My ender 5 pro prints correctly and suddenly it keeps printing a few centimeters further to the left or right, occasionally there are noises as if the belt is slipping. The belts are correctly tensioned and I don't know what else to look at. It runs on Klipper. Any ideas?

I remember that day as though it were only yesterday. My species, the rulers of a vast and mighty interstellar empire, had discovered a primitive species tucked away in a remote corner of our galaxy. Naturally, we were excited to discover them, for a new species on the galactic stage could potentially bring with them many exciting new developments to keep us all entertained for a few millennia.
Our survey ships, vessels of unparalleled stealth and subtlety, flocked to the single star system with its four gas giants, a boon for any developing species, and set up shop in orbit of their homeworld. We were all so eager to see what works of wondrous art and civility they had created, and instead we watched as a planet spanning war erupted. Entire nations were consumed, millions died within the first few weeks and we were left horrified by what we saw.
Yet by our own rules we were powerless to intervene, if it was their destiny to eradicate themselves, then that is what would happen. We expected this war to end in nuclear annihilation, for we had detected vast nuclear arsenals the moment we entered orbit of that glittering blue jewel in the dark.
Yet no such cataclysm came, instead, one by one tensions cooled, warriors dropped their primitive slug throwers and went home, seeking the comfort and peace of familiar and safe surroundings. A new government was formed, a unifying body that kept the peace for the next five hundred years to the best of its ability. Yet even then conflict still raged in the far flung places of the world, and we were left to wonder…
What would happen when they leave their world?
The question terrified us to such a degree that when it became clear they were making concerted efforts to leave their world and venture out into the stars, we panicked. A species as violent towards itself as they are would surely take one look at the galaxy and its many peoples and attempt to see them struck down. Some amongst the ruling body were of the mind that such a primitive and savage species was little more than animals that deserved to be put down.
Unfortunately, they were the most influential faction of our esteemed government. So when the vote was passed for the extermination of the species, the most the rest of us could try was to make it as quick and painless a death as possible. To be kind. But yet again, the most powerful of us decided that wasn’t good enough. They said that such savagery be met in kind, and so a terrible weapon was developed.
Fear and an overinflated sense of superiority drove us towards our ultimate shame.
The Affliction was released upon their homeworld, and any intrasolar outposts that we found were subsequently wiped from existence with lightning fast attacks from weapons of mass destruction. The affliction targeted everything from birth rates to skin growth, causing patches of necrosis to form externally and internally, all while heightening nerve responses. Our leaders wanted them to suffer for their savagery. While the powerful patted themselves on the back for their valiant defense of the galaxy from a potential threat, the rest of us were left to worry, to ponder our failings and hope against hope that we could be forgiven for our ineffectual protests against this course of action.
Another five hundred years passed and the galaxy forgot all about the now extinct species, focusing instead on their own problems and several other primitive races we had discovered. But something had not forgotten us, something had lurked in the darkness and waited till the perfect moment to strike.
At first the only knowledge we had of this entity was the brief contacts our sensor nets had with some strange anomaly. We shrugged it off as little more than a mere glitch, yet over time some of us began to see a pattern as the contacts began to linger for longer periods of time before vanishing.
It was far too late to do anything, as we would soon discover, as our outer colonies came under sudden attack from an unknown enemy. An unstoppable force that seemed to sweep over our defenses with ease. Yet we received no reports of the world being razed, instead the enemy was content to occupy the world and move on, keeping the civilian populace calm and cooperative.
Of course that didn’t mean we wouldn’t fight them, just because they were being civil towards our civilians didn’t make them any less our enemy. And so we mobilized, preparing our defenses as best we could and attempting to deny the enemy strategic resources as well. But as we soon learned, our forces were outmatched even in space.
I remember when I first saw them, having been assigned to a defense post on the planet Dingalea. A tropical resort world, with vast oceans and many pristine beaches. It was a tactically unsound planet to invade, yet this foe was clearly interested in all our worlds, not just the strategically important ones. We figured it was meant to force us to commit the bulk of our forces to liberation efforts, spreading our armies and fleets thin in an attempt to reclaim every planet.
I had taken position in a bunker on a cliff overlooking one of the more popular beaches when we heard a booming sound from the sky. Our eyes turned heavensward, and I beheld what appeared to be spears of metal rain from above. They crashed down into the oceans many yektra (miles) away, yet so massive they were that we all could easily see the detailing upon their exteriors.
From where I was stationed I could only see four of them, but as I would learn later, four was all they would need for the coming battle upon our beach. Granted we had set up defensive positions further inland, but the enemy seemed content to land out at sea which led us to assume that they were mostly aquatic based. How wrong we were.
An aperture opened wide upon each of the spears and from them water based vehicles emerged, elongated and rectangular in form, bouncing over the waves as they fanned out and made for shore. We watched and waited, my gripping hands clutching all the more firmly at my plasma pulse rifle. Heavy emplacements warmed up with a whine of charging power packs, the large turrets turning to face our foe. New vehicles joined the first models, these ones clearly armored assault vehicles of a type that was unfamiliar to us, as so much about our enemy was at the time. They kept a staggered and wide formation with the other vehicles, even as air superiority fighter craft started to fill the sky. I felt something twist in my thorax, a pit of fear threatening to swallow me whole.
As I lowered my eye to the scope of my rifle, I watched as the ring around its edge shifted from red to purple, indicating my target was in firing range. The call to open fire rang out from the fortifications around me and all twelve of the hells was visited upon our foe. Plasma and beams of energy lanced out from our lines, boiling the waters and leaving burn marks upon the metal hulls that approached. Artillery began to pound, hoping to inflict more destructive results upon the invaders.
They succeeded in scoring direct hits on a few of the craft, sending burning wreckage to the bottom of the sea, but the rest simply continued on, unfazed by the death and destruction around them.
The craft reached the beach and ramps descended and what we saw made us shiver in instinctual fear. They were tall, bipedal and heavily armored. What flesh we could spot from this distance was unnaturally white, they had no hair and no features upon their heads either. Yet they sported different body shapes, perhaps indicative of sex? It didn’t mattered, they were the enemy and they needed to be destroyed. Our weapons seemed to do very little to their armor, but any hits to exposed flesh did massive amounts of damage, sending the beings falling or flying into the water and sand, pale blue blood pouring from their wounds.
Then they started to fire back, their rounds weren’t energy based, purely kinetic and yet with the speeds they were flying they were clearly being launched by some sort of rail system. The rounds would strike and bury deep before exploding, heat and shrapnel working their deadly trade. Yet the enemy seemed more intent on forcing us to take cover than actually killing us, as became clear as they took cover in craters and behind resort walls. Then the armored vehicles made it to shore and they became the focus of our efforts. Their booming cannons and spitting rotary guns threatened to destroy bunkers and crew weapons alike. Even the aircraft swooped down to strike at us, dropping bombs and firing their dogfighting weapons as well before climbing back into the sky.
For every ten of the infantry or vehicles we destroyed, another thirty was soon behind them. So focused on simply surviving were we that we almost didn’t notice the newest threat. This one walked out of the sea itself, hulking armored forms that were bipedal like the infantry but not showing a single kepti (centimeters) of flesh. These behemoths strode slowly, ponderously across the beach, waving hands at the entrenched beings who would stand and form up with their larger kin. Almost immediately the incoming fire became more intense and precise, causing us to take cover far too often.
The order to pull back to the next line was given and we did so, just as the first of the behemoths burst through a barricade, the angular helmet it wore turning back and forth quickly. It did moved unnervingly fast, but not fast enough to dodge a shot from an anti-vehicle weapon. It staggered backwards, the shot burning through metal and flesh along one side of the helmet. Yet it did not go down, instead a clawed hand rose and grasped what remained of the melting armor and tore it free, revealing a face that’ll haunt me till my dying day.
It was a face of pale flesh, black fur atop their head and around their mouth and jaw. That mouth was twisted into an angry snarl, the one remaining eye burning a cold blue. Yet it was what was on the other side of their face that haunts me. Flesh had burned down to bone, yet there was no bone to be seen, just gleaming chrome. It leered at me, silver teeth clicking as it worked that jaw and began to advance.
Hours later, the planet was theirs. I suppose they wanted to show us that even in a fair fight we were horribly outclassed. That was a few weeks ago now I believe, they’ve just taken the homeworld and are preparing some sort of galaxy wide broadcast. I wonder what they’ll have to say about all this, will they condemn us all to death for one reason or another?
The screen flickers, the normal view of our governmental building coming into focus as one of these horrible monsters steps up to a podium, our leaders cowering behind them.
“People of the Milky Way. We are humanity, a species that knew not what awaited them outside the bounds of their home system. We were hopeful that when we ventured out into the black that we could have found friendship, instead we were nearly murdered in our cradle. Your leaders sentenced us to death out of fear, sentenced millions of children, both born and unborn to agonizing deaths. Your fear led you down a path of atrocities you were all too eager to visit upon a people that couldn’t defend themselves.” The human spoke, their voice rich and booming, met with a deafening silence by audiences on every planet.
“You thought us eradicated, all traces of our existence mere dust on the wind. But you failed. For you see we are a stubborn species and we are also spiteful, spite encourages adaptation. And adapt we did, for five hundred years we suffered your manufactured plague, till it became little more than a reminder of who we were to hate. Yet while many amongst us do hate you and with good reason, we are not here today to visit the same horrors upon your peoples. Instead, you will suffer the authority of another. Our authority. For the next five hundred years you will work to make amends for all you have done and when that time is up, we shall leave you be. For we are not the monsters you thought we were, nor are we the monsters you inadvertently tried to make us. We are humanity, and we will show your people a new and better way.”
The feed shut off and I could only sit back and sigh, resting my head upon the pillow of my hospital bed, as more of these humans surrounded me and began to treat my wounds. I was left to wonder about the future. I wondered at what humanity could show us over the next five hundred years.
And so I closed my eyes, and dreamt of the future.

