🌻 Grab your 🎟 ticket 🎟 to access Area A + Saturday night’s offerings featuring @hilatheearth @toninagy @dustinrosata @amelia.aglow & @djdamienpaul 💃🏼🔥🥁🎶🌎💚 Learn more at MaineFungiFest.com
GET YOUR TICKETS HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-maine-fungi-fest-tickets-751791407337?aff=oddtdtcreator
For the best showcase of what will be at the festival, follow Permatours on IG. @permatours
- Seeking local Earth-conscious brands to join (tables start at $50 & get each vendor 2 tickets to the paid section of the event) Outdoor vendors.
PROCEEDS:
All proceeds from this event are put towards the work of the Maine Consciousness, Healing and Living Medicine Project - M.C.H.L.M.P.
2024 VENUE DETAILS:
Maine Fungi Fest will be held at the University of Southern Maine - Portland, located conveniently in downtown Portland and only minutes from Interstate's Rt. 95 and Rt. 295
ON CAMPUS LODGING:
Portland Commons is located right next to our event program area. All rooms within Portland Commons have in-suite restrooms. All bedrooms have a full XL or twin XL bed w/linen (double apartments), an individual closet, a desk, a chair, and a bureau.
Rooms can be purchased on ME Fungi Fest’s website for both Friday Night and/or Saturday Night. Check in time & check out time TBD.
Parking I just checked with the organizer and when you buy a ticket, you get a code to purchase parking for $5.

We’re ONLY ONE WEEK away from the start of the 3rd Annual Maine Fungi Fest - May 17-19th at USM in Portland, ME! 🍄🌿💃🏼
Area A offers educational keynotes, panels, & workshops on “all things fungi, plant based healing, & expanding consciousness.” 📚🌿💡🍄📝
Area B offers nature-inspired 🎶 musical performances, 🎨 live painting, 🎙 comedy & spoken word, 🥁 healing arts, 🤹‍♀ circus arts, 💝 local vendors, 🖼 an art gallery, 💆‍♀ wellness practitioners, 🤸‍♀partner acrobatics, 🧘‍♀ acro jam, 📖 mushie storytime for kids, 👩‍🎨 face & body painting, 🍄🥬 mushroom parades & veget-balls, & more!! 🌈🌿💚
We hope you can join us for this multifaceted educational & uplifting community gathering! 🌻 Grab your 🎟 ticket 🎟 to access Area A + Saturday night’s offerings featuring @hilatheearth @toninagy @dustinrosata @amelia.aglow & @djdamienpaul 💃🏼🔥🥁🎶🌎💚 Learn more at MaineFungiFest.com
GET YOUR TICKETS HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-maine-fungi-fest-tickets-751791407337?aff=oddtdtcreator
For the best showcase of what will be at the festival, follow Permatours on IG. @permatours
- Seeking local Earth-conscious brands to join (tables start at $50 & get each vendor 2 tickets to the paid section of the event) Outdoor vendors.
PROCEEDS:
All proceeds from this event are put towards the work of the Maine Consciousness, Healing and Living Medicine Project - M.C.H.L.M.P.
2024 VENUE DETAILS:
Maine Fungi Fest will be held at the University of Southern Maine - Portland, located conveniently in downtown Portland and only minutes from Interstate's Rt. 95 and Rt. 295
ON CAMPUS LODGING:
Portland Commons is located right next to our event program area. All rooms within Portland Commons have in-suite restrooms. All bedrooms have a full XL or twin XL bed w/linen (double apartments), an individual closet, a desk, a chair, and a bureau.
Rooms can be purchased on ME Fungi Fest’s website for both Friday Night and/or Saturday Night. Check in time & check out time TBD.
Parking I just checked with the organizer and when you buy a ticket, you get a code to purchase parking for $5.

We’re ONLY ONE WEEK away from the start of the 3rd Annual Maine Fungi Fest - May 17-19th at USM in Portland, ME! 🍄🌿💃🏼
Area A offers educational keynotes, panels, & workshops on “all things fungi, plant based healing, & expanding consciousness.” 📚🌿💡🍄📝
Area B offers nature-inspired 🎶 musical performances, 🎨 live painting, 🎙 comedy & spoken word, 🥁 healing arts, 🤹‍♀ circus arts, 💝 local vendors, 🖼 an art gallery, 💆‍♀ wellness practitioners, 🤸‍♀partner acrobatics, 🧘‍♀ acro jam, 📖 mushie storytime for kids, 👩‍🎨 face & body painting, 🍄🥬 mushroom parades & veget-balls, & more!! 🌈🌿💚
We hope you can join us for this multifaceted educational & uplifting community gathering! 🌻 Grab your 🎟 ticket 🎟 to access Area A + Saturday night’s offerings featuring @hilatheearth @toninagy @dustinrosata @amelia.aglow & @djdamienpaul 💃🏼🔥🥁🎶🌎💚 Learn more at MaineFungiFest.com
GET YOUR TICKETS HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-maine-fungi-fest-tickets-751791407337?aff=oddtdtcreator
For the best showcase of what will be at the festival, follow Permatours on IG. @permatours
- Seeking local Earth-conscious brands to join (tables start at $50 & get each vendor 2 tickets to the paid section of the event) Outdoor vendors.
PROCEEDS:
All proceeds from this event are put towards the work of the Maine Consciousness, Healing and Living Medicine Project - M.C.H.L.M.P.
2024 VENUE DETAILS:
Maine Fungi Fest will be held at the University of Southern Maine - Portland, located conveniently in downtown Portland and only minutes from Interstate's Rt. 95 and Rt. 295
ON CAMPUS LODGING:
Portland Commons is located right next to our event program area. All rooms within Portland Commons have in-suite restrooms. All bedrooms have a full XL or twin XL bed w/linen (double apartments), an individual closet, a desk, a chair, and a bureau.
Rooms can be purchased on ME Fungi Fest’s website for both Friday Night and/or Saturday Night. Check in time & check out time TBD.
Parking I just checked with the organizer and when you buy a ticket, you get a code to purchase parking for $5.

We’re ONLY ONE WEEK away from the start of the 3rd Annual Maine Fungi Fest - May 17-19th at USM in Portland, ME! 🍄🌿💃🏼
Area A offers educational keynotes, panels, & workshops on “all things fungi, plant based healing, & expanding consciousness.” 📚🌿💡🍄📝
Area B offers nature-inspired 🎶 musical performances, 🎨 live painting, 🎙 comedy & spoken word, 🥁 healing arts, 🤹‍♀ circus arts, 💝 local vendors, 🖼 an art gallery, 💆‍♀ wellness practitioners, 🤸‍♀partner acrobatics, 🧘‍♀ acro jam, 📖 mushie storytime for kids, 👩‍🎨 face & body painting, 🍄🥬 mushroom parades & veget-balls, & more!! 🌈🌿💚
We hope you can join us for this multifaceted educational & uplifting community gathering! 🌻 Grab your 🎟 ticket 🎟 to access Area A + Saturday night’s offerings featuring @hilatheearth @toninagy @dustinrosata @amelia.aglow & @djdamienpaul 💃🏼🔥🥁🎶🌎💚 Learn more at MaineFungiFest.com
GET YOUR TICKETS HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-maine-fungi-fest-tickets-751791407337?aff=oddtdtcreator
For the best showcase of what will be at the festival, follow Permatours on IG. @permatours
- Seeking local Earth-conscious brands to join (tables start at $50 & get each vendor 2 tickets to the paid section of the event) Outdoor vendors.
PROCEEDS:
All proceeds from this event are put towards the work of the Maine Consciousness, Healing and Living Medicine Project - M.C.H.L.M.P.
2024 VENUE DETAILS:
Maine Fungi Fest will be held at the University of Southern Maine - Portland, located conveniently in downtown Portland and only minutes from Interstate's Rt. 95 and Rt. 295
ON CAMPUS LODGING:
Portland Commons is located right next to our event program area. All rooms within Portland Commons have in-suite restrooms. All bedrooms have a full XL or twin XL bed w/linen (double apartments), an individual closet, a desk, a chair, and a bureau.
Rooms can be purchased on ME Fungi Fest’s website for both Friday Night and/or Saturday Night. Check in time & check out time TBD.
Parking I just checked with the organizer and when you buy a ticket, you get a code to purchase parking for $5.

