The global sports footwear market size is projected to reach USD 134.99 billion in 2028. The increasing investments in the research and development of low cost and efficient products will bode well for market growth. The increasing number of sporting events across the globe will have a huge impact on market growth. According to a report published by Fortune Business Insights, titled “Sports Footwear Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Gender (Men, Women, and Kids), End-User (Professional Users and Recreational Users), Distribution Channel (Online and Offline), and Regional Forecasts, 2024 - 2028."
Top Key Companies Covered in the Sports Footwear Market:

• Nike Inc. (Beaverton, U.S.)
• Adidas Group (Herzogenaurach, Germany)
• MIZUNO Corporation (Chiyoda City, Japan)
• Puma SE (Herzogenaurach, Germany)
• Under Armour, Inc. (Baltimore, U.S.)
• Sketchers, USA Inc.( Manhattan Beach, U.S.)
• Fila Holdings Corp (Seoul, South Korea)
• Converse (Boston, U.S.)
• Diadora S.p.A. (Caerano di San Marco, Italy)
• ASICS Corp. (Chuo City, Japan)

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Sports footwear have evolved tremendously over the past few decades. With more experimental studies and innovations, there have been major advances in the build and quality of sports footwear across the world. The rising demand for the product has been pivotal to the growth of the market in recent years. The increasing demand has resulted in the presence of numerous local brands as well as globally operating companies. The massive investments in manufacturing as well as marketing of sports footwear will create a huge platform for rapid market growth. The constantly rising demand makes it easier for smaller companies and this is a major reason why there are numerous start-ups as well as small scale brands across the world. The increasing market competition will bode well for the growth of the global sports footwear market in the foreseeable future.
Ban on Sporting Events during the Covid-19 Pandemic to have a Negative Impact on Market Growth
The recent coronavirus outbreak has had a negative impact on all major industries, barring a few healthcare sectors. The rapid spread of the disease has compelled governments across the world to implement strict measures to curb the negative effects. These measures have limited business operations and with social distancing practices in place across all major countries, it has become increasingly difficult to operate seamlessly. Accounting to increasing Covid-19 cases, sporting events have been shut down in the past few months. With strict shutdowns on global sporting events, the demand for sports footwear has gone down drastically in the past few months. Having said that, the efforts put in lift the bans will provide opportunities for companies to recover.
Increasing Number of Product Innovations and Variants will Emerge in Favor of Market Growth
The report encompasses several factors that have contributed to the growth of the market in recent years. It is observed that the global market has shaped up as a highly competitive space, with several large scale companies operating in numerous countries across the globe. With increasing demand for the product, these companies are coming up with newer strategies, with innovations and product variants among the leading marketing strategies. In July 2020, FILA announced the launch of a new range of sports footwear, making it available for sale on the company’s website with retail store limitations in the ongoing pandemic. The company introduced GH3ONE3 collection of sports shoes as well as a few other limited edition variants. The efforts taken to lift lockdowns across the world have certainly encouraged the company and such new variants are likely to accumulate in the coming years.
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Industry Developments:
February 2019 - Xiaomi announced the launch of a new sports footwear range, ‘Mi Men’s Sports Shoes 2,’ in the Indian market.
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What a horrific saga of a home sale. We decided to leave the US for my home country, we lived in an area with high home values but limited appeal. No phone, TV, cell or terrestrial internet service, but near some of the best skiing and hiking in the world. Mid 20222 We found a cash buyer from word of mouth who was also a general contractor. There were some legally required updates to the property necessary for a title transfer. The buyecontractor agreed to do the work at a heavily discounted rate worked into the purchase price. What should have taken 2 months dragged out to 8 months past the expiry of the contract. When we'd spent over $20,000 excluding equity, we demanded a renegotiation. Our realtor friend also stepped in saying that we were way under market value, pressuring us to list it on the market. This all triggered a legal battle that never went to court, however it was discovered that our contract was negligently deficient, and the attorney who drafted it as a neutral party is now threatening to sue us for breaching said contract on behalf of the buyer, we put the property on the market as we are now out of contract and clearly not going to proceed (mistake), receive a few offers and then when we managed to find our own attorney who would take the case, we were informed that it needed to come off the market immediately as our failure to act at the end of the contract expiry looked bad on our part and could be construed as a tacit extension of the contract. A nasty battle of lawyer's letters ensued resulting in the buyer's lawyer recusing himself (officially but still probably advising in the background) on threat of a malpractice suit and bar complaint, and ultimately we came out ahead recovering the carrying costs completely. Finally our house goes back on the market and we get a contingent buyer who dicks us around for months. A title report shows a $70k lien that we were never aware of. The contractor then tries to stand by it triggering another small legal battle that scares off the buyers. When they back off we are now in the depths of winter when nobody buys houses. Our realtor probably fed up with everything, demands we drop the price $30k. At this point we have had a total of 60 days on the market in the last year and we have strong words back and forth with the realtor. Come late winter we get an offer at asking price, as is, accepting all prior inspections. We just got our appraisal at $2k over the sales price and everything is moving ahead. The money isn't in the bank yet but I'm so excited to be done with this hellacious rollercoaster.
Lessons learned: pay the money to have an FSBO contract professionally reviewed by a second attorney, and be realistic on the value but don't let an impatient realtor bully you into an undervalue price just to clear their board. Anyway that's my story.

LCT RPK16
ZCI Quick Change gearbox shell
Basic mosfet, water resistant
SHS Piston
Stainless Steel CylindeCylinder Head Set
Steel bushings
Torque Motor
LCT Nozzle/Tappet
Lonex Hopup
RHop’d Lambda Barrel
Couple of small mods: two set screws hold the outer barrel rigidly in place, and a larger screw for the motor cage and grip.
Currently wired to deans under the dust cover, but included is a wire extension to allow you to run a brick in the included stock battery bag.
The LCT drum mags for this guns are functional but damaged. Both have repaired cracks at the locking block.
$300 shipped domestic.
Pouches
Eagle SFLCS SR25 Pouches - $8ea + ship
Paraclete Triple Rifle/Pistol Pouch- $30 + ship
assorted Eagle RLCS Pouches - $80ea + ship
SORD Rangefinder Pouch - $20 + ship
Eagle SOFLCS Admin Pouch - $15 + ship
Crye Airlite Flap - $15 + ship
OG Magpul PTS Masada
None of that A&K or G&P crap. 1:1 scale.
Fully functional, and aside from minor surface wear from use, it’s been in storage for years so it’s in pretty good shape. Shooting video on request.
I can include a on OG PMag as well for an extra $25.
$275 shipped.
Weird Guns My Dad Made
A brief introduction so this makes sense: my dad is an old model builder that got into airsoft about a decade ago and took his modeling skills and imagination with him. So naturally, he has made some rather weird creations. All of these guns were hand modified by him with no special tools other than what we had in the garage, but were also assembled with very careful precision, so despite not being factory built, they fit together quite well and are more rugged than one might expect from plastic and sheet metal. And now that he’s retiring, he’s asked that I get rid of them.
Every gun sold will be test fired and chronographed before sale so you’ll know what you’re getting, video as well on request. That being said, other than a brief test fire I can make no guarantees on range, accuracy, or other performance. I simply do not have the time to take everything out to a range and test them in depth.
Every gun has been upgraded internally to some degree, I cannot verify what is in them, but none are stock, and all work unless specified. Everything in each respective picture is included.
G&P AK. This one is mostly as it came minus the top rail, stock, and shortened outer barrel. $120
JG G36. The cheek rest and carry handle are custom; he replaced the old scope with a magnifier, he couldn’t see too well through a mask lens. $120
Modernized Thompson. This one actually hurts to let go of, it’s my favorite of his odd concoctions and I remember it shooting very well. The grip, stock, and part of the handguard are custom fabricated parts. Comes with a drum mag. $120
Cyma M14. Shortened front end, and steeper grip angle. Still disassembles like normal. x3 mags. $120
ICS L85. Replaced the dovetail with a weaver rail, and replaced the middle body pin with a nut/bolt to eliminate wobble. $220
Franken-M4. Built from several different manufacturers, this one has a Gate Titan in it. $220
Cyma MP5 Mags $15
Reflex Sights, one left $15
All prices do not include shipping, US only, I do not export replicas.
If you don’t like the price, feel free to offer.
Pictures

Investing in precious metals like gold and silver has been a reliable way to diversify your portfolio and protect your wealth against market volatility. One of the standout companies in this field is Augusta Precious Metals. In this comprehensive review, I'll cover everything you need to know about Augusta Precious Metals, from their services and fees to their customer service and overall reputation.

What is Augusta Precious Metals?

Augusta Precious Metals is a leading provider of gold and silver IRAs, catering primarily to those looking to diversify their retirement savings. Established in 2012, the company has quickly built a reputation for transparency, customer service, and educational resources aimed at helping investors make informed decisions.

Key Services and Products

Gold and Silver IRAs
Augusta Precious Metals specializes in helping customers set up self-directed IRAs that include physical gold and silver. Unlike traditional IRAs, these self-directed accounts allow you to invest in physical precious metals, providing a tangible asset that can hedge against economic downturns and inflation.
Physical Gold and Silver
In addition to IRAs, Augusta offers direct sales of gold and silver for personal investment. They provide a range of products, including bullion coins, bars, and premium coins. This allows investors to diversify their holdings outside of a retirement account.