In today's digital age, graphic design surrounds you, from the billboards that dot the highways to the sleek interface of your favourite app. It's an art form that combines creativity with strategy, aiming to communicate ideas and messages through visual content. Whether it's a vibrant logo that captures the essence of a brand or an infographic that breaks down complex information, graphic design is at the heart of visual communication.
As a career, graphic design offers a canvas for innovation and expression, blending art and technology to create compelling designs that inform, engage, and persuade. In South Africa, where the creative industries continue to bloom, graphic design plays a pivotal role in the business landscape, driving the creation of digital and print media that resonate with consumers. If you're intrigued by the power of visual storytelling and considering a career in this dynamic field, understanding the fundamentals of graphic design is your first step towards unlocking your creative potential.

Key Takeaways

• Understanding Graphic Design: Graphic design is a vital form of communication that merges art with technology to effectively convey messages and ideas. In South Africa, it is not only a burgeoning career path but also key in visual storytelling, crucial for brands and information dissemination.
• Core Elements of Graphic Design: Successful graphic design relies on fundamental elements like typography, colour theory, and layout/composition. Mastery of these components is essential for creating visually engaging designs that communicate effectively.
• Specialisation Areas: Graphic design in South Africa encompasses various specialisation areas including branding, packaging design, and digital design. Each area offers unique opportunities for creativity and innovation.
• Graphic Design Tools and Software: A mix of traditional tools (e.g., pencils, markers) and modern software (such as Adobe Creative Suite and Sketch) is necessary for contemporary graphic design. Familiarity with these tools is crucial for both creativity and efficiency.
• Pursuing a Career in Graphic Design: With the right education and skills, numerous career opportunities open up in advertising, digital design, publishing, and freelancing. South Africa offers a range of courses and programs, like those at Oakfields College, tailored to equip aspiring designers for the industry.
• The Importance of Continuous Learning: Staying updated with the latest design trends and technologies is vital for a successful career in graphic design, highlighting the importance of ongoing education through short courses and professional development.

Understanding Graphic Design

Graphic design stands as a pivotal form of communication, blending art and technology to convey messages and ideas effectively. In South Africa, where the creative industries are burgeoning, graphic design emerges as a compelling career pathway, offering endless opportunities for innovation and expression. This section delves into the essence of graphic design, its fundamental components, and why mastering these concepts is crucial for aspiring designers.
Graphic design is more than just aesthetics; it's about solving problems and communicating ideas visually. It combines various elements such as typography, images, colours, and layouts to create engaging designs that capture attention, inform, and sometimes persuade the audience. Whether it's a branding campaign, a website design, or product packaging, every piece of design communicates a story to its viewers.

Core Elements of Graphic Design

Firstly, understanding the basic elements of graphic design is essential. These elements include:

• Typography: The art of arranging type, which is a crucial aspect of design. It's not just about choosing fonts; it's about creating readable and appealing text that enhances the message.
• Colour Theory: Colour plays a vital role in graphic design. It can influence mood, convey messages, and even affect purchasing decisions. Understanding colour theory helps in choosing the right palette for your projects.
• Layout and Composition: How elements are arranged on a page determines how effectively the design communicates. Good layout and composition bring balance, guide the viewer’s eye, and ensure the design is aesthetically pleasing.

Specialisation Areas in Graphic Design

The field of graphic design in South Africa is diverse, with several areas of specialisation, including:

• Branding and Visual Identity: Creating a visual identity for brands that communicates their values and distinguishes them from competitors.
• Packaging Design: This involves designing attractive and functional packaging that stands out on the shelf while protecting the product.
• Digital Design: This encompasses website design, mobile app design, and social media graphics, among others.

For those looking to pursue a career in graphic design, South Africa offers a variety of courses and training programs. From comprehensive graphic design courses to short courses in South Africa, aspiring designers have access to some of the best graphic design courses available. These programs cover the fundamentals of design as well as the latest trends and technologies, preparing students for successful careers in this dynamic field.

History of Graphic Design

Tracing the origins of graphic design takes you back to the dawn of human expression, but its professional identity and terminology began shaping during the 20th century. The term 'graphic design' itself was coined by William Addison Dwiggins in 1922, marking the official separation of design as a distinct profession which encompasses typography, visual arts, and page layout for the purposes of marketing, advertising, and informing.
In South Africa, graphic design has weaved its unique thread through the country's rich tapestry of cultural diversity. Emerging from a background of traditional art forms and evolving through the apartheid and post-apartheid eras, today's South African graphic design scene is a vibrant mix of traditional African elements and modern digital artistry. This blend offers a distinct flavour to South African design, making it recognisable on the global stage.
The evolution of graphic design in South Africa closely aligns with technological advancements and educational progress in the field. Institutions like Oakfields College play a pivotal role in shaping the new generation of graphic designers through comprehensive graphic design courses and short courses in South Africa. These programs not only equip students with the necessary skills in traditional and digital design but also incorporate critical thinking and strategy, preparing them for a successful career in the industry.
Moreover, South Africa has embraced the digital revolution in graphic design, with many designers and agencies placing a strong emphasis on digital mediums. This transition has not only expanded the scope of graphic design in the country but also opened up a plethora of opportunities for designers to innovate and create with global reach.
Whether you're considering a career in this dynamic field or simply have an appreciation for the art form, understanding the history of graphic design, especially within the South African context, enriches your perspective of its impact and potential. For those looking to dive deeper into this industry, seeking out the best graphic design courses in South Africa is a solid first step towards mastering the craft and contributing to its ongoing story.

Key Principles of Graphic Design

Understanding the key principles of graphic design is essential for creating visually compelling and effective designs. These principles serve as the foundational guidelines that ensure your work communicates the intended message to your audience, especially within the South African context where cultural diversity and historical background profoundly influence visual communication.

Layout and Structure

The layout and structure form the backbone of graphic design. Utilising layout software, designers position text, images and incorporate features such as columns and advertisements to achieve a balanced and visually attractive product. For instance, in crafting layouts for newspapers, magazines, or books, the arrangement dictates how readers process information, making it crucial to guide the audience through the design in a logical sequence. South African designers must be adept at using tools like InDesign to create layouts that not only look good but also respect the cultural nuances and readability preferences of the local audience.