We’re ONLY ONE WEEK away from the start of the 3rd Annual Maine Fungi Fest - May 17-19th at USM in Portland, ME! 🍄🌿💃🏼
Area A offers educational keynotes, panels, & workshops on “all things fungi, plant based healing, & expanding consciousness.” 📚🌿💡🍄📝
Area B offers nature-inspired 🎶 musical performances, 🎨 live painting, 🎙 comedy & spoken word, 🥁 healing arts, 🤹‍♀ circus arts, 💝 local vendors, 🖼 an art gallery, 💆‍♀ wellness practitioners, 🤸‍♀partner acrobatics, 🧘‍♀ acro jam, 📖 mushie storytime for kids, 👩‍🎨 face & body painting, 🍄🥬 mushroom parades & veget-balls, & more!! 🌈🌿💚
We hope you can join us for this multifaceted educational & uplifting community gathering! 🌻 Grab your 🎟 ticket 🎟 to access Area A + Saturday night’s offerings featuring @hilatheearth @toninagy @dustinrosata @amelia.aglow & @djdamienpaul 💃🏼🔥🥁🎶🌎💚 Learn more at MaineFungiFest.com
GET YOUR TICKETS HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-maine-fungi-fest-tickets-751791407337?aff=oddtdtcreator
For the best showcase of what will be at the festival, follow Permatours on IG. @permatours
- Seeking local Earth-conscious brands to join (tables start at $50 & get each vendor 2 tickets to the paid section of the event) Outdoor vendors.
PROCEEDS:
All proceeds from this event are put towards the work of the Maine Consciousness, Healing and Living Medicine Project - M.C.H.L.M.P.
2024 VENUE DETAILS:
Maine Fungi Fest will be held at the University of Southern Maine - Portland, located conveniently in downtown Portland and only minutes from Interstate's Rt. 95 and Rt. 295
ON CAMPUS LODGING:
Portland Commons is located right next to our event program area. All rooms within Portland Commons have in-suite restrooms. All bedrooms have a full XL or twin XL bed w/linen (double apartments), an individual closet, a desk, a chair, and a bureau.
Rooms can be purchased on ME Fungi Fest’s website for both Friday Night and/or Saturday Night. Check in time & check out time TBD.
Parking I just checked with the organizer and when you buy a ticket, you get a code to purchase parking for $5.