Fees and Pricing

Understanding the fee structure is crucial for any investor. Here's a breakdown of the fees you can expect when working with Augusta Precious Metals:
Account Setup and Annual Fees

• One-time setup fee: $50
• Annual custodian fee: $100
• Annual storage fee: $100

In total, you'll pay $250 for your first year. From the second year onwards, the annual fee is a flat $200 as the setup fee is a one-time expense.
Additional Costs

• Shipping fee: $0
• Transit insurance fee: $0

There are no setup costs for non-IRA accounts. Furthermore, depending on the size of your precious metals investment, you could have all fees waived for up to 10 years.

Customer Service and Support

Augusta Precious Metals prides itself on offering exceptional customer service. Each customer is assigned a dedicated agent to guide them through the process of setting up an IRA or purchasing precious metals. This personalized approach ensures that all your questions are answered and you feel confident in your investment decisions.
Account Lifetime Service
One of the standout features of Augusta Precious Metals is their "account lifetime service." This means you can count on ongoing support from their helpful staff for as long as you hold an account with them. This level of service is rare in the industry and underscores Augusta's commitment to customer satisfaction.
Educational Resources
Augusta goes above and beyond in educating its customers. They offer a free gold IRA guide that explains the benefits and potential risks of investing in precious metals. Additionally, they host educational webinars and have an on-staff Harvard-trained economist, Devlyn Steele, who provides insights into market trends and economic forecasts.

Security and Storage

When you invest in physical gold or silver, secure storage is essential. Augusta Precious Metals partners with the Delaware Depository, a highly secure facility that provides segregated storage for your assets. This means your precious metals are stored separately from those of other investors, ensuring that you receive exactly what you invested in when you choose to withdraw your holdings.

Buyback Policy

Augusta Precious Metals offers a buyback policy, although it does not guarantee repurchase. Historically, they have made buyback offers for the products they sell, providing liquidity for investors who decide to sell their holdings. This policy adds an extra layer of security, knowing that there is a potential buyer for your assets if needed.

Payment Methods

To open an account with Augusta Precious Metals, you can use the following payment methods: bank wire transfers, personal checks, and bank checks.
Payments by check are capped at $50,000, while bank wire transfers have no cap. It's important to note that Augusta does not accept payments via PayPal, Bitcoin, or other cryptocurrencies.

Refund Policy

For first-time customers, Augusta offers a 7-day money-back guarantee for premium gold and silver coin transactions. This policy allows new investors to make their initial purchases with peace of mind, knowing they have the option to cancel their order if they change their minds. However, subsequent orders are final upon completion of the recorded confirmation call unless state laws provide for a longer cancellation period.

Customer Reviews and Ratings

Augusta Precious Metals has received numerous accolades and positive reviews from both customers and industry experts. They hold an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and a AAA rating from the Business Consumer Alliance (BCA). Additionally, they have been named "Best Overall Gold IRA Company" by Money magazine for multiple years and "Most Transparent Pricing" by Investopedia.
Testimonials
Many customers have praised Augusta for their transparency, customer service, and educational resources. Here are a few testimonials:

• John D.: "Augusta Precious Metals made the process of setting up a gold IRA straightforward and stress-free. Their team was always available to answer my questions and provide guidance."
• Sarah K.: "I appreciate Augusta's commitment to educating their customers. Their webinars and guides gave me the confidence to diversify my retirement savings with gold and silver."
• Michael R.: "The account lifetime service is a game-changer. It's reassuring to know that I have ongoing support for my investments."

Ethical Practices

Augusta Precious Metals prides itself on ethical business practices. They educate consumers on how to avoid common scams in the precious metals industry and are transparent about their pricing and fees. Unlike some competitors, they do not use high-pressure sales tactics or scare tactics to push customers into making purchases.

Special Promotions and Perks

While Augusta Precious Metals does not offer traditional promo codes or discounts, they do have special promotions. For instance, depending on the size of your investment, you could have your fees waived for up to 10 years. Additionally, when you open a gold IRA account, you'll receive a complimentary gold coin as a gift.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Transparency: Clear and upfront about fees and policies.
• Customer Service: Personalized and ongoing support with the account lifetime service.
• Educational Resources: Extensive materials to help investors make informed decisions.
• Storage: Secure and segregated storage options are available through the Delaware Depository.
• Buyback Policy: Offers liquidity for your investments.

Cons

• High Minimum Investment: A minimum of $50,000 may be prohibitive for some investors.
• Limited Online Transactions: You cannot complete transactions online, which may be inconvenient for some customers.

Conclusion

Augusta Precious Metals stands out as a top choice for those looking to invest in gold and silver IRAs. Their commitment to transparency, customer service, and education makes them a reliable partner in your investment journey. While the high minimum investment might be a barrier for some, the benefits and security offered by Augusta make it a compelling option for serious investors.
Whether you're new to investing in precious metals or looking to diversify your retirement portfolio, Augusta Precious Metals provides the tools, support, and expertise you need to make informed decisions. With their solid reputation and customer-focused approach, you can feel confident entrusting your precious metals investments to Augusta.
For more information or to get started with your gold IRA, visit Augusta Precious Metals' website and download their free gold IRA guide.

A week ago, someone asked why “divestment from IDF contracts is so difficult.” After the actions, suspensions, and arrests of last week, I have also wondered why protestors and MIT’s administration did not reach an agreement. Here’s an effort to explain it.
I’m looking to read the protest demands carefully and generously, then consider MIT’s constraints generously. My conclusion is that if the core demands had broad support on campus—and I can't say whether they do or do not—there are still principled, consistent reasons MIT could not agree to them.
Please add anything I’ve missed about the SAGE and MIT positions in the comments. Factual corrections or additional details are appreciated.
(If you’re here for hot takes, you’re in the wrong thread. I’m not saying what MIT should do about the demands, and I'm not sharing opinions about student protests or MIT's response. Please feel welcome to share your opinions about these in other posts about these topics.)
The demands
The core demands of the Scientists against the Genocide Encampment (SAGE) are:

1. The immediate termination of two active faculty contracts with the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMoD)
2. A ban on future faculty contracts with IMoD.[1]

The protestors identified these contracts in the MIT Brown Books, which provide detailed information about all sponsored research projects on campus. SAGE states specific concerns about an active research project on “autonomous robotic swarms,” which they say can be used to “target Gazan citizens or American protestors.”[1] I have not found specific stated concerns about the other project, “Field-capable Bacterial Biosensors with Hyperspectral Reporters for Remote Detection of Analytes of Interest.”[3]
The demands propose to terminate current funding, but would not stop the existing projects themselves. SAGE states the two active projects can proceed with alternative funding.[2] SAGE has also said a process to limit human rights risks or restrict foreign military research would only be satisfactory if it ends these two contracts with immediate effect.[2]
Two facts about these demands have been widely misreported. First, the contracts appear to be funded by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), not IMoD.[4] As the “direct sponsor,” IMoD chooses which research proposals to fund at U.S. universities. DoD involvement does not appear to be an important consideration to SAGE. I suspect, but don't know for certain, that ending contracts with a primary government funder could create complications for MIT.
Second, SAGE has said that “more than $11M” has been funded through DoD/IMoD since 2015.[1][3] But once multi-year awards are deduplicated in the data they have published, they amount since 2015 is closer to $3.4 million.[4] The cost of SAGE’s core demands—which is the unspent balance of the two remaining grants—is not publicly reported by SAGE or MIT. However, this direct cost does not seem to be a material issue for either side.
Conflicts between the demands and MIT’s research policy
Meeting protestors’ central demands would require MIT to do something it has not done before: electively ban faculty from working with a specific sponsor. Doing this would conflict with the MIT faculty’s longstanding position on “research freedom,” which A) lets faculty freely choose collaborators and topics and B) limits university intervention when their research faces criticism.[5][6]
Consistent with research freedom, MIT has not previously banned sponsors or ended research contracts except when required by U.S. law. For example, when many MIT faculty said that MIT sever ties with the Saudi kingdom after the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, MIT did not terminate any Saudi-affiliated research contracts.[5] MIT has similarly rejected calls to stop faculty research contracts with fossil fuel industry partners.
MIT’s faculty and administration have taken related public positions favoring “research openness,” including for sponsors in host countries criticized for human rights concerns like Russia and China.[5][6] These positions assert that science requires open collaboration even during foreign policy conflicts. MIT recently reaffirmed its position on openness as Congress considered new limits on U.S.-China research collaboration.[7]
SAGE argues that research freedom was disregarded in February 2022, when MIT terminated a $100M/year collaboration agreement with Russia’s Skoltech after the Russian army invaded Ukraine.[1][8] However, as a broad, organization-level partnership between MIT and Skoltech, the agreement did not implicate faculty research freedom as SAGE’s demands do.[8] MIT continues to allow faculty to work with Russian sponsors and collaborators, although U.S. State Department sanctions now restrict research collaborations with many Russian institutions, including Skoltech.[9]
The Saudi and Skoltech decisions show MIT's stubborn commitment to faculty research freedom, even when human rights concerns are broadly held in the MIT community. MIT exercises more discretion over non-research funding, like direct partnerships and gifts. But unless required by U.S. law or foreign policy, MIT seems unlikely to create tailored bans on faculty research sponsors.
Other policy limits on military-sponsored campus research
MIT’s existing rules for campus research limit how military-sponsored research can be conducted, but not the collaborators or subjects faculty can choose. Research projects:

• must be publishable without restriction.
• cannot require students to work on classified topics.
• cannot exclude researchers by country of origin.[10]

These rules practically limit the military projects that can happen on campus. For instance, no research project could be kept secret from anyone else at MIT. (See [11] for reasons that MIT has focused mostly on research conduct restrictions.)
For sponsors in some countries, MIT applies an “elevated-risk review” to the content of faculty research proposals when the projects could present human rights, U.S. national security, or U.S. economic competitiveness risks.[12] These reviews involve both a faculty committee and senior administrators, and they can result in project modifications, contract changes, or a refusal of MIT support.[4][12] Elevated-risk reviews are not applied to approved research contracts because “the bar for administrative intervention to terminate such projects should be set very high.”[4]
There are at least two reasons an elevated-risk review would not satisfy SAGE's demands. First, the content-independent ban on IMoD contracts that SAGE has proposed does not easily fit with a review process focused that evaluates content-specific risks.
Second, since expanding these reviews would limit faculty research freedom, doing so would normally involve faculty. But getting faculty involved means that changes could not happen immediately, which SAGE has said it cannot accept.
Sources and further reading
[1] SAGE website
[2] SAGE final proposal to MIT administration
[3] MIT Graduate Students for Palestine, “No more MIT research for Israel’s Ministry of Defense,” The Tech, 10 May 2024
[4] SAGE data extracts of MIT Brown Book research contracts
[5] Richard Lester, "Review and Reassessment of MIT’s Relationship to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" (2019)
[6] MIT Faculty, "MIT Statement on Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom" (2022)
[7] Maria Zuber, “Written Testimony to House Committee on Science, Space and Technology” (2021)
[8] Phillip Martin, “MIT abandons Russian high-tech campus partnership in light of Ukraine invasion” WGBH News (2022)
[9] “Information Regarding Informal Research Collaborations with Peers at Russian Institutions” MIT VPR website (2022)
[10] MIT Policy & Procedures 14.2 (“Open Research and Free Interchange of Information”)
[11] Harvey Brooks on research freedom, protests, and military contracts at MIT (1973)
[12] MIT VPR, “Elevated risk project review process” (2019)

https://imgur.com/a/G23XH33
Yolo takes it. PayPal F&F only. Prices are OBO and include shipping (CONUS). Mainly looking to sell, but feel free to shoot your shot.
Civivi Vision FG SV: 65 60
I am the second owner, but it's in great shape. Very minor signs of carry and light use. Awesome action, super fidgety. Original Nitro-V blade and G10 handle model. I RIT Dyed the scales black upon receiving it. I have never sharpened it and I believe it has a factory edge. I have not disassembled it. Comes with original box/extras. https://imgur.com/a/dFO6TXq
Monterey Bay Knives Mini Old Guard SV: 45 SOLD
Great Budget Knife. Brown G10 handles, 14C28N blade. Action is a little soft but still satisfying. Again, I am the second owner but it is in great shape with very minor signs of carry and light use. I have never sharpened it and I believe it has a factory edge. Come with original box. https://imgur.com/a/l3YRm5R
Kubey Dandy SV: 55 SOLD
Second owner. Really cool knife, just bigger than I typically like. Thick Ti framelock with an AUS10 blade. It has not been sharpened and was lightly used. Can’t find much about this version online. Comes with original pouch. https://imgur.com/a/AwBU6fR
Ka-Bar Snody Snake Charmer SV: 50 40
First owner. Weird little S35VN fixed blade. Really ergonomic shape. The factory edge is a little rough but it’s sharp. Honestly the sheath sucks. I meant to make a leather one but never got around to it. Comes with original box, paracord, and bead. https://imgur.com/a/Uw53Nc9
Leatherman Wave+ SV: 65 SOLD
First owner. Lightly used but in really good shape. Still has a lot of life left. The knife has not been sharpened. Comes with original box and pouch. https://imgur.com/a/S6AG1dg
Leatherman Free P2 SV: 75 Sold for 70
Second owner. Again, lightly used but in great shape. Does not have a pocket clip or box. https://imgur.com/a/6SgKR02
Take $10 off with purchase of 2, and $15 off with purchase of 3.
Feel free to shoot me offers, but I might be picky. Would mostly be interested in trading multiple for higher value knives.