Typeface Design

Creating or selecting the right typeface is key to conveying your design's intended tone and personality. Each font carries its own weight and style, impacting how text is perceived. Original fonts designed for specific digital applications, including websites and adverts, must be readable, scalable, and aesthetically pleasing. South Africa's rich cultural tapestry offers an opportunity for typeface designers to explore unique font styles that reflect local heritage and language diversity, enhancing the global richness of typeface design.

Colour Theory

A fundamental component of graphic design, colour theory explains how colours interact with each other and the effects they have on the viewer. The right colour palette can evoke emotions, communicate messages, and influence actions. In South Africa, with its vibrant landscapes and diverse cultures, colour holds significant importance. Utilising colour effectively requires understanding local cultural differences and preferences, ensuring designs resonate with the intended audience while achieving the desired impact.

Web Page Design

The digital realm offers vast opportunities for graphic designers to express creativity and innovation. Designing the structure and appearance of websites demands a combination of layout skills, colour theory application, and typeface selection. Graphic designers often create PSD or AI files that are then converted into functional websites. In a South African context, where digital access and consumption patterns vary widely across different demographics, designers have to be strategic in their design decisions, ensuring accessibility and responsiveness across devices.

The Role of Graphic Design in Various Industries

Graphic design, with its profound ability to communicate visually, plays a pivotal role across various industries. Its significance in the South African context, driven by cultural diversity and a unique historical backdrop, cannot be overstated. As you explore the vast landscape of graphic design, you'll discover its application in marketing and advertising, digital design, publishing, and entertainment and media. Let's delve into how graphic design shapes these industries and the opportunities it presents for aspiring designers, especially those considering enrolling in graphic design courses or short courses in South Africa.

Marketing and Advertising

In the competitive market of South Africa, graphic design serves as the backbone of successful marketing and advertising campaigns. Designers craft compelling visuals that not only grab the attention of the target audience but also convey the brand's message effectively. From creating eye-catching advertisements to designing sophisticated marketing materials, graphic designers ensure that a brand stands out in a crowded marketplace. Engaging visuals in billboards, flyers, brochures, and digital ads are all testaments to the creativity and strategic thinking of graphic designers. With the best graphic design courses in South Africa, you can unlock your potential and help brands tell their stories compellingly.

Digital Design

The digital landscape is ever-evolving, and graphic design is at the heart of this transformation. In South Africa, where the digital economy continues to grow, the demand for skilled graphic designers who can navigate web page design, UX/UI, and social media content creation is on the rise. Digital design focuses on crafting user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing online experiences. Whether it's through website design, mobile app interfaces, or engaging social media posts, graphic designers play a critical role in shaping how brands interact with their audiences online. By pursuing short courses in graphic design with a focus on digital applications, you're setting yourself up for a rewarding career in this dynamic field.

Publishing

The publishing industry in South Africa, which includes books, magazines, newspapers, and catalogs, relies heavily on graphic design to attract and retain readership. Publication designers work closely with authors and publishers to create layouts, choose typefaces, and select images that enhance the readability and appeal of printed materials. The goal is to create visually attractive publications that communicate content effectively, whether it's for educational, informational, or entertainment purposes. graphic design course that specialise in publication design can provide you with the skills needed to excel in this sector.

Entertainment and Media

Graphic design's influence extends into the entertainment and media industry, creating unforgettable visuals for films, television shows, video games, and music productions. Designers collaborate with directors and producers to craft branding, promotional materials, and visual effects that define the aesthetic of a production. In South Africa, where the entertainment industry is vibrant and diverse, graphic designers contribute to the cultural fabric by creating artwork that resonates with both local and international audiences. Short courses in South Africa focusing on graphic design for entertainment and media can launch your career in this exhilarating field.
The role of graphic design in various industries is immense, offering vast opportunities for creative expression and professional growth. Whether you're interested in marketing and advertising, digital design, publishing, or entertainment and media, graphic design courses in South Africa can equip you with the necessary skills to thrive in these exciting fields. Explore the best graphic design courses and embrace the journey toward becoming a prominent designer in the industry.

Graphic Design Tools and Software

Embarking on a journey in graphic design, you'll discover that it's not just about creativity but also about the tools and software that bring your ideas to life. Whether you're interested in pursuing one of the best graphic design courses or just starting to dip your toes into this vibrant field, knowing the right tools is essential. In South Africa, where the design landscape is as diverse as its culture, having a toolkit equipped with both traditional and modern instruments is key to making your mark.

Traditional Tools

Before the digital age took over, graphic designers relied heavily on traditional tools to conceptualise and create their artwork. These tools weren't just instruments; they were extensions of the designers' hands and minds, allowing them to manifest their visions into tangible forms.

• Pencils and sketchpads are indispensable, even today, for quickly jotting down ideas or sketching preliminary designs. These basics enable you to freely express your initial concepts without the constraints of software interfaces.
• Rulers and stencils aid in creating clean, precise lines and shapes, ensuring that your work maintains professional standards of accuracy.
• Markers and paint allow for the exploration of colour and texture, adding a unique touch to logos or illustrations that digital means might not fully replicate.

Mastering these traditional tools can give you a strong foundation in the principles of graphic design, a necessity highlighted in short courses across South Africa.

Modern Software

As technology advanced, the realm of graphic design expanded, introducing a suite of modern software that has become indispensable to today's designer. This software not only enhances efficiency but also opens up infinite possibilities for creativity and collaboration.

• Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, is the cornerstone of professional graphic design. These applications offer powerful tools for image manipulation, vector artwork creation, and layout design, making them a staple in graphic design courses.
• CorelDraw Graphics Suite provides robust vector editing capabilities alongside layout and photo-editing tools, tailored for versatility in various design tasks.
• Sketch has become a go-to for web and mobile interface design, with its intuitive vector tools and simplified interface, making it a popular choice for those specialising in digital design.

Each piece of software brings its strengths to the table, and in a competitive field like graphic design, knowing your way around them can set you apart. Best graphic design courses, particularly those offered in South Africa at esteemed institutions like Oakfields College, cover an extensive range of these modern tools, preparing students to meet industry demands.
Engaging with both traditional tools and modern software equips you with a versatile skill set, crucial for navigating the diverse graphic design landscape in South Africa. Whether you're aiming to excel in branding, digital design, or any other specialization within the field, harnessing these tools will be key to your success.

Pursuing a Career in Graphic Design

Graphic design, a field that artfully combines text, images, and concepts to communicate ideas, offers a myriad of career possibilities. In South Africa, where the digital and creative industries are rapidly expanding, pursuing a career in graphic design can be both fulfilling and lucrative. Let’s delve into how you can embark on this exciting journey.

Educational Pathways

Your venture into the world of graphic design begins with the right education. South African institutions, including Oakfields College, offer comprehensive programmes that cater not just to the theoretical aspects of graphic design but also to the practical, hands-on experiences necessary for success in the industry.

1. Graphic Design Courses: You'll find a range of options, from diplomas to bachelor’s degrees. These courses cover fundamental principles such as typography, layout design, and colour theory, along with modern digital design tools. Oakfields College is renowned for its focused curriculum that prepares you for the real-world challenges of a graphic designer.
2. Short Courses in South Africa: If you're looking for a more flexible learning path or wish to specialise in a particular area like web design or digital marketing, short courses can be invaluable. These programmes are perfect for staying abreast of the latest trends and technologies in the graphic design realm.
3. Best Graphic Design Courses: When selecting a course, consider institutions that offer a balanced mix of theory and practical application. Courses that include internships or work placement opportunities, like those at Oakfields College, are particularly beneficial as they provide real industry experience and a chance to build a professional network.