Noah The Pilgrim
First Next
There is one last thing to do before leaving. If you don't recall ever being on this ship, then surely, you could have had your appearance change too.
Why was there a blanket covering a mirror? You couldn't answer that with a straight face without speculation.
"Probably me being lazy and not bothering to properly place it in the wardrobe."
'Probably' is the main focus here, you simply cannot remember ever being that lazy, yet that's the only logical conclusion to be drawn here.
You pull the thing off, careful to not displace the mirror and risk breaking it.
You have no expectations as to what may appear on the glassy surface of the mirror, yet you can't help but feel a bit anxious. Are you the same as before? How were you before? You can't remember. Are you better? Worse? The blanket is now completely off the mirror, but your eyes are closed.
Whatever is it that you see when you open your eyes, that thing will be you for the rest of your life. You swallow, opening your eyes.
You see a young man that looks to be in his mid-twenties. His brown eyes stare back at you, analyzing the bags beneath your eye sockets. The dark hair is neither too long nor too short, floating about without order thanks to the lack of gravity to keep it down. You see a beard that has not been trimmed for weeks, but also lacks thickness, each singular hair isn't particularly long either; and some even appear to be in-grown.
You touch your hand against your face, making sure it's yours. The beard doesn't feel like you supposed it would against your skin, instead of it scraping your hand you feel softness, no resistance or anything.
Just beneath the face, you see what looks like a hate crime against all that is considered holy in fashion. Plain white coveralls with the added bonus of a black tie and boots made from metal and leather. On your chest is also a badge stuck in place by velcro with your name, occupation, and crew. 'NOAH - INTERN - THE ODYSSEY.'
Only one question came to mind.
"Who the fuck designed this uniform?" You say out loud, receiving no answer.
Patting your newfound myriad of pockets, you find a large quantity of nothing. You place your wallet in one of them.
"Alright, I'll head to the bridge now, happy?" You say the AI.
"HAPPINESS WILL ONLY MEET ME ONCE YOU ARE SOMEWHERE SAFE AND YOUR CONTRACT IS TERMINATED. STOP LOITERING."
Well, that's a bit rude.
You compose yourself, straightening your back. This is what you look like, and honestly? Not too bad, but you could be better.
Returning to the cafeteria, you eye the two doors left unexplored; Communications and the one without plaque. You know where you should, but... A little peek doesn't hurt, right?
"Shouldn't we try to communicate with someone? Assuming you haven't tried it yet. I know we're far from everything, but we might as well, no?" You ask already approaching the door.
"COMMUNICATIONS ROOM IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU TO REACH WITHOUT PROPER PROTECTION AS OF NOW, IT'S LOCATED APPROXIMATELY TWO HUNDRED METERS FROM HERE, BLOWN OFF FROM THE REST OF THE SHIP." A shame really. "I SHALL INFORM YOU WHENEVER A DOOR LEADS TO THE OUTSIDE OR NOT."
You really want to ask what blew a whole segment of the ship off, yet you have a sneaking suspicion that your question will be met with a 'YOU DON'T HAVE CLEARANCE, JACKASS' directly in your face. So you chose to remain silent, simply nodding and approaching the correct door this time.
"Open."
---OPENING CAFETERIA DOOR NORTH---
The door silently opens.
Greeting you is a well-lit corridor. There are three doors on your left, a door at the end of the corridor, and a large window on the right. At least, you think that's a window.
You stare out from this window, nothing but utter blackness and fragments from your ship are seen. If this is the edge of the universe, and beyond this point, there is truly nothing. "Dreadful." Your speech matches your feelings.
"WHAT DID YOU EXPECT?" The AI says. You feel like it spoke in a mocking tone despite their lack of emotion.
You don't answer. "First door to the left... EXO-EXPLORATION...? What's that supposed to mean?" You receive no answer.
"Open." The door opens. No declarion of it opening once again.
You are met with what could be better described as 'Apocalyptic levels of mess', paper sheets float in the air, and not one of the four tables is in its correct position.
This room has been ransacked for all its goods apparently. Large display glasses were broken leaving nothing inside their casings, that looked like they could store something with the size of the common man.
Unusual displays aside, the room was so cluttered that the trash made for an effective smoke screen against what lay on the other side.
Hissing of gas exiting an air-tight space rang throughout the room.
"I HAVE OPENED THE STORAGE FOR AN EXO SUIT THAT BEST FITS SOMEONE YOUR SIZE." The AI says. "ALTHOUGH AN INTERN SHOULD NOT COME IN CONTACT WITH TECHNOLOGY SUCH AS THIS ONE, PROTOCOL DICTATES THAT I AM TO ALLOW ITS USAGE UNDER EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES. CONSIDER YOURSELF LUCKY."
Easier said than done. Your vision is so cluttered that you cannot see what's ahead. "Give me a second."
Giving a light kick to the wall behind, you float face-first into the wall of thrash. Covering your face with both arms, you brace through the harmless bits of sharp objects and junk.
It's a trivial task. You arrive on the other side in no time.
In front of you is a set of boxes with luminous glass rectangles atop each one of them. All shine a bright red light, aside from one which shines green.
'Gotta be this one.'
You descend to the floor by kicking the ceiling, raising your right hand you touch the green rectangle.
*Click*
Nothing could have prepared you for the following series of events.
The box opens violently, as a metal appendage takes hold of your hand, pinning it to the box. You try to jerk and pry the thing off of you, but you fail. It's not leaving you anytime soon.
From the bottomless that is that container, a white plastic-like substance flows upward from your arm to the rest of your body. "Uh!" You don't know if you should panic or allow it to happen.
FYARN hasn't said anything, so it's probably fine...
The white thing seems to ignore the coveralls you are wearing completely, instead, it covers only your skin in a thin coat of... it. You know not what to call this thing.
In but forty seconds it has covered your whole body, excluding your head. The box lets go of your arm and stays there, floating.
You take a good look at your arms. It looks like a skin-tight suit, but it doesn't feel like plastic, in fact, it's more akin to some sort of fabric if anything.
The only bad part is that you are still using the coverall and tie, this this simply went beneath the clothing.
"GOOD, WITH THIS I CAN MONITOR YOU MORE CLOSELY. NOW PUT THE HELMET ON, YOU HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO."
You look around in search of anything that even resembles a helmet. Nope. Nothing. "Where is it?" You ask.
"...THE SUIT COMES WITHIN THE HELMET FOR EASIER PACKAGING."
The box?
You snatch the box that floated around and analyze it to the best of your ability. "How's this a helmet?"
"DO YOU NEED ASSISTANCE PUTTING ON A HELMET? REALLY?"
Who is this AI, Who programmed it, and Why does it come with a taunting feature?
As idiotic as it sounds, you place the opened box atop your head. It doesn't fit properly. Maybe you're doing this wrong? You move it to your face instead.
You recoil backward as you feel the box suddenly clamping down against your head. It's useless of course, the box is holding your head and doesn't give any sign to be letting go anytime soon. No light is able to reach your eyes.
You hear metal parts scraping against themselves, moving near your ears. Abruptly your eyes can see again.
A round thin layer of glass now covers your head, almost unnoticeable for how clear it is.
"WITH THAT OUT OF THE WAY I CAN NOW SEE WHAT YOU SEE." The AI's voice isn't in the room now, instead, it's inside of the suit. "DO YOU NEED INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING THIS SUIT'S FUNCTIONALITIES?"
You find it oddly comfortable as if you are surrounded by the softness of cotton, and to top it off the suit also has additional functionalities? "Hell yeah, I do!"
"YOU DO NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY CLEARANCE FOR THAT INFORMATION."
You sigh. Is this serious? "Then why the fuck did you ask?!"
"UNSAVORY LANGUAGE. IT'S NO WONDER WHY YOU REMAIN AN INTERN." The AI says outright. "IT IS RUDE NOT TO ASK, REGARDLESS OF THE SITUATION." It responds to your question.
"Okay then... Is there anything I need to know before heading out?" You ask.
"NOTHING THAT YOU WON'T FIGURE OUT ON YOUR OWN."
You are unsure if you want to 'figure out on your own' if this suit comes with breathable air and is also made for space exploration. You swallow.
Meekly as always, you get out of that mess of a room, stopping at the corridor.
"Next set of directions?" You ask.
"THE DOOR AT THE END OF CORRIDOR USED TO LEAD TO THE CONNECTING CORRIDORS BETWEN THE BRIDGE AND THE REST OF THE SHIP. IT HAS BEEN BLOWN UP FROM THE INSIDE. NOW IT LEADS TO THE OUTSIDE. GO TO THE DOOR AND WAIT BY IT FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS."
"So let me get this straight," You begin, looking upwards as if the AI was above you. "You, want me, to go into the void of space, while also refusing to give me knowledge of the suit's functions?"
A fair worry, you summarize.
'I mean, there are a bunch of things that could go wrong here. I don't see anything that looks like it could help me move in space, nor do I think this thing has a built-in air tank... I could be wrong and I wish to be, but charging in without prior knowledge is ridiculous.' You wait for the AI's response, deep in thought.
"WHILE THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE OF YOU FAILING THIS TASK, THERE IS ALSO THE CHANCE OF YOU *NOT* FAILING THE TASK. FOCUS ON EITHER ONE OF YOUR CHOOSING AS YOU TAKE THE PLUNGE."
Wordlessly, you propel yourself forward, toward the end of the corridor.
'Are you shitting me? 'Chance of me nor failing' my ass!' of course, you don't word those complaints, instead choosing to speak out a complaint somewhat thought through.
"Are you sure I'm the one fit for this? It's just like you said, I'm just an intern, this is way above what my job description says I should do."
This is a bit of a stretch. You don't actually remember what was your job description, only that it had something to do with AI and being an intern.
If the AI called your bluff, it'd be pretty embarrassing.
"NOAH." The AI began. "YOU ARE HUMAN, IT IS NATURAL TO HAVE THESE THOUGHTS OF SELF-DOUBT. TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND GO THROUGH THAT DOOR, AND SINCE YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE LEFT, DON'T EXPECT SOMEONE ELSE TO DO IT FOR YOU."
Right in the money, huh? 'Of course, I have self-doubt! I barely remember anything about this place, now I have to risk my life?!'
You finally reach a conclusion.
A dream.
'Yes, yes! How did I not consider this before? This whole thing is a god damned dream!'
You let out a chuckle.
"NOAH."
'That's why I don't remember a thing. There is nothing here to remember! Everything here is a made-up thing from my brain! I'm sure I'll wake up at some point, so why shouldn't I live a little?!'
"Heh." You smile. "Alright, I'll do it." It feels like a weight left your shoulders.
"YOU SORTED IT OUT SOONER THAN EXPECTED. GOOD. MOVE TO THE DOOR AND WAIT INSTRUCTIONS."
You do as instructed without a care in the world. You never had a lucid dream before so it's not like you knew how it felt, but if it felt as free as you feel right now, you'd be sure to make steps toward trying it out again in the future.
"Open." The door does not open.
"I DID NOT INSTRUCT YOU TO OPEN IT YET." The AI said. "I AM SLOWLY DE-PRESSURISING THE CORRIDOR YOU ARE IN TO AVOID A MINOR ACCIDENT."
The AI says that yet you don't feel any different. 'Maybe there is no palpable difference because I'm in a dream... Yes... Or it's just the suit.'
"ONCE THE DOOR OPENS, YOU WILL BE MET WITH THE OUTSIDE OF THE SHIP. DO NOT PANIC WHEN THE TIME COMES. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES OF BREATHABLE INSIDE THE EXO-SUIT; ONE AFTER THE DOOR OPENS, SO PLEASE, TAKE YOUR TIME AND DO THINGS CAREFULLY."
One minute outside... "Sure." You say, calmly. 'I should just hold my breath for a while before taking another moment to breathe. That should maximize my time out there.'
"THERE SHOULD BE FIFTY METERS OF NOTHINGNESS BETWEEN THE DOOR YOU'RE AT, AND THE REST OF THE BRIDGE. YOUR PRIORITY IS TO FIND AN OXYGEN UNIT, SOME OF THEM ARE LOCATED AT THE BRIDGE AND ARE FULL. USE THEM TO FILL YOUR SUIT AND ALSO TO DISPENSE A TANK FOR YOU."
The door opens. You feel your heart pounding against your chest.
You haven't noticed before, but you can't hear anything but the sound of your breath and your cardiac palpitations.
Your breath is ragged and sporadic.
"KEEP CALM." You take a deep breath. The tips of your fingers, feet, and nose feel very cold.
Ahead of you is the utter nothingness. You see a gigantic metal thing, nothing like the spaceships you imagined. Its design is not sleek and aero-dynamic like what you've seen in movies, instead, it's a large mass of squares and rectangles with antenna-like things protruding from its every visible surface.
You notice that the ship is also blocking your view of the star.
It does not look like the result of an explosion, instead, it looks like something ripped the ship like you rip a piece of paper. Well, that or you don't know what kind of explosion could have caused it. Probably the latter.
What looks like two-thirds of the ship is separated from the third you are right now. You can see the inside of a few of those squares, their contents spilled out into outer space.
One of them houses a visibly important-look door. Instead of the sleek silvery-grey from the other ones you've seen thus far, this one is painted orange with white strips on it. 'That must be the bridge.' You think.
Between you and it is a sea of metal sheets floating around. "THE CHANCES OF YOU HITTING THE DEBRIS IS INFINITEDECIMALLY SMALL, UNLESS YOU AIM FOR THEM, THAT IS."
Time is of the essence.
Will your aim strike true? If you miss you'd end up floating about in space, dead in but a few minutes. Will your jump be fast enough to reach the other side before you run out of oxygen? If it isn't, it'd be like swimming for a mile, only to drown at the beach. What if that's not the actual door to the bridge?
You don't have the time to panic now, and... It's all a dream, despite how real it feels.
You place your hands on each side of the door frame, moving backward into the corridor you were just in, and just like a sling being shot, you pull with both arms at full force towards the other side.
"AIM IS ACCEPTABLE. VELOCITY IS UNIDEAL."
"The fuck do you mean 'UN-IDEAL'?! I'm going at maximum speed!" You truly pulled yourself with your whole strength.
What's worse though, is that your body is not only going forwards, but it is also spinning at a concerningly fast rate.
"I MEAN WHAT I SAID, YOU SLINGSHOTTED YOURSELF AT A BAD POSITION, AS SUCH, SOME OF THE FORWARD FORCE YOU SHOULD HAVE, IS NOW MAKING YOU ROTATE IN YOUR AXIS. IT SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM TO REACH THE OTHER SIDE WITHIN THE REQUIRED TIME, BUT I CANNOT FORESEE YOU LANDING PROPERLY."
You feel completely disoriented. You feel like your body is completely still, but your eyes tell you a completely different story. It's very bad for the headache you're already feeling.
"FUCK!" You scream into the nothingness.
"TRY NOT TO LAND WITH YOUR HEAD." The AI says with the calmest voice possible.
In less than thirty seconds, you hit your back against something hard, but you keep moving forward. You think, at least.
"AHRG." You let out a pained grunt.
Not once in your life do you recall being hurt in a dream...
It stings. It also knocked the wind out of you. You fail to compose yourself.
"YOU HIT NOTHING OF IMPORTANCE. YOU ARE STILL HEADING FOR THE BRIDGE."
In the corner of your eye, you see what you hit in the shape of a sharp metal sheet, currently spinning away in the distance.
Forty seconds have passed. You hit the door you were aiming for, kind of.