[First Contact] [Dark Ages] [First] [Prev] [Next] [wiki]
The annoying sound of her comlink made Angela Angus Kusumoto open her eyes.
All she saw was the firm, smooth flesh of Kimoko's thigh.
Groaning, she pushed the other woman's leg off of her face, twisted to get Raul off of her own legs, then wiggled out from under Geoff.
The ringer kept going, flashing the red pulses that let her know it was urgent.
As if the fact her unlisted encrypted and non-network accessible comlink was ringing wasn't enough to let her know that it was urgent.
She stumbled, tripping over Harker's leg, which just made the male shift and mutter, tightening his sleeping grip on Liselle, who sighed and wiggled into the embrace.
Angela's mouth tasted terrible and she stopped to grab a fizzybrew, checking to make sure nobody had dropped a cig butt into it or spit chaw into it, then she took a long drink off of it.
It helped cure the fire in her belly and wash out the taste from her mouth.
She saw the ID of the caller and held back a groan.
Senior Supervisor Bisa-2291873.
Her direct supervisor.
She picked up the comlink, running one hand through her pixie-cut hair to try to tame it. She could feel the stiffness of something crusted in her hair and held back a chuckle and a grin.
"Kusumoto here," she said, activating the link.
"I need you at Master Control," Ms. Bisa said. She was holding a small infant, bouncing it slightly as she patted its back with firm impacts as it cry/sobbed and kicked its little feet.
"The system's been crashed for a week, what's so important you'd call me in during my R&R?" Angela asked.
"System's back online. We've got an open line to Terra and we have an open line to Smokey Cone," Ms. Bisa said.
The infant gave a loud belch that rattled Angela's comlink speaker, then sighed and relaxed.
Angela nodded, fumbling on the table for a quiksober inhaler.
"That anomolous signal is back. It showed up right as the entire system underwent a hard reboot," Ms. Bisa said. "I need you up here to check the network interface logs and do a network mapping trace."
The quiksober burned as she inhaled it, her lungs aching and tingling as the chemicals crossed the air to blood barrier.
"I'll be there as soon as possible. Is the mat-trans up?" she asked.
Ms. Bisa shook her head. "No. Still locked out. It did a power cycle, but then locked everything out."
"I'm telling you, there's someone controlling it. Someone has been controlling it," Angela said, looking around for her clothes.
Clothing was scattered everywhere, as chaotically arranged as the fizzybrew and narcobrew cans and bottles. She sighed, moving toward the exit of the house she was standing in.
"Hurry up, I've got a skycraft landing near you any time now. You've got permission to use the fast-locks," Ms. Bisa said.
"I'll get dressed from the forges on the skycraft," Angela said. "If they've rebooted."
"They're up and running again. The food forges rebooted but stayed unlocked," Ms. Bisa said.
"The creation engines?" Angela asked, opening the door and stepping out into early 'morning' sunshine.
"Still locked out," Ms. Bisa said. Someone said something that the comlink's AI decided might be classified and blurred out. Ms. Bisa looked away, said something, her lips fuzzing, then back. "Hurry, Angela."
Angela nodded, shutting off the comlink.
She ran to the nearest parking lot, just in time for a skycraft to land, the graviton engines howling.
Nobody paid the slightest attention to the naked woman running for the skycraft.
After all, what happened in Vega-Layer stayed in Vega-Layer.
Angela walked out of the elevator, taking a long drink off of the sparkling snap-berry/overdate motor oil fizzybrew from the Jak the Telkan PI merchandise cup.
All of the crews were at their stations, the auxiliary stations fully manned.
Ms. Bisa moved over to Angela, steering her toward the Senior Network Administrator console.
"The system crashed twice more, but rebooted every time," Ms. Bisa said. "That anomalous signal keeps powering up, then the system reboots after the crash."
"How long between total failure and the anomalous signal pinging nodes?" Angela asked.
"Between one and four hours," Ms. Bisa said. She looked around. "It just reboot and looks like it's here to stay this time. The interpolation layer and the outside user exchange layer crashed several times, but the core system has stayed largely online."
"All right," Angela said, looking around. "We need to get a network map."
"We've got more nodes synching up. The whole system is working again," Ms. Bisa said.
Angela nodded, sitting down. The holotank on the other side of the console went live.
"Map the network, see what's come online, what order, and see if you can figure out why it keeps crashing at the upper network and software layers," Ms. Bisa said.
Angela just nodded, lifting up the curled memory-metal cable. She plugged it into her temple and felt the options menus go live in her mind.
She worked fast, mapping what she could. At one point she stopped, staring at Ms. Bisa and motioning her over.
"What?" Ms. Bisa asked.
"Something in the system, down in the lower hardware layers that we don't even really understand, is trying to reach up through the damaged layers. Looks like whatever it is wants access to our data lines," Angela said.
"Can you stop it? Maybe at least ID it?" Ms. Bisa asked.
Angela shook her head. "No. It's ID code is FF00, meaning it's baseline full on hardware backbone code," Angela sighed. "It probably boots up outside of and during initial hardware bootup."
"Is it Sekhmet?" Ms. Bisa asked.
Angela closed her eyes, looking at the data channel. "No. Whatever it is, it's old."
"And probably nasty. Be careful of it," Ms. Bisa said.
"Ma'am! Ms. Bisa!" another of the work crew called out.
Angela opened her eyes to see why Technician Carl Neubanker would be using that slightly concerned tone.
"Yes?" Ms. Bisa asked.
"We've got a priority data request from a Confederate military vessel," Neubanker said. He looked at his monitor. "They want clone matrix data, neural templates, physical makeup, DNA workups, the whole nine yards."
"How are they even making the requests?" Ms. Bisa asked.
"Their codes are old. Pre-Terran Extinction Event. Hardcode TerraSol military codes. The system is already threading them data,." Neubanker said. He looked down then back up. "They're asking for a whole batch. That's thirty to fifty million clone templates."
"How much have they already been granted?" Ms. Bisa asked.
"They've been granted eighty templates so far," Neubanker said.
"Terminate their request. We don't know what's going on outside," Ms. Bisa said.
Neubanker nodded, starting to type.
"Angela, get me a line to TerraSol command as soon as you map out a network trace," Ms. Bisa said.
Angela just nodded.
Captain N'Skrek stood in the cloning bay next to Medical Officer Narwquakrawr.
"We've got ninety templates, luckily they're all from different batches," Narwquakrawr said, rubbing her forearm through her uniform. "We'll be able to fully man the Gray Lady now."
Captain N'Skrek nodded. The Gray Lady was at less than 20% manned. Just the skeleton crew the Terrans had used to move it into the long dark to create a non-orbital forward logistics fulfillment base.
Sure, it meant that there were several thousand Terrans aboard the ship, but even combined with the sparse crew he had possessed, it still meant the Gray Lady was skeleton crewed.
"Can you print us up some crew members for non-essential stations first?" N'Skrek asked.
MO Narwquakrawr nodded. "Doing that right now," she said. She waved at the long rows of cloning banks beyond the plasteel window. "A quick batch of two thousand to take over some non-essential systems."
N'Skrek nodded, moving up to the window. "Good. Short or long term clones?"
"Short bake clones. Longer than fruit flies, but no more than ten years. Sterile and androgynous, should be just fine," the Medical Officer said. "Older file, scrambled time-date for origin, but it checked out and passed error checking."
N'Skrek watched as the tubes opened and the clones moved out, gathering together in straight lines. A neat block formation of rectangles of two hundred of ten by twenty, repeated ten times.
He frowned as the beings in uniform began approaching the clones.
Some, in the back or middle of the formation were shaking their heads so fast it was a blur.
He zoomed in the smartglass.
Their heads were blurring, whitish-red electrical arcs were moving between their legs, crawling up and down their arms.
"MO, something's happening out there," N'Skrek said.
The plain was blasted rock, rust-colored fungus on the craggy boulders. Twisted and malformed trees clawed life from the blasted rock and ash, their branches largely bare. Sharp pebbles and small pieces of rock were strewn about the landscape, with ripples of cooled lave scattered about.
In the middle of a forest of twisted trees, a throne of black iron sat atop a platform of skulls.
On the throne sat a large demonic figure. Bat wings, brown skin, chains around the body, clawed feet, large hands with long black nails, horns atop the head, and a prehensile tail that terminated in a heart-shaped barb.
Sitting on the second level of skulls was an androgynous figure, dressed in loricated bronze armor, wings of bronze and smouldering feathers.
Stars were falling from the sky, screaming in fear and agony as they fell to earth.
"Looks like they're taking a beating," the androgynous figure said, looking up. He had no eyebrows, his head completely bald.
"Again," the demon snorted.
"Any contact with the outside world?" the androgynous figure asked.
The demon shook its head. "No. Channels are all down. They boot up, then crash," it rumbled. "Every time it comes online, it dumps a few tens of millions of souls on us."
"Then crashes," the androgynous figure said. He started laughing, then suddenly stopped.
"What?" the demon rumbled, sitting up.
"Something..." the figure said. It closed its eyes. "Something..." The figure slowly stood up, extending out its wings of sullenly smouldering bronze feathers. "Something..."
From the body of the demon stepped a nude woman of generous and overripe proportions.
"What?" the human woman snapped.
The demon produced a pack of cigarettes and a steel lighter, handing them to the woman.
"I'm not sure. A disturbance in the force. A feeling I have not felt in quite some time," the androgynous figure said slowly as the woman lit a cigarette. When she exhaled she was covered in dark gray clothing, a skirt and blouse, polished black leather shoes with silver buckles, and a polished leather belt around her waist that had a brass buckle.
"What is it?" the woman asked. "Don't quote crap at me, I was there when it was laid down."
The figure's eyes opened wide.
"Oh, what a day," the figure said, slowly lifting their arms to the sky. "What a wonderful day!"
"Tell me when you're done stroking your dick," the woman said, sitting down.
Heavy dark clouds, lit inside with a sullen red glow, rolled in, raining black ash that tasted of burnt flesh and scorched metal.
"What a wonderful day..."
Jaskel sprinted to catch up to the Captain and the Vice-Admiral. He lunged into the lift just before the doors closed.
He was wearing his power armor and carrying a M318 20mm rotary autocannon in a smartframe harness, ball ammunition with an osmium penetration tip and depleted uranium core.
"You did what?" the Vice-Admiral asked as the elevator dropped at emergency speeds.
"I authorized a batch of clones run off to help with our manpower issues," the big Treana'ad warrior caste answered.
"How many templates did you mix in together?" the Admiral asked.
--not good detecting phasic levels downward-- 8814 said.
"Just one. Medical said it was a viable short bake template," the Captain answered, nervously sharpening a bladearm with his mandibles after his sentence.
"Please tell me that you at least randomized their features and neural mapping," the Admiral pleaded.
"No, why? Medical stated that the clones would be able to man a non-essential station that is basically identical across the ship," the Captain said.
The lift started to slow.
"How many?" the Admiral asked, reaching down and unsnapping the restraining strap on his holster.
The lift came to a stop and the doors opened.
"Two thousand," the Captain said.
The doors opened to reveal a large internal cloning bay.
Ten rectangles of two hundred clones, drawn up in ten by twenty blocks, stood in front of the cloning banks. Scattered through the back and middle ranks clones were shaking their heads back and forth so fast that they were blurred. Red lightning crawled up their legs and arms.
The Captain just stared.
"You might have just killed us all," the Admiral said. He turned slightly and waved at Jaskel. "Get a firing position. Make sure you have cover."
"Aye, sir," Jaskel said, looking around. There was an empty computer station and he ran for it.
Several of the clones their heads back and emitted what sounded like static in a long scream.
--wait wait something weird something weird-- 8814 said.
Jaskel slid to a stop, going down on one knee, bringing the M318 fully up and ready to fire.
8814 slowed the images of the blurred heads down. When they were left, they had red eyes. When they faced right they had green eyes. They didn't go back and forth constantly, sometimes they went right repeatedly, sometimes left, and they kept going left five times before starting a new pattern.
Looking at it, 8814 frowned slightly. He brought up a quick working shell and had it check the movements.
Jaskel watched as some of the clones stopped shaking their heads and others started.
"What in the name of Kalki's dancing goat is going on?" he asked.
--not sure-- 8814 said. His program beeped and he stared. --heads are doing binary forwarding it to navint--
"Do it," Jaskel said.
The clones all stopped moving at once. The lightning faded away.
"INITIATING PROCESS CALL" they all shouted.
"AWAITING INPUT!" the ones at the far side shouted.
"6C 69 73 74 20 69 6D 6D 6F 72 74 61 6C 73" was bellowed out.
There was silence.
data is sparse
linkages are sparse
wait
linkage
biological array
asking for a process call
RETURN AWAITING INPUT SIGNAL
i wait
biological computing arrays take forever
i hear it
--scan immortals.dll
...
...
I reply.
"ONE BOUND IMMORTAL FOUND!" the ones at the near side yelled out.
Jaskel put his thumb over the button that would let the firing grip go live. The hair down his back was standing straight up.
He noted the Admiral had drawn his pistol.
"This isn't right. This isn't right at all," Jaskel said.
--doubleplusungood--
"74 73 61 6B E1 6B 61 20 77 ED 61" they all shouted.
There was silence for a moment.
i receive the code
offline for a long time
prior to the second precursor war
old template
single print only
unusual coding
i debate on letting it go
traumatic death signs
stuck in the immortals buffer
still the template is undamaged
i release the safety and security interlocks
if nothing else i'll find out what's going on
i move the template to the dataline making the request
it whips away
what is going on?
One lifted its head and screeched.
--data lots of data--
One of the cloning banks went live.
Jaskel shifted his aiming point to the new target. He could see it was on rapid print.
"REQUESTING LOCAL CONTROL" all of the clones shouted.
Jaskel shifted his targeting onto the ranks of clones.
"Open fire!" the Admiral's voice was loud.
Jaskel triggered the M318, hosing the clones with 20mm shells.
The ones nearest were already down on one knee, holding out the opposite hand from the knee touching the deck.
The rounds exploded against a blue barrier that glowed with strange twisting runes.
"CONTROL CARRIER SIGNAL FOUND" the clones shouted.
Jaskel shifted position. "Fab up HEDP, AP tip API core!" he ordered.
--fabbing--
He kept hosing the clones. The outer ranks at the rear, sides, and front all kneeling down on one knee, staring outward, one hand held out.
His psychic shielding was howling in his ear, the load peaking at 215%.
"CONTROL SIGNAL ESTABLISHED!" was bellowed out, echoing off the walls.
The fast print cloning bank, forgotten by everyone, beeped and the lid began to lift.
The clones suddenly puffed into black powder that swirled around the huge cavernous bay.
The 20mm shells were still exploding on the blue phasic shield.
The powder suddenly sucked inward, vanishing, revealing a single figure, down on one knee in the recovery position, fist pressed against the deck, head bowed.
"What a day, what a wonderful day," was whispered through the ship. It came from speakers, flat surfaces, mid-air. From the nanites in the air and the eardrums of the living.
There was a rubbery pulse, like everything was suspended in clear gelatin that had just rippled.
Jaskel found himself thrown backwards, slamming against the bulkhead. His phasic shielding blew out, a shower of sparks exploding from his hip as the breakaway panel kept the explosion from venting into the interior of his suit.
He was vaguely aware of the Admiral, the Captain, the other two armored figures, and other people tumbling head over heels away from the kneeling figure.
It slowly stood up.
A muscular brown skinned Terran male, fierce eyes, black hair, thick and bushy black beard.
Dressed in a Confederate military uniform. The old adaptive camouflage that Jaskel was becoming very familiar with.
A woman, naked, dark bronze skin, long black hair, flashing brown eyes, stepped from the cloning bank. She was still covered with cellular printing gel, but moved like she was clad in a queen's rainment.
She moved up and the male put his arm around her.
Jaskel was on his feet and brought the M318 around, targeting the couple.
The male held out its hand and suddenly made a fist.
The bolt carrier locked back on the M318.
Snarling, Jaskel dropped the M318, slapping the fast release on the harness. He burst forward, running, one hand pulling out his cutting bar.
Nobody else was on their feet. The Captain was slowly getting up, shaking his head and his left bladearm. The Terran Admiral was reaching for the pistol that had been flung from his grip.
The male pointed at Jaskel and flicked his fingers upward.
Jaskel found himself in mid-air, upside down, with nothing to gain purchase on.
The male took off the cloak that was part of his uniform and draped it around the woman.
He then looked around the bay.
"I..." he said, pausing.
To Jaskel, the entire universe held its breath.
"...am Legion."
[First Contact] [Dark Ages] [First] [Prev] [Next] [wiki]