Career Opportunities

After equipping yourself with the necessary knowledge and skills, a diverse range of career opportunities awaits. Here's a glimpse of what you can expect:

1. Advertising and Branding: Companies constantly seek talented graphic designers to create compelling advertising campaigns and develop strong brand identities.
2. Digital Design: With the digital age in full swing, careers in web design, user interface (UI) design, and user experience (UX) design are in high demand. Designers with skills in creating visually appealing and user-friendly digital spaces are highly sought after.
3. Publishing and Print Media: Despite the rise of digital media, there's still a significant need for designers in the publishing industry. From magazines to books and newspapers, graphic designers play a crucial role in layout and visual storytelling.
4. Freelancing: For those who prefer a more flexible work environment, freelancing offers the freedom to choose projects that align with your interests and expertise. Platforms such as Behance and LinkedIn can help you showcase your portfolio and connect with potential clients.

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Graphic design is more than just an artistic endeavour; it's a pivotal element of South Africa's creative landscape. With its rich history and evolving nature, the field offers a vibrant pathway for those looking to make their mark. Through institutions like Oakfields College, aspiring designers have access to comprehensive training that covers everything from fundamentals to advanced specialisations. Whether you're drawn to branding, digital design, or another niche, the opportunities in this dynamic industry are vast. Embarking on a graphic design career not only allows you to explore your creative passions but also to contribute significantly to the digital and creative sectors. Remember, your journey in graphic design is not just about mastering tools or techniques; it's about shaping visual narratives that resonate. So, if you're ready to dive into this exciting field, the time to start is now.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the significance of graphic design in South Africa?

Graphic design in South Africa plays a pivotal role in the communication industry, blending visual communication with digital technology to produce effective branding and marketing strategies. Its significance lies in its ability to convey complex information and ideas through creative and visual means.

What are the core elements of graphic design?

The core elements of graphic design include layout, typeface design, and colour theory. These elements are crucial in creating visually appealing and effective designs that communicate the desired message to the audience.

What specialisation areas exist within graphic design?

In South Africa, graphic design specialisation areas include branding, digital design, advertising, publishing, and freelancing. Each area focuses on different aspects of visual communication and offers unique career opportunities.

How has the history of graphic design evolved in South Africa?

The history of graphic design in South Africa has evolved from traditional print media to incorporating digital mediums. It reflects the country's rich culture and history, with institutions like Oakfields College playing a significant role in training the next generation of designers.

What role do institutions like Oakfields College play in graphic design education?

Institutions like Oakfields College in South Africa play a crucial role in graphic design education by offering comprehensive courses and short programmes that equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge in graphic design principles, tools, and software.

What are the essential tools and software for graphic designers?

The essential tools and software for graphic designers include Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) for creating and editing visuals. Knowledge of these tools is critical for producing high-quality design work.

How can one pursue a career in graphic design in South Africa?

Pursuing a career in graphic design in South Africa involves obtaining the necessary education through courses and programmes offered by reputable institutions like Oakfields College. Building a strong portfolio and gaining experience through internships or freelance projects are also important steps.

What career opportunities exist in graphic design?

Career opportunities in graphic design in South Africa are abundant and include fields such as advertising, digital design, publishing, and freelancing within the expanding digital and creative industries, offering a dynamic and rewarding career path for aspiring designers.

On smoke breaks I talk with a friend about my dreams of escaping the casino and talk about my rust adventures. He asked me to tell him where to start programming and what project to do. I am going to video call with him to go to get to hello world but wrote this guide so he could follow and repeat.

Terminal:

Most code in the world does not have a graphical user interface (gui). Such artwork is expensive to make and costly to run. Instead we work with the bare minimum in the terminal.
The terminal is a text interface where you can have powerful control of your computer. There are things that dont have any buttons, but everything has logic in terminal.
I am on Mac and use Zsh as my native terminal, I think you have Command Prompt but it will depend on you version of windows. I highly recommend you study your shell sooner than later. It can make life way easier.
I know some windows but can not give you too much advice. No matter what coding language you want to use you are likely going to want to use bash to automate stuff. I used bash to automate the login of my 6 Old School RuneScape accounts. Took me several minutes every play session, turned into one click with some light coding.

Interactive Development Environment:

Choose an IDE and look at all the options. check all the settings. I use VSCode. Look for extensions, configure them all. They can be incredibly powerful for your understanding of what your code is doing and what the borrow checker wants from you.
Don't stick with VSCode, different IDEs provide vastly different experiences per language. Always shop around.

Cargo:

Cargo is rusts package manager. It can get code from the internet, compile and ship your code, do versioning and most of the tedious stuff of coding.
Learn cargo well this is how you take your code and do things with it.
Do beware that cargo allows you to download arbitrary code from the internet. Don't go downloading sketchy shit and getting pwnd. But for big projects absolutely go ahead this community is awesome.
There is no need to enable git versioning with cargo, but it would be cool should you lose your computer your code would still be in the cloud and retrievable.

Rust's Borrow Checker:

The borrow checker is apart of the rust compiler, the thing that turns your text into computer code. It is going to be the bane of your existence should you stay with rust.
The borrow checker prints to terminal a highly detailed and specific commentary on your code explaining what it will not accept as valid rust code.
Read everything it says, often the borrow checker will explicitly tell you what to do to solve the problem. This will be most of your workflow, making the borrow checker happy. Once the rules of the borrow checker are followed, your program will run flawlessly. It may not make sense logically, But in a memory sense, the point of rust, safe.
If you use the borrow checker in the IDE you may get some hyperlinks that let you jump through your code to debug way faster than scrolling.
Do be warned though that there are bugs in rust, but none that beginners like us have to worry about.

Shop around for languages:

Rust is making me learn computer science and bring me really close to flipping bits and I think that is really cool.
Python is quick and easy to use. You can get competent in a month.
Python is 100x slower than rust but waaaaay more fun to use.
Rust is faster, but takes 10x longer to write at this point. But when I have completed something it is safe, fast, and as exact as I could want something.
If I wanted a job right away I would learn JavaScript, JS runs 90% of the internet and the majority of the jobs. But it's 29 years old, slow and unsafe. Its ecosystem is huge. Memes are bad. No dommy borrow checker.
C++ is the parent language to Rust. Haskell is also a big influencing factor. I would learn some about these languages and why rust 'fixes' them.

Bacon:

One tool I find so helpful in rust is called Bacon. It will automaticly rerun your program whenever you change the code. So instead of having to manually ask the computer to run it can always be running on the side, along with great displays of the borrow checker and clippy text recommendations.
Must have use it every time I VSCode open.

Clippy:

\\ this is a linter whose implications I have yet to understand see comments below!
Clippy is the formatter cargo uses to proofread and restyle your code. Very convenient when you get all sweaty and shit out some code from your stream of conscious then you can type one command and make it look intentional again.

Configure VSCode to support rust by downloading these extensions:

• Code Runner, for cargo support.
• CodeLLDB, for rust debugging support.
• crates, for better searching of third party crates from crates.io.
• Error Lens, highlights errors inline - very useful.
• Even Better TOML, syntax support for TOML manifest.
• Prettier, auto formats your code so its consistent with common style guides.
• Rust-analyzer, MANDATORY - this provides rust syntax support for VSCode.
• Rust Syntax, this enhances rust-analyzer.

Setup Hotkeys:

Setup a hotkey in vscode to run rust in its cargo run format with code runner.
This is rather complicated and cost me way to much time, but go to extentsions, Code-Runner. Click Code-Runner: Executor Map Edit Settings.json.
look for the rust entry in the field

{ "code-runner.executorMap": { ~ "rust": sadness_and_lies, ~ }, "code-runner.clearPreviousOutput": true, "editor.rulers": [120], } Should be: "rust": "cargo run # $fileName", 

Then go to hotkeys in the VSCode settings and search code-runner.
Edit the entry:
Run Code
code-runner.run
To your specifed hotkey. This will make VSCode use cargo to run your code. This hotkey should also run other languages should you do so.
Bacon must be added to your path. This may be difficult on windows I dont know but I challenge you to EITHER:
Make a profile in your terminal that has Bacon in the path (I failed to do this but got Zsh to run a Bash script that brings bacon to path on startup),
or make a macro/hotkey in vscode to bring them to path (this is what I did in VSCode only becasue I dont understand Zsh profiles enough... hours wasted)
oh by the way Bacon can be installed with 'cargo install bacon' and is found in root/.cargo/bin
My solution to VSCode was to add

[ { "key": "cmd+b", "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence", "args": { "text": "bacon\u000D" } }, { "key": "alt+b", "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence", "args": { "text": "export PATH=$PATH:/Users/work/.cargo/bin\u000D" } }, ] 

to the keybindings.json
this lets me opt+b to bring cargo tools to Zsh path,
then cmd+b to start bacon.
Note that this will bring any cargo shell tools to path. One nice one I like is Exa, a file viewer like Dir but better
I know this was a wall of text but once you can do this 👍

Well that's it. Thanks for reading. Thanks for sharing everything I know is from the internet.