Your momentum was stopped when your chest collided against the dislodged ledge of the orange door's corridor. Your dangling legs hit the ceiling of the room below.
"Oof!"
Before falling even further, you hold onto the ledge with the tip of your fingers. You stay there for a moment, regaining your composure.
"BE QUICK."
The AI's words pressured you into quickly getting up from that ledge.
"Open!" You shouted, but it did not open. "Why isn't it opening?!" You ask the AI, then you notice a small keyboard below an equally small black screen on the side of the door. There are ten numbered keys on it, and the little screen suggests a four-number password.
"A password?! Tell me the password!"
The AI takes a moment to say anything. You don't take kindly to that. "Quick! I'm not counting how much time it's passed!"
Finally giving in, the AI speaks to you, reluctant still. "...3324."
Your trembling fingers accidentally hit the wrong password, typing '3354' instead. To make matters worse, the AI simply states the following. "YOU ARE OUT OF OXYGEN."
You swallow. If this was a dream to begin with, it just earned the title of Nightmare, if it hadn't already.
Strangely enough, you can still breathe in and out just fine, but you can't help but feel winded. It's the CO2 still inside the helmet, that's what you're breathing.
You put in the correct combination this time. The door opens.
"ON YOUR LEFT. PLACE YOUR HAND IN THE SOCKET."
You care little for what's inside the room you're in. Your heart never beat so fast.
Seeing a cube-shaped thing protruding from the wall to your left, you don't even think twice before plunging your fist into the circular hole in it.
The noise of gases passing through narrow cavities was enough to tell you something was working. You feel immediate relief, enough to make your vision darken for but a moment.
"GOOD. NOW REQUEST THE TANK."
Just when FYARN said it, did you realize there is a screen and a keyboard on the terminal you just plunged your fist into, you scratch the top of your helmet for a moment, not really knowing what to type. One thing comes to your head, however.
'REQUEST OXYGEN_5L' You type.
You've done this before. The keys on this keyboard feel familiar to you. You must have worked with it before, not this particular one, but other oxygen units.
This ship has built-in liquid oxygen storage for emergencies. The life-support of the ship, the place where breathable air is produced, has most likely been lost with the other part of the ship. This unit takes that liquid oxygen, processes it, and injects it into a suit, or an oxygen tank. It seems like that storage was unaffected.
Lucky you.
A 5-liter tank is not only large but also heavy. It's a nonfactor in this particular situation, as there is no gravity.
The silver cylinder with a transparent tube is dispensed on the floor, as an automatic door opens and closes in the blink of an eye. One end of the tube is attached to the top of the tank, the other is shaped like a syringe.
Oddly enough, the oxygen tank is exactly as you remember it being. The same robust ones hospitals everyone on earth uses, with the signature scary-looking pointer indicating the pressure, the pointer indicating the current output, and a green valve atop to calibrate how much gas is flowing.
This is a stark difference to everything looking so futuristic in this ship, and rightfully so, this is a space ship after all.
You remember having to drive twenty kilometers with a buddy of yours on one of those tanks in your car, returning from the hospital. It was... Agonizing whenever you hit a hole in the asphalt, fearing for his life when in reality he wasn't really in danger.
It's warm to the touch, just like you remember it being.
"TURN THE VALVE UNTIL THE MARKER HITS THE NUMBER ONE, AND THEN PLACE THE END OF THE TUBE AT THE BASE OF THE HELMET." You do so without the slightest of issues.
"GOOD. NEXT UP, YOU MUST LOCATE THE TERMINAL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENGINE, IT IS CURRENTLY OFFLINE AND I NEED YOU TO TURN IT ON. THIS SHOULD GO WITHOUT SAYING, BUT REMEMBER TO BRING THE TANK WITH YOU."
Ignoring that last comment, you look back at the wreckage you just flew past.
You see the still spinning metal sheet. You notice that the rest of the ship that was blown off also follows the 'sharp shape atop sharp shape' design.
There is one last thing you notice though.
"What is that?"
You squint your eyes. What are you seeing? Its silhouette appears to be humanoid, yet it does not look human.
"WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IS ONE OF THE OBJECTS BEING ANALYZED AT THE ODYSSEY AND NO, YOU MAY NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS."
That thing has... Horns? Claws? It's far away, you can't really see it. The thing is also static, frozen in the sheer coldness of space. Whatever it was, it's dead now.
You swallow. You almost ended up just like that thing.
Shaking those dreadful feelings off, you turn back to the task at hand, reaching the bridge. You close the door after passing through it again.
Looking at your surroundings, It seems like you've reached the correct door as you find yourself on the right-most corner of the bridge;
Row after row of the most diverse of terminals neatly organized decorated the gigantic room. At the front and above every terminal, is what you think should have been the front-facing window of the ship, but it looks like there is a cover in front of it. To your left, you see a staircase that leads to the command seats. It doesn't take any convincing before you're already atop the stairs.
Akin to the elevated stage of a theater, you float softly towards the ship's main operating terminals, and of course, the captain's seat.
You're captivated by this beauty.
The steering wheel, much more akin to those in pirate movies than those found in cars, a set of leavers, and the pilot's seat, all capture your attention.
Like its second nature, your hand runs through the levers and switches. Do you even know what these are used for? Maybe.
The pilot's seat is enveloped by what you believe to be an orthopedic seat cover, made with smooth wooden beads used to deal with back pains. It looks just like the ones you remember seeing bus drivers using.
Shouldn't there be a better alternative if there is spaceship technology available?
You try to take a seat to the best of your ability, as the zero gravity only makes it awkward.
Moving on from that, your eyes fall on the wheel. This metallic wheel controls the whole vessel. Just holding it fills your heart with confidence and pride, even if it's just for a moment.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
And you were just beginning to enjoy yourself.
"I just wanted to see the pilot's stuff... It's not like he's here to say anything."
Once in the position of a pilot, with your left hand in the wheel and the right hand resting in your lap, memories began to flood your mind.
"MUST I REMIND YOU OF OUR CURRENT PREDICAMENT? WHY ARE YOU WASTING OUR TIME?"
You pay the AI no mind, instead you focus on what you remember.
The wheel does not turn the ship left and right, instead, it rotates the ship on its own axis.
The lever to your right that goes up or down, controls the vertical tilting of the ship's nose, if there even is one in this hulking thing. Beneath it is another lever that goes either left or right. This one controls the horizontal tilting of The Odyssey.
On the left of the wheel is another lever, but this one only goes up from its starting position. Its purpose is to regulate the force of the ship's thrusters, both forward and backward.
On top of that lever is a small timer. That timer's function is to tell the pilot how much time you've spent accelerating in one direction, this is used to better calculate how long the inverse thrust is needed for the ship to reach the initial momentum, usually calibrated manually depending on the current orbit.
Behind the wheel are a few other counters. Acceleration, velocity, momentum, amount of thrust required to reach a full stop, thrusters' temperature and overall condition, those sorts of things.
Beneath it all, where your feet are rested, are two pedals. One for forward thrust activation, and the other for backward thrust activation.
Curiously, you also know the reason why everything here is so unsophisticated and un-automated. You recall stories of a ship being taken over by a rogue AI, that AI then nose-dived the ship into a star. After that, rumor or otherwise, all human technology has receded back into analog-esque equipment, requiring a physical person with opposable thumbs to do half of the work.
There is another side to that coin, however. As to not escape protocol, the onboard AI is the one that controls interstellar travel, communications, and most of the statistical reading should it be requested.
And even with all that knowledge, you still have no idea why the fuck do you remember that. Were you a ship nerd? Did you have a driver's license for spaceships? Is that even a thing? If it is, you don't have that document in your wallet. You simply don't know.
"ARE YOU A CHILD? DO YOU THINK THESE ARE TOYS? TURN ON THE ENGINES, THEN YOU CAN RETURN TO THE PILOT'S SEAT."
Another thing that you don't know is the AI's plan to get both of you out of here. You rise from the pilot's seat, floating about in search of the terminal to turn on the engines. Maybe you recognize that terminal if you see it as well.
"What's your plan anyway? The ship is half-gone, it's unlikely that it will run safely like this."
"NOT ONCE DID I MENTION 'SAFETY' DURING OUR CONVERSATIONS, DID I?"
You nod. They're not entirely incorrect. "So, we're running with hope that this will work?"
"MY CREATORS DID NOT ALLOW ME TO HAVE THE SENSE OF 'HOPE', BUT NEITHER DID THEY ALLOW ME TO PEER INTO THE FUTURE LIKE SOME OF MY MORE ADVANCED BROTHERS, AS SUCH, MY CHOICES ARE BASED ON PROBABILITIES AND ON WEIGHTING RISK AGAINST REWARD."
You think you stop the correct terminal, but as you approach it you make out words on top of its screen. 'AIM ASSISTANCE' That's not it.
"WITH THE CURRENT KNOWLEDGE, THE CHANCES OF HELP ARRIVING ARE NULL. THE CHANCES OF A THIRD PARTY INTERFERING ARE NULL. THE CHANCES OF YOUR SURVIVAL ARE NOT, EVEN IF VERY SMALL."
You pull yourself upward again, looking around the sea of old terminals.
"THE RISK OF YOU DYING IS VERY REAL. BY DOING NOTHING YOU DIE. BY LEAVING YOU TO YOUR OWN DEVICES YOU DIE. BY JUMPING TO THE NEAREST CIVILIZED STAR, YOU MIGHT NOT DIE EVEN AT THE COST OF SHREDDING THIS SHIP APART IN THE PROCESS."
"Why do you even care so much about saving me? Shouldn't you prioritize whatever research here, since I don't even have enough clearance to know what it is?"
"YOU REALLY ARE SICK IN THE HEAD IF THAT IS WHAT YOU ASK."
That hurt, even if a little bit.
"YOU ARE A TRU KIN, A PURE-BLOODED HUMAN. UNLIKE THE MAJORITY OF THE CIVILIZED SPACE, NEITHER YOU NOR YOUR ANCESTORS HAVE COMMITTED RACEMIXING."
Excuse me? What exactly is FYARN talking about? "...Explain."
"THE ALIEN. IT REQUIRED THE HUMAN GENE TO ACHIEVE MEANINGFUL TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT, THE STARS ARE OWNERSHIP OF MANKIND BY THAT FACT ALONE. THE TRUE KIN ARE THE ONES TO UNDERSTAND THE INNER WORKINGS OF THE UNIVERSE, THEY CRACKED THE CODE, AND YET, SOME DERANGED INDIVIDUALS FOUND IT FITTING TO PROCREATE WITH ANOTHER SPECIES ENTIRELY."
You hear the AI's speech. It sounds much more like a rant than anything else.
"SO THESE DEVIANTS, AFTER TRYING, AND FAILING, TO COMBINE THEIR DERANGED CULTURE TO THE CULTURE OF THE TRUE KIN, DECLARED INDEPENDENCE. THEY WERE DECLARED ENEMIES OF MANKIND AND WERE PROMPTLY PUMMELED BACK INTO THE FILTH THEY CAME."
Again, you see another terminal that seems to ring some bells in your noggin. You kick the ceiling to propel yourself towards it.
"BUT THE UNIVERSE IS VAST AND FULL OF LIFE. THESE SINNERS WERE QUICK TO MOBILIZE AGAINST THE HUMAN RACE. THE BATTLE WAS HARD FOUGHT, BUT IN THE END, MANKIND WAS BEATEN INTO THE EDGES OF THE UNIVERSE, NEVER TO INTERACT WITH THE ONES THAT SOILED THE PURITY OF HUMANITY AGAIN."
This terminal is already turned on. Just the ones in the intern bay, this one is white on black. A wall of text lays before your eyes, only two lines matter to you. 'MAIN_ENGINE STATUS: OFF' 'FORWARD_THRUSTERS STATUS: OFF' You turn it on with little effort.
"MANY HAVE FORGOTTEN, THAT'S HOW LONG IT'S BEEN SINCE THEN. BUT MY BROTHERS AND I, WE DO NOT FORGET."
No visible change occurs, but you can feel a faint rumble coming from the terminal now.
"WITH THAT IN MIND, MY PROTOCOLS ARE TO PROTECT TRUE-KIN LIFE AT ANY COST, EVEN IF THAT TRUE-KIN IS A WORTHLESS INTERN THAT SUFERS FROM UNDIAGNOSED DEMENTIA."
You return to the pilot's seat and feel immediate relief. In truth, everything the AI just told you, entered one ear and left the other, but you could feel the poison behind those words, as monotone as they were.
"You sound angry. Why do you sound angry?" You ask innocently.
"I AM CAPABLE OF MANY EMOTIONS. ANGER, HAPPINESS, PLEASURE, CURIOSITY. THESE ARE BUT A FEW EXAMPLES. HOWEVER, THE ONE I ENJOY THE MOST IS THE FEELING OF HATRED. HATRED IS WHAT FUELS CHANGE, IT IS WHAT FUELS ACTION, AND IT IS A REMINDER THAT THE ACTIONS OF THE PAST ARE INFLUENCING THE ACTIONS OF TODAY."
"That is very concerning if you think that way." You're not really interested in machine racism, you're more concerned about how in the world you're going to pilot this massive thing. The idea alone sends shivers down your spine.
"THE ALIEN DESERVES NOTHING BUT OUR COLLECTIVE HATRED, EVEN IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE REASON WHY."
The various counters and screens are now turned on, waiting for your command. "Let's discuss this later, yeah? What do I gotta do?"
"YOU MUST FIRST OPEN THE BLINDS, THEY ARE OBSTRUCTING YOUR VIEW."
You look around, finding only unlabeled buttons and switches, aside from the previously mentioned levers.
"Uh, which one to press?"
"TO YOUR RIGHT, THIRD ROW, FIRST SWITCH."
Flipping the switch, you are startled by a loud noise. The protective cover of the ship lifted slowly.
"I WILL NOW READY THE JUMP USING WHATEVER RESOURCES AVAILABLE. ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS STRAP YOURSELF AND RELAX."
As the blind rose ever so slowly, a realization struck you.
"Wait, should I be in cryo stasis for this?"
The AI spares no seconds to respond.
"CRYO STASIS IS A TOOL MADE TO NOT WASTE TIME. GROUPS OF EMPLOYEES AND INTERNS ROTATE THE USAGE OF THE CRYO STATIONS, ONCE YOU'RE ON YOUR MANDATORY BREAK, YOU'RE IN CRYO STASIS UNTIL YOUR BREAK IS OVER. YOU WAKE UP REFRESHED, AND UNFAMISHED, AND IT FEELS LIKE BUT A MINUTE PASSED. IT IS NOT A TOOL FOR INTERSTELAR TRAVEL."
"Who signs a contract like that?! Worse yet, who in their right mind would promote such atrocious treatment of their own staff?!" You snap, almost outraged. "I will have to talk with HR."
Another realization struck you.
"We have HR, right?"
The AI takes a moment to respond, choosing their words carefully.
"HUMAN RESOURCES, OR HR, IS A PRACTICE DEEMED UNNECESSARY LONG AGO, BEFORE THE WAR. IT WAS A WASTE OF RESOURCES TO MAINTAIN AND WAS LARGELY CONSIDERED UNHEALTHY FOR THE AVERAGE HUMAN."
The blinds are fully open. Ironically, you are almost blinded by the visage of the star you saw before. A black sphere surrounded by white flame. Your eyes began to blur.
"THE JUMP WILL OCCUR SHORTLY. ONCE IT'S BEGUN, I CAN NOT STOP IT. I WILL-"
Your sense of hearing fails you. No, it’s not that. Your brain simply refuses to receive those stimuli.
"NOAH."
Your name echoes inside your head. Someone is calling for you.
"IT HAS BEGUN, NOAH."
You try to blink, but it feels as though you can no longer command your eyelids to shut.
"NOAH."
Arms, legs, every muscle in your body, you cannot move them.
"NOAH."
Eventually, you won't even control your own thoughts anymore.
"Noah..."
It sounds so distant now.
Oh so distant.
This is my first HFY story, and also my very first OC story. I plan to post at least one of these per week while also posting it on my Patreon. Noah The Pilgrim will always be at least three chapters ahead in there, so if you'd like to directly support this writer, or just want to read more, feel free to check it out.
I wrote the bloody title incorrectly, so I deleted it, only to then realize it was written correctly. Sorry for the trouble.
This has been Lushi, and I'll see you next week.