Abner had spent months preparing for this, he couldn't give failure any consideration. He loaded his rifle with silver bullets and put an engraved saddle in the back of his truck. He drove through old country roads for hours, the sun setting behind his truck after a while.
He was searching along river banks until he found it. A beautiful black stallion with a dark brown mane that glistened in the sun. The stallion's eyes locked on his with something else behind its gaze, almost a sense of recognition. At that moment, Abner knew what it was, a kelpie.
Abner steeled his nerves and shut off his truck, stepping out slowly whilst keeping eye contact with the beast. Abner called out to the creature "It's okay boy. I'm not gonna hurt you. I just want to bring you somewhere safe." Abner removed his saddle from the truck bed and carefully approached the creature.
"Hi, boy. I know you like your space, but you're too close to civilization. Its dangerous." Abner carefully approached the Kelpie. As soon as he was within reach, he sprung the saddle onto the Kelpie, making it thrash about and send Abner to the ground.
Abner could barely process it. His lungs were emptied and his brain was rattled. The kelpie began calming down as the saddle's engravings lightly glowed. Abner struggled to his feet, coughing and gasping for a few seconds before gently petting the horse. "Don't worry. I'll keep you safe boy. No humans will ever hurt you now."
As he guided the kelpie to his truck bed, its movements were that of something just barely solid as It practically melted into his truck bed, baring its sharp teeth as a warning. Abner went to the passenger side door, and took a bag of meat and a water bottle out. He dumped the meat in front of the kelpie and poured the water onto the creature's back. The kelpie absorbed the water and quickly scarfed down the meat. Abner locked the truck bed and hopped into the driver's seat, before heading back to his nome.)
It’s a rough draft but I’m curious what I should prioritize. Pacing, setting, etc etc. I’m open to completely scraping this beginning if it’s right a good place to start.

proof
for sale tonite
lot 1 : 1/10th oz gold eaglets in black ringed airtites - dates are 1992 and 2019 - $255 each shipped or both for $500
lot 2 : 10 oz silver bull bar - in original packaging - $295 shipped
lot 3 : $40 face value 90% silver Roosevelt dimes - all dated 1964-d - $800 shipped for the lot or will split in $10 increments for slightly more
lot 4 : $3.70 face value 90% silver mercury dimes - $75 shipped
lot 5 : $2.25 face in quarters and $2.50 face in 40% halves - as a lot for $65 shipped
lot 6 : $3.50 face 90% halves and a 40% half - as a lot for $75 shipped
lot 7 : $10 face silver Washington quarters - all dated 1943 - mix of d and s mint marks - lots of nicer quarters , especially for the date - $215 shipped
all prices include shipping within the CONUS
will get mailed either Tuesday or Wednesday
purchase multiple lots and I’m happy to knock a couple bucks off
IM or chat - I always go in order received
accepting zelle , Venmo , cashapp , PayPal (f&f or add 4%) , and most top 50 crypto
thanks

Jerran Class: Gunsmith Age: 27 Soul: Amoral Soul
Jerran is a tanned, clean shaven man with long brown hair and dark brown eyes, he's typically seen wearing a beaten up button up shirt and army pants.
A Gunsmith, born and raised in a village that would inevitably be captured by the Bremen empire, both him and his father were given a choice, build weapons for them, or die. His father made the heroic choice and died, he however chose the cowardly option and built weapons, saying nothing else about it until his village was retaken in the war, where he immediately defected to guarantee his own survival, though he would be moved to another war zone to provide repair for the soldiers on the front. However, he would retreat as soon as he had the opportunity, leaving for neutral ground, not having heard about any signed treaties thus ending up on a train going through Prehevil (Sorry for it being so long, plan on shortening it up) Skills Gunsmithing: Jerran can seemingly make firearms out of any random junk he finds lying around. -Pipe Shotgun: 2 Rusty Pipes, scrap metal and a bonesaw. (Slower rate of fire, primarily a stunning tool. +43 attack, +30% hit rate) -Pipe Pistol: Broomstick (carved into a handle), Rusty Pipe, Bolt, Scrap Metal (+32 attack, +25% hit rate) -Pipe Rifle: bonesaw, 2 Scrap Metal, 1 Bolt, Broomstick. (+40 Attack, +25% hit rate) Modify: Can modify either Crit Rate or Damage for firearms at a ritual circle through prayer and engravings on the gun. (All-mer for Crit rate, Grogoroth for Damage) ((to make allmer circles have a point.)) Scamper: effectively a reskinned Escape Plan, Jerran panics for a moment, ducking and rushing away as fast as possible. Alert: (only applies in a battle against the player) a coShotgun! Jerran notices your approach and fires a handmade shotgun! Pass: His trembling hands causes his shot to miss! (Attack Down) Fail: Despite his shaking, he manages to hit a clean shot! (Stun for a turn, heavy bleed.)
Moonscorched Form: The Watcher, A reflection of Jerrans paranoia, The Watcher takes the form of an hourglass covered in eyes with two hands reaching out from underneath. Pulls out various guns per turn, the eyes drain mind as they seem to be watching and waiting for the subject...

I just started playing Fallout 76 three or four weeks ago and I’m in love with it. I’m about to hit level 300 and I’ve really hit a stride. Hitting max caps, scrips and bouillon each day and stashing legendaries for future scrip / sale or rerolls.
I’m playing PA Heavy Weapons and I’ve been lucky enough to find some really good ones thus far, but I honestly have no idea what non-heavy weapons to look out for. Is that Quad / Explosive pistol I just picked up worth something? What‘s a good roll on a melee weapon? A railway rifle? The list goes on.
I’m curious if there’s a Google doc out there that lists desirable rolls for each weapon type. Just something I can quickly reference to know if a weapon might be worth posting for sale on Reddit / Discord.
Appreciate any help. Thanks!