Chapter 117
Four green-scaled Skeeths pulled our carriage through the market. We weren’t cramped in the back of a shabby cart but comfortably accommodated in the padded seats of a luxurious carriage with bronze guardrails and an upholstered interior. In our blue uniforms, we looked like nobility.
The start of the tournament had taken the city by surprise, and hundreds of people slowly walked to the Great Hall. Prince Adrien went all in with the event. Hundreds of flags hung over the market streets, and town criers announced the dozens of teams that would participate. I wondered where the tournament would take place. Farcrest didn’t have an arena, and the grounds of the Great Hall weren’t big enough to house such an event, even with all the wooden stands magical woodworkers could raise.
The people on the street quickly moved to the side as the coach approached. Despite the muzzles and straps, Skeeths were naturally aggressive, and their long claws could rip open the sturdiest monsters. The royal army used them in areas where horses would be easy prey.
The Skeeths hissed at each other but continued moving in a straight line. Elincia laughed as she watched the beasts and squeezed my arm. The passersby looked at us, trying to guess what noble house we represented in the tournament. I wondered how many knew we were from the poor orphanage in the Northern district. They looked at us with reverence. Little did they know we were nothing but a wild gamble by the crown prince.
“Four Skeeths, no less,” Elincia giggled under her veil. “People will think we are part of the royal family.”
Firana waved at the crowd. I made [Awareness] take a ‘screenshot’ of her smile; there were no traces of the old, distrustful Firana I had met when I started working at the orphanage. Firana encouraged the crowd. Getting the Wind Fencer class had boosted her self-esteem to perilous heights, but I decided to save the humbling lectures for later.
In the opposite seat, the story was completely different. Zaon leaned forward, shielding his head between his legs, his skin almost as green as Wolf's. I left my spot and sat next to him.
“Remember what Captain Kiln said?” I asked, putting my arm around Zaon’s shoulders. He raised his head.
“Eh… that she will go to the orphanage for a celebratory drink?” Zaon asked.
Izabeka had said that, but that wasn’t what I wanted Zaon to remember.
“Captain Kiln said that a Lv.2 in Longsword Mastery is way above average for a classless person,” I said. “Most of the opponents you will face didn’t touch a sword until after they got their classes. Even if they have Classes and levels above you, the time they have been training is the same as ours. They train for power; we train for skill.”
Zaon nodded.
“I know,” he muttered.
“Nervous is good, Zaon. Accept the feeling; don’t fight it,” I said reassuringly.
Zaon took a deep breath. “Nervous is good. Nervous is good. Nervous is good,” he repeated like a mantra.
“You have fought real foes before, Zaon. Your opponents today are kids just like you.” I said. “Just remember the secret technique, and you’ll be good.”
Firana seemed to hear our hushed conversation because she promptly pounced over my shoulder.
“What secret technique?” She asked.
“It’s a boy thing. You wouldn’t get it,” Zaon replied with a mocking half-smile.
Firana climbed over me and dove on Zaon, trying to immobilize him. The elven boy fought back, his skin turning a healthier hue as he struggled against Firana. I returned to Elincia’s side, giving them space to brawl in peace.
“Shouldn’t you stop them?” Ilya asked, her feet hanging a couple centimeters over the carriage’s floor.
“They are warming up for the tournament,” I replied. “In the meantime, you can brawl with Wolf.”
Ilya raised an eyebrow.
“I’d rather not,” she replied with a sulking expression. “I don’t understand why Wolf hasn’t gotten his class yet. We are handicapping ourselves without a good reason.”
Wolf opened an eye, interrupting his meditation.
“I can win without a Class. In fact, I could probably squash a Lv.2 gnome with an arm tied behind my back,” he replied.
“Want to try, Big Snot?” Ilya replied, channeling mana to her hands.
I laughed. It was good to see everyone in such a good mood. After months of hard work, we had the opportunity to show everyone the real capabilities of a bunch of orphans. Mister Lowell might not have been happy with the circumstances; he was a pacifist, after all, but his dream of seeing the line between nobility and commoners erased was a step closer.
I stretched my back and looked at the crowd.
“Come on, kids! We are representing Farcrest in this tournament. Act accordingly,” I said as we crossed the main gate.
The inner gates were crowded, and the guardsmen had to open a path for the carriage to enter. It seemed the tournament was going to be in the Great Hall. A double line of soldiers guarded the Great Hall entrance, funneling the spectators around the main building and into the gardens. I expected the most influential citizens of Farcrest to be there, but I underestimated the number of people invited.
The carriage reached the stairs and stopped. The Skeeth hissed at the soldiers in full armor. The coachman fastened the reins and opened the small door for us. Then, with all the deference in the world, he helped us climb down. Firana enjoyed the regal treatment.
Once we descended from the carriage, I offered Elincia my arm, and we climbed the stairs. The spectators looked at us from the sidelines, probably assuming we were guests from far away. Ilya got some quizzical looks. Gnomes were already rare in this part of the kingdom, and she seemed out of place between Firana and Wolf. The soldiers let us through, and we entered the Great Hall. Just beyond the doorway, Captain Kiln was waiting for us.
“Any suspicious activity around the orphanage?” She whispered as soon as we met.
I shook my head. Since the attack, things had been calm.
Captain Kiln turned around, and we walked into the Great Hall. The vestibule seemed empty without the dozens of courtiers whispering in the corners. I guessed they might already be in the tournament.
“Any leads regarding our troubles at the feast?” I asked. The poisoning attempt against Captain Kiln had flown under the radar, and no further clues had been found.
“Vedras agreed to help us test the poison used on Raudhan, but the shards of the glass disappeared. They were locked inside a secure room,” Captain Kiln replied, leaning towards me and whispering. “Whoever is trying to mess with us is either a ghost or a high-level assassin with the skill of traversing closed doors.”
A ghost with ties to organized crime.
“What are you talking about?” Firana interrupted our conversation.
“We are talking about the tournament brackets,” Captain Kiln said, patting my back. It seems someone wants your head really bad, boy. Rumor has it that the Osgiarian dogs are on the hunt for a certain Scholar.”
“Aren’t the matches randomly chosen?” Elincia asked.
Captain Kiln gave us one of her usual disappointed glances.
“Do you really think the noble houses would leave the matches to luck?” She said, “Osgirians got the memo. They know you are part of the royal faction and think you are the weakest link.”
“Are we facing the Osgirian team in the first round?” I asked.
“No, one of his lackeys,” Captain Kiln replied, guiding us through a long corridor I had never been before.
I let out a massive sigh of relief. As much as I trusted my process and the kids' skills, fighting in front of an audience was completely different from sparring in the backyard of the manor with the younger orphans running around. A small foe was perfect to test the waters. It was also an excellent opportunity to show Prince Adrien we were a valuable asset to his cause.
“Are you even allowed to tell me this?” I asked.
Captain Kiln sighed. “No. Anyway, you are fighting against Lord Nara, a wealthy merchant who bought his way into nobility. A noble of the robe, not the sword, if you may. That’s all I know; I have been too busy to do a background check of his team.”
Elincia put her hand on Captain Kiln’s shoulder. “If you are tired, you can always crash at the orphanage for the weekend. Despite the rabble currently crashing at the orphanage, there are plenty of free rooms.”
“Thanks, Elincia, but I need to stay by Tauron’s side,” Captain Kiln replied as she opened a lateral door. “We are here.”
The door led us to the inner gardens. Hundreds of spectators waited on the sidelines, sitting in stone benches around fountains or walking among the flowerbeds and low vegetal mazes. Other than the small gravel path between the Great Hall and the gardens, there wasn’t a place to properly call the arena.
“A thousand more are heading to the Great Hall right now,” I mentioned.
Captain Kiln shrugged it off and guided us into a red and black pavilion attached to the Great Hall’s exterior wall. More than twenty teams were already inside, waiting for the start of the tournament. I examined the room. Near the entrance, Lord Gairon and a group of six tall young boys and girls dressed in blue and gold watched the crowd. By his side, House Herran’s team played a board game with dice and tokens. They wore green uniforms with a gray hammer printed on their chests. In the corner of the room, Lord Osgiria instructed his team with a severe expression. They wore black uniforms with a white tower embroidered on the shoulder.
I recognized the House Vedras team, dressed in green and violet, and the House Jorn team, dressed in silver with the crest of the red falcon catching a fish. For an instant, I thought the Jorn team was composed solely of elves, but a quick glance at their ears told me they were just tall, pale, and blonde, almost Nordic-looking. I recognized Duke Jorn standing silently in the corner, accompanied by Lyra Jorn.
A wave of murmurs rose as we entered the pavilion. I could feel their eyes following us, trying to place us among the sea of nobility. The feast guests already knew who we were, but the ones who arrived afterward could only guess. The great ducal houses ignored us. However, Lord Osgiria gave us a hostile glance before focusing on his team.