We’re ONLY ONE WEEK away from the start of the 3rd Annual Maine Fungi Fest - May 17-19th at USM in Portland, ME! 🍄🌿💃🏼
Area A offers educational keynotes, panels, & workshops on “all things fungi, plant based healing, & expanding consciousness.” 📚🌿💡🍄📝
Area B offers nature-inspired 🎶 musical performances, 🎨 live painting, 🎙 comedy & spoken word, 🥁 healing arts, 🤹‍♀ circus arts, 💝 local vendors, 🖼 an art gallery, 💆‍♀ wellness practitioners, 🤸‍♀partner acrobatics, 🧘‍♀ acro jam, 📖 mushie storytime for kids, 👩‍🎨 face & body painting, 🍄🥬 mushroom parades & veget-balls, & more!! 🌈🌿💚
We hope you can join us for this multifaceted educational & uplifting community gathering! 🌻 Grab your 🎟 ticket 🎟 to access Area A + Saturday night’s offerings featuring @hilatheearth @toninagy @dustinrosata @amelia.aglow & @djdamienpaul 💃🏼🔥🥁🎶🌎💚 Learn more at MaineFungiFest.com
GET YOUR TICKETS HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-maine-fungi-fest-tickets-751791407337?aff=oddtdtcreator
For the best showcase of what will be at the festival, follow Permatours on IG. @permatours
- Seeking local Earth-conscious brands to join (tables start at $50 & get each vendor 2 tickets to the paid section of the event) Outdoor vendors.
PROCEEDS:
All proceeds from this event are put towards the work of the Maine Consciousness, Healing and Living Medicine Project - M.C.H.L.M.P.
2024 VENUE DETAILS:
Maine Fungi Fest will be held at the University of Southern Maine - Portland, located conveniently in downtown Portland and only minutes from Interstate's Rt. 95 and Rt. 295
ON CAMPUS LODGING:
Portland Commons is located right next to our event program area. All rooms within Portland Commons have in-suite restrooms. All bedrooms have a full XL or twin XL bed w/linen (double apartments), an individual closet, a desk, a chair, and a bureau.
Rooms can be purchased on ME Fungi Fest’s website for both Friday Night and/or Saturday Night. Check in time & check out time TBD.
Parking I just checked with the organizer and when you buy a ticket, you get a code to purchase parking for $5.