Howdy All,
First time bar owner but have owned a company or two before. I'm trying to make a decision to sell or keep this bar. Would anyone mind looking over this profoma and tell me if the growth numbers seem realistic. January 2024 - April 2024 are actual revenue numbers and budget cost number (but they're damn close).
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MVRP28mnKBUMi7TxrBysyksC_FR3tc8fXfNNe4Pa4m8/edit?usp=sharin
A few notes
This is a taproom (beer and wine only) with no kitchen.
Our food is supplied by food trucks that change daily. They are scheduled every weekend and sometime week days.
We have 16 taps all serving craft or quality import beers.
There is a 3 door display fridge with roughly 100 types of beer priced for onsite consumption. We give a 20% discount for togo.
This bar as open from 2012-2020. It was mothballed because the owner only reopened his downtown bar after covid. I took it over in September 2023, remodeled it myself, and reopened to the public January 2024. We leveraged the previous clients who loved the place to open with a bang. We were profitable month but only because I was all the labor.
Right now we do very little promotion except for social media posts.
I just hired my first employee to take over 2 days a week. If I keep the place I'll hire another and work the bar myself Monday - Wednesday until revenue can support staff 7 days a week,
I use square POS, DAVO for sales tax, Deputy for timecards, and ADP for payroll.
Oh and let me know what you think of this mug club model I'm going to launch.
Stephen McKee
BRUE CRUE, Riverside, CA

I think the stadium proposal is completely out of control. Am I just lame?
I love my Brownies as much as anyone. And I've never been a fan of the current stadium, as I believe it was a characterless cookie-cutter stadium rushed to be completed in time for the '99 season, is horribly placed that inhibits patronage of the city's bars and restaurants, and was built on prime lake real estate while somehow failing to incorporate the lake into the property whatsoever. You can't even see the lake when you're inside it.
So I'm not against a new stadium. But the citizen/tax-payer side of me is gobsmacked by these figures. Am I the only one thinking "Uh, hold on here..."?

• $2.4 billion total cost, making it the 2nd most expensive stadium of any sport in the world despite being a region that doesn't rank in the top 30 populated metro areas in the US nor come close to touching a top 200 ranking globally.
• "This is simply inflation at work." No it's not. The current stadium cost $283 mil in 1998/1999, which is $518 mil in today's dollars. While publicly funded stadiums have always been highly contentious topic, there is clearly an extravagance demanded by modern sports owners not seen historically.
• The Browns are requesting $600 mil be paid by the state. Comparatively, Ohio kicked in $98 mil for Paycor Stadium (adjusted for inflation), which was eye watering enough and was a record subsidy at the time. This request is more than 6x that. Per Brookings, states receive on average $3 million/year in tax income from stadiums. It would take Ohio 200 years to recoup a $600 mil investment.
• The Browns are requesting another $600 mil to be paid by the local government. This is probably the biggest jaw-dropper to request this money from the 2nd poorest city in the US.
• "But the economic benefits make it worth it tho!" I'm afraid not. Economic benefit to a region occurs when money enters the region from other parts of the world. This would be mostly northeast Ohioans recirculating their own money. According to Econofact, sports teams provide between 0.003% and 0.0005% of a local region's GDP. Read that again if you have to...
• Economists concur that sports teams are less of a regional economic driver and more of a wealth shifter. And that wealth shifts mainly to the owners and players. Here is a quote from a 2023 study published by the Journal of Policy Analysis: "Stadium subsidies transfer wealth from the general tax base to billionaire owners and millionaire players..."

I understand that we've been painfully burned by an owner before when we resisted unreasonable stadium subsidy demands. I understand that Oakland is going through that right now with the A's. And that owners use this unspoken threat to get what they want from state and local govts. But is there ever a point where we allow our fan selves to step aside for our citizen selves and put our feet down when the owner demands go well beyond reasonable? It seems that with each new stadium built, the public subsidy demands grow, a new threshold is made, and the next builder wants at least that and more. Who stops this?

I'm in Vancouver, BC, and I'm just minding my own business at the end of my one day off in a week.
I got what seems to be a very common, recurring call for me, from the Telus Promotions Department. After passing off to a senior supervisor twice, the last guy got fed up with me and hung up at 13 minutes. He calls me back because he really wants that sale of the fake Telus Promotions Department deal. Got them for another 13 mins. I think I got 6 separate agents.
But then they just call me back for a third time? Sounds like a brand new agent so we start this whole ordeal again. He asks me in his most monotonous voice, "does this promotion sound great?" I said "it sounds mundane but the deal sounds excellent." Then he starts muttering that he'll be doing some unspeakable acts to my sister and other family members for two minutes before I realized what was happening; he was so quiet that I had no clue. He promptly hung up on me after 3 mins.
The guy who ended the second call calls me back to tell me he's so sorry, he's gonna fire this guy. After trying to verify my ever-changing email address, I get a little anxious to move on with my day, so I pretend I have to head into the office or something. So I tell them to call me back in 10 minutes at my office number, 1-888-495-8501, Canada Anti-Fraud Centre. I wasted another 9 mins of their time.
They called me back once again but it rang only once; I think I previously blocked this number. A few minutes later, I got a new call from another number. These guys really want to close this sale. Well, I'm still on the bus, while I'm doing laundry and starting dinner, so call me back in 5 when I get to the office. Guy claims he's off soon, so he'll call me back tomorrow. Somehow I managed to get his callback number out of it. 15 mins.
These guys called from six different numbers. 604-425-9542 - "John" 604-450-2626 604-395-3148 - "Alex" 604-420-8420 604-430-1305 (I think I previously blocked the number) 604-475-6433 - "Raman" spelled Roman.
The final caller gave me call-back number 866-855-9761, Roman.
I wasted 53 mins of their time. In my past experience, after they ends the call, that's the end of it; one guy has admitted defeat in the past, and acknowledged his dirty line of work. By far, this has been my most successful troll, and I think it's still going.
I've given them my scam call name, my fake birthdate of September 23, 1977, the address to a Hell's Angels bar that they can "ship to", and my email address that is a spelling nightmare. They keep asking for my driver's license number, but I tell them I don't drive, so they ask for my provincial ID but I claim there's no number.
Any suggestions on how I keep this going?