We walked to the corner of the tent, where a small pennant with a white rose over a blue field signaled our place. I looked around. There were still several empty spaces inside the pavilion.
“See? They are kids like you,” I said, patting Zaon’s back.
“The members of the House Herran team look strong, though,” Firana pointed out.
Captain Kiln joked, “They are thrown into a mine as soon as they can walk.”
“People who live between a mountain range and the Farlands are bound to be strong,” Lyra Jorn said out of nowhere. Good afternoon, Master Clarke. I received your message. I’m sorry for my late arrival, but I had matters to attend to.”
The girl caught me by surprise; she was just as stealthy as her father. I remember being unable to detect him approaching even with [Awareness] working at full steam. I wondered if that was a trait of the Jorn family.
“Good afternoon, Lyra. Don’t worry about it; we are always ready to receive you,” I replied.
Lyra let out a sigh of relief.
“What a relief! I am so excited to study under your guidance. I have even dreamt about you… I mean about the things you have to teach and the machines from your land,” Lyra quickly corrected herself as she felt Elincia’s green eyes.
“That’s good to hear, but…” I said. “What kept you so busy?”
Or rather, what prevented you from being at the orphanage during the assassin’s attack?
“Oh, it’s nothing, really,” Lady Jorn said. “Preceptor Holst asked my help to reorganize the Farcrest library.”
I froze for a moment. There were two possibilities: Holst delayed Lyra’s departure to create a free window of time for the assassins to attack, or he did it because he knew of the attack and wanted to keep Lyra safe. The second option wasn’t very compelling, but Holst had implied his attack on the orphanage was a one-time thing due to a favor he owed.
“You are welcome as soon as you are available,” I said, my jaw suddenly stiff.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you, I will do my best. I promise. I have even convinced my father this is a good idea. The Jorn Duchy is far from commercial centers. We would benefit greatly from any development in transport technologies,” Lyra Jorn said, but I wasn’t listening anymore.
Holst might be the only link between us and the culprit behind the attacks.
“Is there any way of going around a Silence Hex?” I asked.
“Is this a test?” Lady Jorn said, embarrassed. “Oh! House Jorn is more than willing to pay for your inventions. We wouldn’t dream of enriching ourselves at the expense of other people’s work.”
“We are not going to put a Silence Hex on you, Lyra,” Elincia sighed. “Rob is probably thinking about something else. He does this all the time. It might feel like he’s talking to you, but he is actually thinking about two or three different things.”
Lyra let out an awkward laugh, “I understand. People say that about me sometimes.”
“What’s this about a Silence Hex, then? That’s not an amateur spell,” Captain Kiln asked.
“You should check Holst’s tongue,” I said.
Captain Kiln grinned. “I know Darius can be harsh. At times, I want to cast a Silence Hex on him…”
Then, the realization hit her, but before she could reply, the sound of a horn filled the pavilion.
Outside, a small army of men and women dressed in green and beige robes and headbands with antlers fixed to the sides entered the garden. They lined up in the gravel path and raised their hands over their heads. For a moment, I thought they would perform a musical number. Instead, a sudden mana discharge made the ground tremble. An area spell? Out of nowhere, the trees and bushes uprooted themselves and walked through the crowd to the outskirts, leaving a vast empty area in the middle of the Great Hall grounds.
The performance didn’t stop there. A second group dressed in terracotta-colored robes appeared from around the corner. With a movement of their arms, stands made of sandstone emerged from the ground and raised several meters over the ground. A myriad of different enchanted banners and flags flew from the Great Hall’s windows, perching in the newly created masts. I couldn’t help but laugh, amazed by the scene. Where there was a well-kept garden, now was a dueling arena with stands for thousands of spectators. There was even a roofed area for the VIPs.
The spectators started to flood the stands. Prince Adrien waved at the crowd from the royal booth, accompanied by an attractive woman in a luxurious purple dress. The whole city was there: members from the Alchemists Guild, the Sentinels, high-ranking officers of the Guard, nobles from all around the kingdom, and wealthy merchants. On the plain stands, several thousand commoners were gathering together.
A small man dressed in a ceremonial robe stood in the middle of the arena. For a moment, I thought his voice would get drowned by the crowd, but, to my surprise, it came out amplified with a spell. After a quick introduction to the event, he presented the teams.
The Marquis was the first to enter the arena, followed by Istvan Kiln and the rest of his team. Shortly after, Captain Kiln, with a team of young Guard cadets, joined him. The audience went wild, cheering for the city teams.
“Are you ready, team?” I asked, turning around.
Zaon smiled, Ilya gave me the thumbs up, Wolf nodded, and Firana raised her fist in defiance.
“And the third team and last team representing Farcrest,” the master of ceremonies stuttered as he examined the fixture. “Lowell’s Orphanage.”
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I recently read Richard Wright’s autobiography which dealt in part with his tumultuous time as a member of a U.S. communist group in the 1930’s. I also read a number of Orwell’s essays written shortly after the Spanish civil war in which he discusses the ideology. One thing Orwell brought up that I thought was interesting (partly quoted below) was the pervasive self-censorship by communist western writers during that time. Makes sense - nearly all US/UK communist parties were more or less emulating USSR standards.
Among the many issues Wright encountered while he was a member was the constant peer pressure to censor not just what he said in official writings (eg for their magazine), but also his own work. If any party member stepped out of line (or was even perceived to have - which was troublesome due to how much paranoia raged throughout the group) all sorts of bullying tactics were use. Such as expelling, threatening, shunning, attempting to get former members fired at their job, assaulting them on the streets, or worst of all being called a Trotsky-isk (it’s like being called a mix of Benedict Arnold, Hitler, and a 5 month old puppy that a spoiled child has grown bored of)
This censorship counters something I have noticed is more common in writers/artists than the average person - the desire for freedom of expression. what about the movement was appealing enough for writers to fight for something that denies this? (and perhaps huge portion of the entire literary canon)
But the core question is this: what caused writers / artists to be drawn to communism at higher rates than most other professions?
Most often when reading the work of those actively in favor, they talk earnestly of social and economic equality for all. But if that was truly their primary end goal, socialism alone seems more closely to align with it without the need for censorship. Furthermore, socialism was a moderately prevalent & established ideology at the turn of the 20th century (and had a number of notable writers gaining success releasing works with overarching socialist themes - eg Upton Sinclair & Jack London & Orwell). Was it just seen as old hat (too slow, ineffective) at that point? Or is the focus on the employed lower class just not personally applicable enough for an artist fortunate enough to survive on the profit of their art?
A while ago I read an essay by Chomsky in which he quoted a bit by either Marx or Engels indicating that the ideology has always hinted at a sort of aristocratic literati. Was this what really brought so many writers in (more than fixing economic inequality issues already addressed by socialism)? Sure, the revolution theoretically frees the workers & disposed of great economic inequality, but ( better yet) with our artistic skills we will be reserved a special place right at the foot of the ideological ruler’s throne! Who cares if it’s as jester or propagandist, we will still find ourselves comfortably sat near the table of power. not in the fields toiling, but amongst the intellectual elites. They can see through the propaganda.
(This brings to mind an article by a journalist stuck in an air conditioned hotel somewhere like Qatar with a bunch of other journalists during the Iraq war c. 2003. Every day they would come out to watch a news conference by a low ranking general who never appeared to know anything nor have any updates. The part that irked me was when the journalist wrote that every journalist in that room was rolling their eyes & joking about the bullshit waste of time… yet the journalists continued writing up & sending out the regurgitated bullshit en masse, acting like they were getting break news & the US people were being informed of it.
The journalists all know they’re being toyed with, so if those people who read the trickle down news conference updates and believed anything but the same - they were contemptuously stupid & deserve their own eye roll, no doubt.
Completely ignoring another option entirely - don’t carry on with the charade of being a government mouth piece… the press could print meaningful journalism or push real questions to the 1 star or call them out on the obfuscation [who else could? Only media allowed]. No, just an eye roll and jokes amongst themselves while they continue to perfectly fulfill their place as the apparatchiks, but at least they know it’s a farce.)
too pessimistic?
Orwell:

On the whole the literary history of the thirties seems to justify the opinion that a writer does well to keep out of politics. For any writer who accepts or partially accepts the discipline of a political party is sooner or later faced with the alternative: toe the line, or shut up. It is, of course, possible to toe the line and go on writing—after a fashion. […] Literature as we know it is an individual thing, demanding mental honesty and a minimum of censorship.
The atmosphere of orthodoxy is always damaging to prose, and above all it is completely ruinous to the novel, the most anarchical of all forms of literature. […] it is a product of the free mind, of the autonomous individual. No decade in the past hundred and fifty years has been so barren of imaginative prose as the nineteen-thirties. There have been good poems, good sociological works, brilliant pamphlets, but practically no fiction of any value at all. From 1933 onwards the mental climate was increasingly against it. Anyone sensitive enough to be touched by the Zeitgeist was also involved in politics. Not everyone, of course, was definitely in the political racket, but practically everyone was on its periphery and more or less mixed up in propaganda campaigns and squalid controversies. Communists and near-Communists had a disproportionately large influence in the literary reviews. It was a time of labels, slogans, and evasions. At the worst moments you were expected to lock yourself up in a constipating little cage of lies; at the best a sort of voluntary censorship ('Ought I to say this? Is it pro-Fascist?') was at work in nearly everyone's mind.
It is almost inconceivable that good novels should be written in such an atmosphere. 'Good novels are not written by by orthodoxy-sniffers, nor by people who are conscience-stricken about their own unorthodoxy. Good novels are written by people who are not frightened.