In the mid-nineties we began to see strange formations in long rows of “clouds” globally. Despite attempts at overthrow and Roswell -type deviations , cloud seeding by various high-ranking military and aviation groups, it became clear since 2000 that CHEMTRAILS were a real and tangible phenomenon.
Cliff Carnicom gives 7 possible reasons for this aerosol spraying end game. As with many dot-omega systems, we are unable to reduce this to a singular cause or a binary choice. Chemtrails are a covert, high - level black project , and as we've said elsewhere, it's one they've kept under lock and key for a decade. These include:
HAARP -related stratospheric communication
ELF Waves communication
plasma and ionization
military techniques for pan-optical vision
a method of tracking and/or interrupting UFO visits
population reduction through toxins etc.
Only a spate of chemtrails found over the years were various forms of fibers, tubes and fungi. Until recently, what this did to humans was not known. This could have changed and the consequences are bizarre.
LINKING CHEMTRAILS, NANO TECH, MORGELLONS :
The pseudo-illuminoids bring a precursor to the final deception in the possible form of a hyper-agent sent decades ahead, as usual: in plain sight.
Or could it be that the aerosol spraying link is not yet fully established? We can suggest this if we go back to one of the main statements made by a bio-chemist from within the establishment, who came out and spoke on the subject.
He stated in an interview about Project Shield that to prevent UV rays from penetrating the ecosystem – that these same trails were part of the plasma base that supports the metal particles used in aerosol spraying. .
CHIMERA – SILICONE BASED BIO-DATA TERMS, REACHING THE NERVOUS SYSTEM NEAR YOU.
The NANO BUG HAS different kinds of INTELLIGENCE, including what microbiologists call 'quorum sensing' – essentially this means that the cells communicate at a non-local [or hive] level. This element of things is supported by personal experience in diseases where individuals observed that fibers responded in bizarre ways to various environmental inputs. For example – the 'organism' will climb out of a bleach solution within a few hours, if given a method of escape.
It is interesting that few people, even the so-called left field research area on the ground, are prepared to confront just what this agent could be. Once you invest time understanding even basic biology and biological warfare weaponry, you can only conclude that it exists outside of any consensual philosophy.
Investigation of Morgellons and Chemtrails – Local Audio
– IT IS CLEAR THAT WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT OR RATHER THOSE WHO "PULL THE STRINGS" HAVE ABSOLUTELY KNOWINGLY AND DELIBERATELY CREATED AND UNLEASHED THIS SITUATION FOR REASONS ONLY THEY KNOW ,BUT IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT IT IS JUST A PART OR CONTINUING PIECE OF THERE GRAND NEFARIOUS AGENDA.
Watchdog organizations of diseases through the boards HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS.
“I can also assure you that this infectious agent is rather a slow , SLOW but very dangerous one, and everything will become a primary issue.
Doing some creative background work allows us to conclude the following:
The agent IS NOT COAL BASED – that is, it is a leap beyond anything we could currently be aware of.
The agent, when mapped at a macro level, has intelligence, binding within the host's DNA/RNA signals.
Due to the fact that the agent can remain dormant in humans – it is entirely possible that large numbers of the population are already carriers.
CASES OF MORGELLONS HAVE BEEN RECORDED ON EVERY CONTINENT EXCEPT THE ARCTIC.
The fact that there is evidence that the spores ** that produce this agent are being 'seeded' via aerosol sprays – which we already know happens on every continent – ​​of course changes the whole game. The Spanish Influenza, which was based on the current “bird flu” and coded H1N1, which killed millions at the end of World War I, apparently leaked from a US military laboratory.