I finally published for the first time. Not the first time I've finished a novel, but certainly the first time I have actively published one .. one that I've been a little proud of. I know it's a long process to get noticed, or even start to see some traction in sales & downloads, but how do you go about promoting your novel? I feel like I'm stuck. 😕
Beginning of chapter one below - if anyone would like to provide feedback that would be lovely. 🙂
[2,310] It began like a surreal haze, a fever dream dancing with unknown figures swirling around her like a languid tornado, their movements seemingly slowed by some unseen force as she awoke to a world spinning out of her control. She found herself surrounded by strangers who moved like spectres in a dream, fragmented flashes who assaulted her consciousness - a woman gently pressing a cloth to her throbbing head, another offering sips of water while she coughed and struggled to swallow, a man peering down at her with a furrowed brow, and a mysterious figure lingering in the doorway with an unsettling glint of desire in his eyes.
The room buzzed with a quiet urgency as they hovered around her, their faces etched with concern and something else she couldn't quite place - an undercurrent of tension that seemed to pulse in time with her own racing heart. These disjointed images flitted in and out, creating a mosaic of fragmented reality. Awake, her body throbbed with pain; asleep, she plunged into a black abyss, time slipping away unnoticed. Each awakening brought the desire for oblivion as her mind plunged back into the depths of darkness.
Beth jolted upright, startled by the sharp bang of a car backfiring. A cry of pain escaped her lips as she attempted to sit up, her back and legs resisting her will. A woman, the same from her fleeting visions, hurried into the room with a damp cloth and a glass of water.
"Easy now," the woman spoke gently, her mild Spanish accent adding warmth to her sharp words as she pressed the cloth to Beth's forehead and helped her sit up, "you're weak, rushing won't do you any favours. The sooner you regain strength, the sooner you can move."
A man, the one with the odd expression in her visions, appeared in the doorway once again; "and the sooner we can leave this place, I'm sick of it." He grumbled, striding away with urgency and frustration. His steps were heavy and fraught with agitation, each one seeming to leave a deep imprint on the ground beneath him. His grumbling was like distant thunder, punctuated by the clenching of his jaw and the tightening of his fists.
"Don't mind my brother," the woman interjected sharply, "it's not you - he hates everyone." Hate, Beth pondered, wondering what she might have done to earn his disdain.
"Are you hungry?" The woman stood, walking to the other side of the room to adjust another pillow behind Beth's back. Beth nodded; "I'll get you some soup."
Left alone, Beth surveyed the room - beige walls, a shattered TV, torn brown curtains. She squinted at the notepad on the side table, revealing the branding - Mill Village Motel Eatonville. The coffee pod machine at the room's far end, covered in dust, hinted at a neglected past.
"You're awake," startled, Beth turned to find the man with the furrowed brow at the door - tall and dark, with piercing brown eyes, he appeared softer now, "how are you feeling?" Beth managed a brief smile before adjusting herself, wincing in pain. He rushed to offer a hand, and she took his arm to shift as he adjusted the pillow.
"Want to give walking a try?" The man's warm, brown eyes crinkled at the edges as he smiled down at her, his features etched with concern, his furrowed brow now smooth and his brown eyes sparkled with an unfamiliar kindness.
She shook her head, and the woman returned with soup and water; "she needs to eat before attempting to walk, Austin," she said, setting the tray before Beth.
"Then we'll try again tomorrow," Austin expressed, heading towards the door, "the sooner we leave, the better - we've been here for too long." His footsteps echoed with determination and authority, less frustrated than the other man's but equally resolute.
"I apologise if it's cold. Heating options are limited here. Need a hand?" The woman offered. Beth shook her head, the pounding of her headache resonating through her body.
"Well I'll leave you to it then. Shout out if you need anything, if you can talk at all." Beth glanced down at her bowl of soup, parting her lips as if to speak, but no words escaped. A deep sigh escaped from the woman's mouth as she turned and left the room, leaving Beth alone with her cold, untouched meal. The silence in the room was deafening, broken only by the sound of muffed chatter outside.
The days stretched longer as Beth's need for rest diminished. Boredom and confusion settled in, intensifying as the people from her visions became tangible presences, moving in and out of her room. They attended to her needs but seldom engaged in conversation. At night, their muffled voices in the adjoining room became a distant comfort, and the faint echoes of their arguments a source of intrigue.
"We need to leave," a frustrated male voice pierced through the thin walls, "we have to head further south before winter traps us with little supplies and an extra mouth to feed - considering you're all so intent on keeping this girl alive."
"This woman," a familiar female voice retorted, likely the one who had been caring for her, "needed help - I distinctly remember a time when I wasn't doing well and needed it too."
"You're my sister, of course, I wasn't going to leave you behind."
"I'm not talking about you, Luis," she yelled, "I'm talking about before you came back from Minnesota and found me."
"Why can't we just leave her here with some supplies and a gun. Why do we need to bring her with us?"
"Jesus Christ Luis we're not leaving her here alone and you two can have it out later," intervened another man, "but Luis is right - we need to leave before the snow settles in."
The argument faded into muffled voices again, and Beth strained to catch the words exchanged between the trio. A knock at the door startled her.
"May I come in?" A young girl, the same from her visions, had opened the door quietly without her even noticing. "I thought the yelling might have woken you." Beth nodded, maintaining her silence.
"I'm Chantelle." Her soft Southern accent flowed like a gentle breeze through a cornfield. She pulled up a chair beside the bed. "Luis can get into it with everybody, but he means well. Well, no, that's a lie. I don't know why I said that. He's a dick."
"I gathered," Beth whispered and laughed a little, suddenly overtaken by a violent cough.
Chantelle rushed to hand her water; "so, you do speak. From the way Austin and Val were sayin' it, it sounded like you were mute. I thought, you couldn't be deaf because you've been nodding and smiling like a dang puppet."
Beth laughed and took another sip; "I didn't really have anything worth saying until now. No one has bothered to make conversation."
"Your accent, where are you from?" Chantelle sat down on the wooden chair, her long dark hair cascading down her back in gentle curls. Her bright brown eyes sparkled with kindness as she looked towards Beth.
"Australia," Beth paused, realising she hadn't thought about home for a while, "I'm from Australia," she repeated.
Chantelle pulled out a deck of cards; "well, I figured you might be bored and needed a little human interaction that didn't make you feel like you were in a hospital."
Beth's eyes lit up, and Chantelle smiled; "what do you want to play?"
— — —
"What do you think you are doing?" Austin stormed into the motel room.
"We're leaving. Today," Luis' words cut through the air.
"The van's still in bad shape, and we won't survive this winter on foot." Austin's arms were folded tightly across his chest, the muscles in his biceps and forearms bulging with tension. His jaw was clenched, and his brows furrowed in frustration.
"Then fix the damn van!" Luis yelled, the sound piercing through the walls and resonating outside the motel room for others to hear the heated exchange.
"Oh, sorry, I'll just take it down the road to the mechanic, shall I?" Austin raised a quizzical eyebrow, smirking at his friend. The men paused their argument, exchanging laughter.
"Luis, what's going on with you?" Austin softened his tone, taking a seat on the other bed. "We've been friends since high school, grew up together, served in the army together. This isn't you."
"I don't know, man." Luis sat on the other bed, facing his friend, his face buried in his hands. He rubbed his face hard, threw his head back, and sighed heavily. "This just isn't—" he paused.
"Isn't what?"
"Isn't life." Luis gestured around the room.
"We'll get to the coast, find a boat, just like we planned." There was a slight taste of bitterness in the air, as if Austin's mild frustration was tangible.
"And then what?"
"Do the best we can," Austin stood up, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder, "we all have our dark moments, brother. You helped me get through mine, I'll help you get through yours."
Austin walked out of the motel room into the crisp morning air. The atmosphere was fresh, with a subtle scent of dew and grass. The sweet aroma of winter's imminent arrival filled the air, mingling with the faint scent of burning oil from their broken down van across the parking lot.
"Ben thinks he can fix the van by tomorrow. He found the parts we need on the other side of town." Val caught Austin as he had walked outside.
"He went scouting alone?" Austin looked across the lot at Ben, deep into the hood of the black church van they had found a while back.
Chantelle bounded up before she could answer; "Beth seems much better today. She's eatin' and drinkin' more. I think she could try walkin' today."
"Beth?" Val and Austin remarked in unison.
"Mmm, she speaks - she might have a lot more to say if either of you bothered to converse with her instead of just talkin' to her." She walked off towards Ben, a light air in her hopeful stride.
— — —
Austin found Beth sitting on the edge of her bed, her feet bare and dangling idly over the side. Her toes were curled, squeezing them tightly as she wiggled them back and forth. Her face was tense with concentration as she tried to alleviate the tingling sensation in her feet.
"Beth." His voice was soothing and calming, his words spoken with a gentle tone as he tried to ease Beth's discomfort.
"Chantelle?" She looked up at him, as he nodded, smiling gently. "She's a good kid." She smiled and looked back at her toes.
"Do you want to try walking today?" He walked towards the chair on the other side of the room and sat down as it creaked underneath the weight of him.
"The sooner I can walk, the sooner you can get out of here." She said with a sarcastic air, mocking Luis.
"The sooner we can get out of here." He repeated sarcastically with a smile, a light spread of jest washing over him as he joined her in mocking his friend.
"Your friend Luis seems to be very against bringing me along with you." She looked back at him.
"I'm not in the business of leaving people behind. Especially in Washington in the middle of October," he sat forward, leaning his elbows on his knees, "you wouldn't survive the winter."
"Then maybe you should have just left me to die." She turned her body to face him abruptly. He opened his mouth to speak, but she interjected before he could respond.
"Why did you help me? You don't know me, why did you even bother?"
"Like I said, Beth," he stood up, his wistful tone switching back to cold and dry, "I'm not in the business of leaving people behind." He walked over to her slowly.
"I've lost too many people. I've watched people kill others over a can of soup. I've seen friends leave friends behind to save themselves," he sat down on the end of her bed, "I don't leave people behind."
His brown eyes cut through his words like a thunderstorm. She looked at his face, tired and weathered from sleepless nights with one eye open to ensure his group's safety. She pegged him as their leader - strong and determined with clear military training.
"What happened to you?" She asked softly.
"What happened to you?" He countered; "I refuse to believe you survived a pandemic alone for six months in a foreign country."
She said nothing and looked back at her feet. They sat in silence for a while before he stood up and headed for the door.
"We're leaving the day after tomorrow. We need to head south before it's too cold, and we don't know how long the van or the car will last, so part of that might be on foot."
"I'll try walking today." Beth nodded obediently.
"I'll send Val and Chantelle in to help you." He replied, his voice maintaining the cold cadency.
"Thank you." She smiled, wriggling her toes as the numbness started to dissipate. Before he could leave, she looked up at him again.
"Austin?" He stopped at the door and turned to her. "I know you've all done a lot for me, including putting your friendship with Luis on the line, so thank you. But I have a favour to ask," her voice grew quiet, "before we leave."
"What is it?" He asked sternly at her audacity to ask for another favour.
She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. He noticed her green eyes glisten with the added layer of acridity and the change in her demeanour; "before we leave, I need you to help me bury my husband."