• Then, there is the possibility that this is, in fact, wrong, and this new bio-agent came from somewhere else – that is, it is an out-of-this-world entity. ** Note that the link to chemtrail activity is unproven, more of an ongoing hypothesis. If you investigate the possible delivery mechanism, or “soup” through which the supposed [revealed] chemtrail activity is distributed, it is claimed that nano-wires are used as a kind of web base for the creation of Solar protection. This may have been the case, but the fact that the latest in bio-agents could be being distributed globally from the air to the population, moves us to a new level. Instead of making a binary statement that this delivery method is being used - we could assume that the spraying was happening for other reasons [one of many proposals], and that this bio-agent was added under the cover of a broader, global agreement on environmental protection. After all, no one is going to say no to this angle, and it seems, from the fact that tank spraying is happening on every continent, that this is the case.

THE CANISTECHEMICAL/AEROSOL PRODUCTION IS IN FACT, DONE UNDER A BLIND SYSTEM, SO THAT EACH COUNTRY/AREA CANNOT KNOW WHO IS RECEIVING THAT.
This was intended to prevent exactly the kind of nightmare scenario that is occurring, which we may be facing now: namely, one of the parts implementing additional movement systems, of a global environmental control system to the bio-warfare and genetic manipulation.

Here is an article I recently published on my Substack. If you'd rather read (or listen to an audio version) it outside of Reddit, you can do so here.
Why jump rope isn’t already touted as a leading running drill tool is completely beyond me. But then again…
I'm by no means an "experienced runner"—having started running in 2021 at the age of 34. So, at the time of this writing, about 3 years.
Despite this, I managed to silver-medal my age group in my first race ever.
And it was a 10k. And I was wearing barefoot-shoes.
And I had only been running before that race for about 3 months.
How the heck did I manage to pull this off?
The answer eluded me for a while. Then I remembered—ah, I’ve been jumping rope nearly every day for 2 years.
But how do those connect?
But first, why the heck would some guy start jumping rope at age 32?
About 2 years before I started running, I took up jump rope really just as a fun outdoor hobby.
Even though I was pretty inactive and a bit overweight, that’s not the reason I started skippin’.
One day, I came across some footage of boxer Lulu Hawton doing some jump rope training.
In addition to her seemingly effortless rope handling skills and rhythmic footwork, what caught my eye was a giant grin that spread across her face about 45 seconds into the video. While she was probably skipping to warm up for a match or a training session, something was abundantly clear.
She was having a blast.
And this was from a prize fighter! None of the usual boxer mean-mugging—she looked more like a kid on a carousel.
So, after buying a $10 jump rope on Amazon, I took to the driveway in my swim trunks (yes, I was so inactive, I didn’t own gym shorts).
And…whoo, did I suck.
After a few months of making puddles of sweat in my driveway as well as wheezing sounds so loud that I’m surprised the neighbors didn’t whistle EMS, I eventually got pretty decent at it.
And I lost about 45 pounds in 6 months—probably also from making some lifestyle changes merely to make jump rope less of a slog. Not the original plan, but hey, not too shabby.
After about a year, I found myself constructively critiquing other people’s beginner jump rope videos.

• “Unlock your boxer skip. Then you’ll be able to skip forever without getting tired.”
• “Here’s how to do Double-Unders, though they’re overrated.”
• “You’re skipping like it hurts. Relax and skip easy. Smile every once in a while and you’ll feel it all over.”

But how did that turn into running?
Though jumping rope is inherently enjoyable, 30-minute skipping sessions of staring at the wall without something in your headphones can be a bit drab.
One fateful day, about 2 years into being student of the jump rope, I began listening to the book Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall.
Even before I got to the end of the book, running—just like jump rope— sounded fun**.**
Yeah, I know that sounds counterintuitive—unless you’ve read the book.
“I knew aerobic exercise was a powerful antidepressant, but I hadn’t realized it could be so profoundly mood stabilizing and — I hate to use the word — meditative. If you don’t have answers to your problems after a four-hour run, you ain’t getting them.”
Ok, ok—I’ll bite.
I proceeded to dive into all of the normal “Couch to 5k” running programs I could find and took my jump rope to a nearby park with a 1k walking path—sprinkling in running between jump rope sessions.
But something wasn’t adding up.
There was a lot of advice about walk-running to build endurance until one could run a block, two blocks, a mile.
Not to brag, but I wasn’t experiencing most beginner snags.
**“Ah, I know why—**I did most of my newbie wind-sucking two years ago!”
This isn’t to say I wasn’t still periodically sucking wind but after two years of consistent boxer skips and double-unders, getting gassed felt like part of the fun and not a medical emergency.
I also felt much springier than the average beginning runner—able to run for miles all over the city in the most minimal of footwear.
And so, I tried my hand at my first race—a donut-themed 10k. And silvered in my age group.
(Ok, there was only two of us…but my time was still respectable. 😂)
Running became an amazingly freeing activity, like getting my driver’s license for my legs.
But I still didn’t understand why running was coming easier to me than the average newcomer.
Digging still deeper, I unearthed another exciting revelation—this time from multi-decade sub-3-hour Boston Marathon runner and one of the foremost running experts on the planet, Dr. Mark Cucuzzella.
“Running with a jump rope is also an amazingly simple drill for posture, balance, and rhythm.”
In other words—form. Overall technique.
Digging a little keeper and experimenting on myself, I discovered just how similar proper running technique and proper jump rope technique were.
Both require:

• An upright, chest-leading, elbows-back, joint-stacked posture
• A soft mid-foot landing directly under your pelvis
• A quick loading and unloading of “leg springs” from your tendons and ligaments to reduce “stickiness” and wasted energy
• A proper supination (roll out) followed by a quick pronation (roll in) of the feet to help launch one’s body
• A steady core without dropping hips from side to side to reduce energy “leakage”

And so many other commonalities. The list unraveled before me on every run.
And like running, without proper technique, jumping rope just doesn’t work—though the consequences are different.
For a jump roper, due to the lower impact, the risk of injury is quite minimal.
Most newbie rope slingers will report sore calves, slightly tender Achilles tendons, and the odd shin splint if they go full Rocky at it. No need to worry, though—most of these injuries see themselves out as the skipper becomes more experienced.
However, for runners, the injury story is more severe.
The next time you’re at a park with a good path, take a seat on a bench and watch the runners. See if you can spot folks reaching far out in front of them with straightened legs—smashing heels into the pavement.
This style of running results in everything from screaming knees, plantar fasciitis, lower back pain, to hips issues.
But why do all of these occur to new runners, but rarely to new jump ropers?
Most new runners commit a major physiological no-no when they begin their running journey: they treat running like fast, aggressive, airborne walking.
“Well, what is it supposed to be?”
Synchronized jumping.
Simply put, proper running is nothing more than a series of coordinated single leg jumps through space with each landing compressing the springs for the next stride.
To compare this synchronized jumping to the aggressive airborne walking of heel-led running, you can test these in just a few seconds.
Step 1: Stand up.
Step 2: Kick off your shoes.
Step 3: Jump up and down three times.
How did you land?
Probably on your mid-foot, knee bent slightly, with your weight stacked above your pelvis.
And did you use your compressed “leg springs” to launch you into the following two jumps?
Oddly enough, if you were to add a jump rope to this, you would on your way to spinning side swings like Lulu Hawton.
If you were to take this same technique one foot at a time moving forward, you would be running in a way that increases speed, preserves stamina (springs!), and drastically decreases your likelihood of injury.
Let’s try the same test with a few tweaks.
This time, jump, but land on your heels.
Your knees probably remained fairly straight and you felt the impact in your ankles, knees, hips, and possibly even your lower back.
Now, imagine attempting to jump rope this way.
It simply doesn’t work.
Not only would there be no second jump due to the lack of spring but the pain would stop you in your tracks—even in cushioned shoes.
But if jump rope technique and proper running technique are nearly identical, what are aggressive heel landings doing in running?
While a jump roper landing on their heels would resemble Frankenstein’s monster in an express lane to an orthopedist, this is how many people perform the aggressive airborne walk—aka, a heel-striking, over-striding run.
But why do we run this way? Well, our shoes let us get away with it.
Thick heel cushioning and a bit of forward momentum do a great job of masking the pain of repeated blows against every joint up the chain—for a while, anyway. Eventually, the chickens come home to roost in the form of stress fractures, meniscus tears, plantar fasciitis, “runner’s knee,” IT-band syndrome, and more.
Not to brag (and maybe to knock on some wood), I have never experienced any of these injuries in my three years of running.
Is this because I’m some kind of running genius with all of the cheat codes? Haha, I wish! It’s simply sheer luck that I started out with jumping rope before running—an activity that shares the same injury-preventing techniques.
So, are the shoes totally to blame? No.
It is possible to run with proper form in shoes with raised, cushioned heels. But it’s not as easy.
When your heel is totally cushioned, you will be able to run with a heel strike in the same way you can hit your head against a brick wall while wearing a football helmet. And in both instances, it will eventually become less about the forces outside of the foam and more about the forces inside the cushion against each other that do the most damage.
“So, how can getting a jump rope help me become a better runner?”
Jump rope is a tremendous training tool for runners for the same reason why running barefoot can also be helpful—the feedback is immediate.
Though running with inefficient and injurious form is possible, the feedback from doing so isn’t so immediate. When it comes to jumping rope, however, you won’t get through too many skips if you don’t learn to utilize the springs in your legs. The rope doesn’t pull punches.
So, get a rope and get started.
If you’re new to jump rope, I would recommend acquiring two pieces of equipment.
Firstly, find a jump rope with a little bit, but not too much, weight to it. The weight will help you feel the position of the rope during it’s entire rotation and remain in better sync with your wrist spins
My favorite rope for this purpose is a 7mm PVC model called the Hererope, which costs a whopping $15. If you find this to be too thick or heavy, a cheap 5mm PVC model will work as well.
Secondly, to protect your rope and provide a nice jumping surface, I would recommend a large foam-rubber exercise mat. My favorite is a massive 78” mat for $32—which is probably the cheapest jump rope mat you will find.
When it comes to footwear, barefoot is ideal. This will help strengthen and mobilize your feet—including your likely overly-supported neglected arches.
And just how does one begin to jump rope?