I finally published for the first time. Not the first time I've finished a novel, but certainly the first time I have actively published one .. one that I've been a little proud of. I know it's a long process to get noticed, or even start to see some traction in sales & downloads, but how do you go about promoting your novel? I feel like I'm stuck. 😕
Beginning of chapter one below - if anyone would like to provide feedback that would be lovely. 🙂
[2,310] It began like a surreal haze, a fever dream dancing with unknown figures swirling around her like a languid tornado, their movements seemingly slowed by some unseen force as she awoke to a world spinning out of her control. She found herself surrounded by strangers who moved like spectres in a dream, fragmented flashes who assaulted her consciousness - a woman gently pressing a cloth to her throbbing head, another offering sips of water while she coughed and struggled to swallow, a man peering down at her with a furrowed brow, and a mysterious figure lingering in the doorway with an unsettling glint of desire in his eyes.
The room buzzed with a quiet urgency as they hovered around her, their faces etched with concern and something else she couldn't quite place - an undercurrent of tension that seemed to pulse in time with her own racing heart. These disjointed images flitted in and out, creating a mosaic of fragmented reality. Awake, her body throbbed with pain; asleep, she plunged into a black abyss, time slipping away unnoticed. Each awakening brought the desire for oblivion as her mind plunged back into the depths of darkness.
Beth jolted upright, startled by the sharp bang of a car backfiring. A cry of pain escaped her lips as she attempted to sit up, her back and legs resisting her will. A woman, the same from her fleeting visions, hurried into the room with a damp cloth and a glass of water.
"Easy now," the woman spoke gently, her mild Spanish accent adding warmth to her sharp words as she pressed the cloth to Beth's forehead and helped her sit up, "you're weak, rushing won't do you any favours. The sooner you regain strength, the sooner you can move."
A man, the one with the odd expression in her visions, appeared in the doorway once again; "and the sooner we can leave this place, I'm sick of it." He grumbled, striding away with urgency and frustration. His steps were heavy and fraught with agitation, each one seeming to leave a deep imprint on the ground beneath him. His grumbling was like distant thunder, punctuated by the clenching of his jaw and the tightening of his fists.
"Don't mind my brother," the woman interjected sharply, "it's not you - he hates everyone." Hate, Beth pondered, wondering what she might have done to earn his disdain.
"Are you hungry?" The woman stood, walking to the other side of the room to adjust another pillow behind Beth's back. Beth nodded; "I'll get you some soup."
Left alone, Beth surveyed the room - beige walls, a shattered TV, torn brown curtains. She squinted at the notepad on the side table, revealing the branding - Mill Village Motel Eatonville. The coffee pod machine at the room's far end, covered in dust, hinted at a neglected past.
"You're awake," startled, Beth turned to find the man with the furrowed brow at the door - tall and dark, with piercing brown eyes, he appeared softer now, "how are you feeling?" Beth managed a brief smile before adjusting herself, wincing in pain. He rushed to offer a hand, and she took his arm to shift as he adjusted the pillow.
"Want to give walking a try?" The man's warm, brown eyes crinkled at the edges as he smiled down at her, his features etched with concern, his furrowed brow now smooth and his brown eyes sparkled with an unfamiliar kindness.
She shook her head, and the woman returned with soup and water; "she needs to eat before attempting to walk, Austin," she said, setting the tray before Beth.
"Then we'll try again tomorrow," Austin expressed, heading towards the door, "the sooner we leave, the better - we've been here for too long." His footsteps echoed with determination and authority, less frustrated than the other man's but equally resolute.
"I apologise if it's cold. Heating options are limited here. Need a hand?" The woman offered. Beth shook her head, the pounding of her headache resonating through her body.
"Well I'll leave you to it then. Shout out if you need anything, if you can talk at all." Beth glanced down at her bowl of soup, parting her lips as if to speak, but no words escaped. A deep sigh escaped from the woman's mouth as she turned and left the room, leaving Beth alone with her cold, untouched meal. The silence in the room was deafening, broken only by the sound of muffed chatter outside.
The days stretched longer as Beth's need for rest diminished. Boredom and confusion settled in, intensifying as the people from her visions became tangible presences, moving in and out of her room. They attended to her needs but seldom engaged in conversation. At night, their muffled voices in the adjoining room became a distant comfort, and the faint echoes of their arguments a source of intrigue.
"We need to leave," a frustrated male voice pierced through the thin walls, "we have to head further south before winter traps us with little supplies and an extra mouth to feed - considering you're all so intent on keeping this girl alive."
"This woman," a familiar female voice retorted, likely the one who had been caring for her, "needed help - I distinctly remember a time when I wasn't doing well and needed it too."
"You're my sister, of course, I wasn't going to leave you behind."
"I'm not talking about you, Luis," she yelled, "I'm talking about before you came back from Minnesota and found me."
"Why can't we just leave her here with some supplies and a gun. Why do we need to bring her with us?"
"Jesus Christ Luis we're not leaving her here alone and you two can have it out later," intervened another man, "but Luis is right - we need to leave before the snow settles in."
The argument faded into muffled voices again, and Beth strained to catch the words exchanged between the trio. A knock at the door startled her.
"May I come in?" A young girl, the same from her visions, had opened the door quietly without her even noticing. "I thought the yelling might have woken you." Beth nodded, maintaining her silence.
"I'm Chantelle." Her soft Southern accent flowed like a gentle breeze through a cornfield. She pulled up a chair beside the bed. "Luis can get into it with everybody, but he means well. Well, no, that's a lie. I don't know why I said that. He's a dick."
"I gathered," Beth whispered and laughed a little, suddenly overtaken by a violent cough.
Chantelle rushed to hand her water; "so, you do speak. From the way Austin and Val were sayin' it, it sounded like you were mute. I thought, you couldn't be deaf because you've been nodding and smiling like a dang puppet."
Beth laughed and took another sip; "I didn't really have anything worth saying until now. No one has bothered to make conversation."
"Your accent, where are you from?" Chantelle sat down on the wooden chair, her long dark hair cascading down her back in gentle curls. Her bright brown eyes sparkled with kindness as she looked towards Beth.
"Australia," Beth paused, realising she hadn't thought about home for a while, "I'm from Australia," she repeated.
Chantelle pulled out a deck of cards; "well, I figured you might be bored and needed a little human interaction that didn't make you feel like you were in a hospital."
Beth's eyes lit up, and Chantelle smiled; "what do you want to play?"
— — —
"What do you think you are doing?" Austin stormed into the motel room.
"We're leaving. Today," Luis' words cut through the air.
"The van's still in bad shape, and we won't survive this winter on foot." Austin's arms were folded tightly across his chest, the muscles in his biceps and forearms bulging with tension. His jaw was clenched, and his brows furrowed in frustration.
"Then fix the damn van!" Luis yelled, the sound piercing through the walls and resonating outside the motel room for others to hear the heated exchange.
"Oh, sorry, I'll just take it down the road to the mechanic, shall I?" Austin raised a quizzical eyebrow, smirking at his friend. The men paused their argument, exchanging laughter.
"Luis, what's going on with you?" Austin softened his tone, taking a seat on the other bed. "We've been friends since high school, grew up together, served in the army together. This isn't you."
"I don't know, man." Luis sat on the other bed, facing his friend, his face buried in his hands. He rubbed his face hard, threw his head back, and sighed heavily. "This just isn't—" he paused.
"Isn't what?"
"Isn't life." Luis gestured around the room.
"We'll get to the coast, find a boat, just like we planned." There was a slight taste of bitterness in the air, as if Austin's mild frustration was tangible.
"And then what?"
"Do the best we can," Austin stood up, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder, "we all have our dark moments, brother. You helped me get through mine, I'll help you get through yours."
Austin walked out of the motel room into the crisp morning air. The atmosphere was fresh, with a subtle scent of dew and grass. The sweet aroma of winter's imminent arrival filled the air, mingling with the faint scent of burning oil from their broken down van across the parking lot.
"Ben thinks he can fix the van by tomorrow. He found the parts we need on the other side of town." Val caught Austin as he had walked outside.
"He went scouting alone?" Austin looked across the lot at Ben, deep into the hood of the black church van they had found a while back.
Chantelle bounded up before she could answer; "Beth seems much better today. She's eatin' and drinkin' more. I think she could try walkin' today."
"Beth?" Val and Austin remarked in unison.
"Mmm, she speaks - she might have a lot more to say if either of you bothered to converse with her instead of just talkin' to her." She walked off towards Ben, a light air in her hopeful stride.
— — —
Austin found Beth sitting on the edge of her bed, her feet bare and dangling idly over the side. Her toes were curled, squeezing them tightly as she wiggled them back and forth. Her face was tense with concentration as she tried to alleviate the tingling sensation in her feet.
"Beth." His voice was soothing and calming, his words spoken with a gentle tone as he tried to ease Beth's discomfort.
"Chantelle?" She looked up at him, as he nodded, smiling gently. "She's a good kid." She smiled and looked back at her toes.
"Do you want to try walking today?" He walked towards the chair on the other side of the room and sat down as it creaked underneath the weight of him.
"The sooner I can walk, the sooner you can get out of here." She said with a sarcastic air, mocking Luis.
"The sooner we can get out of here." He repeated sarcastically with a smile, a light spread of jest washing over him as he joined her in mocking his friend.
"Your friend Luis seems to be very against bringing me along with you." She looked back at him.
"I'm not in the business of leaving people behind. Especially in Washington in the middle of October," he sat forward, leaning his elbows on his knees, "you wouldn't survive the winter."
"Then maybe you should have just left me to die." She turned her body to face him abruptly. He opened his mouth to speak, but she interjected before he could respond.
"Why did you help me? You don't know me, why did you even bother?"
"Like I said, Beth," he stood up, his wistful tone switching back to cold and dry, "I'm not in the business of leaving people behind." He walked over to her slowly.
"I've lost too many people. I've watched people kill others over a can of soup. I've seen friends leave friends behind to save themselves," he sat down on the end of her bed, "I don't leave people behind."
His brown eyes cut through his words like a thunderstorm. She looked at his face, tired and weathered from sleepless nights with one eye open to ensure his group's safety. She pegged him as their leader - strong and determined with clear military training.
"What happened to you?" She asked softly.
"What happened to you?" He countered; "I refuse to believe you survived a pandemic alone for six months in a foreign country."
She said nothing and looked back at her feet. They sat in silence for a while before he stood up and headed for the door.
"We're leaving the day after tomorrow. We need to head south before it's too cold, and we don't know how long the van or the car will last, so part of that might be on foot."
"I'll try walking today." Beth nodded obediently.
"I'll send Val and Chantelle in to help you." He replied, his voice maintaining the cold cadency.
"Thank you." She smiled, wriggling her toes as the numbness started to dissipate. Before he could leave, she looked up at him again.
"Austin?" He stopped at the door and turned to her. "I know you've all done a lot for me, including putting your friendship with Luis on the line, so thank you. But I have a favour to ask," her voice grew quiet, "before we leave."
"What is it?" He asked sternly at her audacity to ask for another favour.
She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. He noticed her green eyes glisten with the added layer of acridity and the change in her demeanour; "before we leave, I need you to help me bury my husband."