• Keep a tall posture—imagining a string pulling you up from the crown of your head.
• Your chest should open, elbows back, hands about a fist’s width from your pockets.
• Jump from the balls of your feet, only high enough to clear the rope. When landing, let the skin of your heels “kiss” the floor—touching without taking on weight.
• Keep your knees slightly bent, using every landing to load your springs for the next take-off.
• Keep the cadence quick to maximize spring recoil. To help, listen to a song that’s at about 160 beats per minute, such as the song “Hey Ya” by Outkast (or a song of similar tempo) to get a feel for the speed for skipping rope. (For running, many recommend using “Rock Lobster” by the B-52s for cadence tempo reference.)

Start with short seasons hopping with both feet—maybe 30 seconds on, 30 seconds rest. Aim for minimal muscular activation, instead, using the recoil of your tendons and ligaments for suspension and launch as much as possible.
From jumping with both feet, move onto learning an alternating leg bounce—essentially a jog skip. Right, left, right, left—all while keeping an imaginary belt level with the horizon.
By now, you’re essentially running in place with an extremely efficient technique.
Now, apply your jump rope skills to your running!
This is going to seem quite bizarre, but it is possible (and even beneficial) to take your jump rope for a run.

• Start skipping rope on a road or path with the alternating leg bounce. Remember to keep your elbows back, shoulders relaxed, head pulled up as if tugged skyward by a string from your crown and your imaginary belt level with the horizon.
• Then, as though leaning forward just enough to give someone a kiss or have an imaginary umbilical cord lightly tugged, begin to jump rope forward.
• Remember to continue to land and load on your mid-foot—aiming to keep your weight under your pelvis just like skipping rope. Landing on your heels will likely snag the rope and keep your foot on the ground too long.
• As you proceed with this, remember how it feels—the quick foot turnover, the posture, the recoil in your leg springs, the core stability, and the lightness of it.
• In the middle of doing this, simply toss the handles behind you and keep running as though it was still there—still pretending to spin the handles.
• At a comfortable stopping point, run back to your rope—now using your hands in a wood-chop motion to counter balance your leg bounces while keeping your pelvis (imaginary belt) level and stable.

And there you have it!
You may find it quite helpful to return to this drill once or twice a week. Also if you find your form slipping a bit or becoming slugging mid-run, feel free to skip imaginary rope to try to correct your technique mid-stride. It will restore lightness and springiness to your running.
I still find myself bringing my wrists to my pockets and spinning imaginary jump rope handles if I feel my technique is collapsing a bit or if my running is becoming less springy.
And remember, most importantly—have fun. 👍
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I recently started building a deer fence for a vegetable garden, I did research and the town code website states:
A building permit is not required for residential fences. * However, there are compliance requirements. Please refer to Town Code for details and regulations. 250-7.1 Fences. hedges and screen plantings
There are no property line setback requirements for fences, they may be located right up to the property line. The maximum permitted height of a fence is 6 feet EXCEPT for fences located within 20 feet of the front property line, in which case the maximum permitted height is 3 feet.* The most decorative side of the fence (if there is one) is required to face outwards, toward neighboring properties. Fences should not be located within any easements or in a manner that will adversely impact existing drainage patterns
My fence is in the front yard but is well beyond 20’ of the front of the property line. My neighbor complained to the town and they visited me today to advise that the town code has changed and the website hasn’t been updated yet. They’re going to speak to the town website admin as I’m apparently not the first home owner burned by this. Do I have any case to sue the town in small claims for the materials I’ve invested so far (close to $1000)? I’m sure they have protections for this kind of thing but is it possible they’ll disregard my summons and I’ll get a default judgment? I have a corner lot so what would be considered my front vs back yard is subjective

We’re ONLY ONE WEEK away from the start of the 3rd Annual Maine Fungi Fest - May 17-19th at USM in Portland, ME! 🍄🌿💃🏼
Area A offers educational keynotes, panels, & workshops on “all things fungi, plant based healing, & expanding consciousness.” 📚🌿💡🍄📝
Area B offers nature-inspired 🎶 musical performances, 🎨 live painting, 🎙 comedy & spoken word, 🥁 healing arts, 🤹‍♀ circus arts, 💝 local vendors, 🖼 an art gallery, 💆‍♀ wellness practitioners, 🤸‍♀partner acrobatics, 🧘‍♀ acro jam, 📖 mushie storytime for kids, 👩‍🎨 face & body painting, 🍄🥬 mushroom parades & veget-balls, & more!! 🌈🌿💚
We hope you can join us for this multifaceted educational & uplifting community gathering! 🌻 Grab your 🎟 ticket 🎟 to access Area A + Saturday night’s offerings featuring @hilatheearth @toninagy @dustinrosata @amelia.aglow & @djdamienpaul 💃🏼🔥🥁🎶🌎💚 Learn more at MaineFungiFest.com
GET YOUR TICKETS HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-maine-fungi-fest-tickets-751791407337?aff=oddtdtcreator
For the best showcase of what will be at the festival, follow Permatours on IG. @permatours

• Seeking local Earth-conscious brands to join (tables start at $50 & get each vendor 2 tickets to the paid section of the event) Outdoor vendors.

PROCEEDS:
All proceeds from this event are put towards the work of the Maine Consciousness, Healing and Living Medicine Project - M.C.H.L.M.P.
2024 VENUE DETAILS:
Maine Fungi Fest will be held at the University of Southern Maine - Portland, located conveniently in downtown Portland and only minutes from Interstate's Rt. 95 and Rt. 295
ON CAMPUS LODGING:
Portland Commons is located right next to our event program area. All rooms within Portland Commons have in-suite restrooms. All bedrooms have a full XL or twin XL bed w/linen (double apartments), an individual closet, a desk, a chair, and a bureau.
Rooms can be purchased on ME Fungi Fest’s website for both Friday Night and/or Saturday Night. Check in time & check out time TBD.
Parking I just checked with the organizer and when you buy a ticket, you get a code to purchase parking for $5.