There have been a few posts lately related to books and referees and which ones to buy. This is an updated repost of my own survey of books and who they might be useful for, so here I present Frescanation’s Incredibly Incomplete Guide to Ancient Numismatic Literature. It is incomplete because there are tons of books and other scholarship on ancient coins, some of it going back hundreds of years. An exhaustive study would be worth its own book, and this is a guide for new and new-ish collectors. All of these books will be helpful to you in some way as you go on a collecting journey, but not all of them are necessary by any means. Many are out of print, often long so, and books on ancient coins are specialty works and frequently expensive (like a college textbook is). The out of print books can be hard to find and might require using a used or even specialty bookseller (which is often easy now thanks to Amazon and B&N). I am primarily going over the general references. There are plenty of specialty texts, often looking at a single ruler or city or a narrow time period. Warning - this will be a long post.
Books for Complete Beginners
Handbook of Ancient Greek and Roman Coins, Zander Klawans ($15 new)
This is a small paperback book about half devoted to Greek and half to Roman coins. The Greek section is a survey by city and region. The Roman section has a survey by ruler. There is a good intro to reading inscriptions and recognizing reverse types (if you have wondered how someone tells the difference between Fortuna and Providentia, this is a good place to start).
Pros: Cheap, small and easily portable. Readily available. Very easy to use and understand.
Cons: Extremely limited in scope. If you stick with the hobby, you will outgrow this book pretty quickly, replace it with something below, and never look at it again.
Ancient Coin Collecting, Wayne Sayles (6 volumes, $25-50 each used)
This series came out in the late 90s and was a gateway drug for many of us. The series consists of 6 slim hardbound books with great photos and clear text by one of the great educators of the hobby. The six volumes are on General Collecting, Greek, Roman, Roman Provincial, Byzantine, and Non-Classical Cultures in that order. You certainly don’t need a volume for a field you aren’t interested in, but they are all good reads (and might get you interested in something you currently know little about).
Pros: Relatively inexpensive. Gorgeous photographs. If you want to get into ancients but you aren’t sure which segment to collect, this will help you choose.
Cons: This is very much an introduction and not a set of reference books. They won’t help you identify coins beyond the absolute basics. Like Klawans, you will outgrow these and likely not look at them again.
Handbook of Roman Imperial Coins, David Van Meter ($40-75 used)
This book was an attempt to create a “pro” reference for the Everyman collector. The book presents a broad survey of coins by ruler and type from Augustus to the fall of the Western Empire. It contains all of the inscriptions and the majority of the reverse types for each emperor. This is the first book on this list that will really help you identify and date a coin from scratch (you’ll be able to use it help answer those “hey what is this” posts here). There is a decent but limited amount of history on each ruler.
Pros: Reasonably complete. If your budget is very limited and you can only get one reference book, this is a good choice. It is particularly easy to use.
Cons: The production quality is not the best. This is still not a standard reference, and you will never see a coin cited by Van Meter number.
Coinage and History of the Roman Empire, David Vagi, (2 volumes, $50-200 used)
This is an unusual reference. The first volume is all history, and contains pretty complete biographical information for everyone who was on a Roman coin. Some of these are quire extensive, such as the sections on Augustus and Trajan, and some are very limited, as there are many men known only to history by their coins. The value of the history volume may be questionable in the days when a guy like Majorian can easily be looked up online, but Vagi is a good and engaging writer and the whole volume is an entertaining read. The second volume is all coinage, and somewhere between the single and five-volume Sear in scope. Rough values are given in terms of “rarity bands”, and the photography is quite good. If you buy this online, make sure you are getting the complete set.
Pros - Very well-written history. The coin reference is very easy to use.
Cons - This never quite became standard, and you won’t see coins cited by Vagi number. The book doesn’t go into minor variations of type, and is actually much more limited than Van Meter in this regard. Photos are limited to one per ruler, and you won’t get much help identifying a coin with incomplete legends. Pretty much everything in the history volume is on Wikipedia and similar.
Late Roman Bronze Coinage, Guido Bruck ($25 new)
Disclaimer - I don’t own this, but a friend recommended it. This book is designed to help collectors attribute Roman 4th and 5th century bronzes, especially if poorly preserved or damaged. Since these are often the exact coins a beginner first encounters, it might be useful, especially if you have a coin and all you can read is D N CON and part of a reverse legend.
Pros - Cheap, and If you are collecting a lot of $20 and under bronzes, this will save you a lot of trips to Reddit for attribution help (or you can start providing it)
Cons - Very limited in scope, not a true reference
Books for Intermediate Collectors
Roman Coins and Their Values, David Sear (5 volumes, $50-100 each new)
If you are serious about Roman coin collecting, this series is about as close to must-have as you can get. This is the current printing and massive revision of one of the classic Roman coin references. It presents a highly complete ruler by ruler list with a complete catalogue of legends. It then goes through each known reverse type of each denomination in alphabetical order, including minor variations. Each volume contains the same full section on identifying reverse types and dating, so if you only get one or two volumes, you still have it. Each type is listed with a value. These are not always accurate, but very useful in a relative sense. If a coin is listed at $20,000, odds are you didn’t find it for $15 on Ebay. There are photographs for every reverse type (although not for every variation), which helps enormously with attribution. This is always the first place I go when researching a coin. If your focus is narrow, you can easily get by with just one volume.
Pros - This is a standard reference, and citing a coin by Sear number is pretty common. You will be highly unlikely to come across a Roman coin that is not listed here. The culmination of the life’s work of a numismatic legend. It is still available new, and will likely get pricier over time.
Cons - Harder to use, and you do need some idea of what is on the coin to get started. The complete set will run over $300, which is going to seem daunting if buying a $30 coin is a big deal for you, and you’d rather buy coins than books about them.
Special Note- the older, single volume edition is still widely available used for around $50 and under. It only contains about 20% of what is in the new edition, but that 20% is great, and includes most coins you will likely encounter. The photography is not quite as good, and the values are wildly out of date, but it can easily serve as the only reference you ever have.
Encyclopedia of Roman Imperial Coins, 2nd Edition (ERIC II), Rasiel Suarez ($80 new)
This is the newest entry into the field of general Roman coin references and was published in 2011. I really like this book, and if you are a Roman coin collector with a limited budget, get this. Like Sear, it goes ruler by ruler, gives an exhaustive list of legends, obverse types and reverse types, and has representative photography of all reverses. Like Sear, if you know who is on the coin and can read most of the legend, you can can use this to attribute the coin. As a bonus, the book covers the entire Roman period including the East after 476. I’m unaware of any other reference that includes Eastern/Byzantine and traditional Imperial coinage in one volume.
Pros - Aims to a be a single-volume resource for all things from Augustus to Constantine XI, and largely succeeds. Photography is in color and excellent. An absolute bargain for what you get
Cons - You need to know who is on the coin to get started. It’s a big, heavy book. A lot of what it does can be duplicated by online databases.
Roman Silver Coins, H.A. Seaby et al (5 volumes, $25-50 each used)
All silver, nothing but silver, but extending from Republican times through the end of the Western Empire. The best feature of this book is the extensive photography which covers basically all silver reverse types. It is also the best easily available reference that covers Republican silver in any kind of detail. Values are given, but the most recent edition is from 1982 and these are wildly out of date, to put it mildly. (Who’d like to buy an EID MAR denarius for 7000 GBP? Everyone!)
Pros - A lot of collectors focus on denarii, and if you do, these books are hard to beat. The first two volumes will take you from the Republic to Commodus, which will cover Twelve Caesars and Adoptive Emperors, which covers two of the major areas of specialty collecting.
Cons - Obviously, not a bronze coin to be found. For the money, I’d rather have the 5 volume Sear if I had to choose one.
Greek Coins and their Values, David Sear (2 volumes, $50-75 each)
This is the first appearance of a Greek-only reference on this list. Greek Coins are a lot harder to reference and far fewer books have been written for newer collectors.. Roman coins can easily be arranged by ruler and denomination. Greek Coins are arranged by geography, starting in Western Europe and going clockwise around to Africa. Looking up a coin requires knowing that Tarentum is in southern Italy, or that Athens is in Attica and and is listed after Boetia. This was written in the late 70s and has not been revised.
Pros - If you want to collect Greek coins, and don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on books, this is about it.
Cons - Substantially harder to use than Sear Roman, but that’s mostly the fault of the coin series itself rather than Sear.
Greek Imperial Coins and Their Values, David Sear ($40-75 used)
Greek Imperial (now usually called Roman Provincial) coins are frequently neglected by newer collectors. The Romans typically allowed cities to continue to strike their own coins, and many places int he Roman East did so for many years. The legends are in Greek but the types are usually Roman. Sear’s volume is the simplest reference for a diverse series of coins. As a disclaimer, I don’t collect these coins and don’t own this book.
Byzantine Coins and their Values, David Sear ($40-75 used)
Chronologically the last in Sear’s trip through ancient coinage, this is the best introductory reference for coins of the Roman East from the reforms of Anastasius to the fall of Constantinople. As a disclaimer, I don’t collect these coins and don’t own this book.
Coinage of the Roman Republic, Michael Crawford ($130 new)
This is the moist comprehensive and definitive reference for the coins of the Republic. If you collect Republican coinage to any great degree, you need this book. Fortunately, the whole thing is also available online for free at http://numismatics.org/crro/
The History and Coinage of the Roman Imperators, David Sear ($75 new)
This is a very limited book, covering only the period from Caesar crossing the Rubicon to the defeat of Mark Antony at Actium. But that short, tumultuous period is covered in great detail. There is a ton of history, and the book is exhaustive for the period covered. If you are interested in Caesar, Antony, Pompey, or the other figures of the period, this is an irreplaceable book.
Late Roman Bronze Coinage, Carson/Hill/Kent ($50 used)
Note that this is not the same book as the Bruck title noted earlier. This borders on advanced and goes over every minor variation from every mint. This is probably a book that if you really need it, you already know about it.
Books for advanced collectors
I will mention these to mention them. If you are into ancient coins enough to potentially need any of these, you are already well aware of their existence.
The Roman Imperial Coinage, Mattingly et al (10 volumes, $100-250 each)
This is the major scholarly reference for Roman coinage. It is exhaustive to the point that “not in RIC” is a big deal. It is not very user friendly, but if you are advanced enough to need it, you can probably figure it out. If you are a specialized collector, you might only need one volume of this. A full set will easily run $1500, but it will hold its value very well and will likely be easier to later sell than any coin in your collection.
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum. Various (many volumes, $100-500 each)
There is no RIC for Greek Coins, but this series probably comes closest. It started as a British project to catalogue the great collections of Greek coins. There are 13 volumes in the original series. The project spread to other countries, and there are now over 120 individual volumes under the SNG umbrella. They are usually referred to by the country they come from (e.g. SNG Copenhagen is the Danish Royal collection, SNG America is the American Numismatic Society collection). A specialized Greek collector would be interested in the various volumes regarding their special interest. By the time you need SNG, you won't need my advice on getting it.
Byzantine Coins, Phillip Grierson ($200-400 used)
Probably the best respected single volume reference for Byzantine coinage. Mainly for advanced collectors, but would qualify as the only volume on Byzantine coins you are ever likely to need. Note that Grierson also wrote a book called Byzantine Coinage that is a much more general survey, as well as an intro to the Dumbarton Oaks collection (see below). This book is much cheaper (around $75) and shouldn’t be confused with the more expansive reference.
Catalogue of Byzantine Coins in the Collection of Dumbarton Oaks, Grierson et al (6 volumes, $200 each)
There is no RIC for Byzantine coinage either, but this probably comes closest. It is the catalogue of what is easily the best Byzantine/late Roman collection in the world. The collection itself is searchable at https://www.doaks.org/resources/coins/catalogue#b_start=0

https://beforewegoblog.com/ten-recommended-new-cthulhu-mythos-novels-ii/
Howard Phillips Lovecraft remains one of the more controversial yet influential genre writers of the early 20th century. A man like his friend and contemporary, Robert E. Howard, who has stood the test of time. His creations in the Great Old Ones, Necronomicon, Nyarlathotep, and Deep Ones have resonated with generations of readers.
Perhaps his most admirable quality as a writer was the fact that he was never afraid to let anyone play with his toys. An early advocate of what we’d now call “open source” writing, he happily shared concepts and ideas with his fellow writers. Howard Phillips would be delighted at the longevity of his creations and the fact that he has entertained thousands of people through things like Call of Cthulhu and Arkham Horror tabletop games or the Re-Animator movies.
Speaking as the author of the Cthulhu Armageddon books as well as participant in such anthologies as Tales of the Al-Azif and Tales of Yog-Sothoth, I thought I would share some of my favorite post-Lovecraftian fiction created by writers willing to play around with HPL’s concepts. Many of these examine the alienation and xenophobia themes while keeping the cool monsters as others address them head on from new perspectives.
I admit my tastes have influenced me to choose the pulpier works over the scarier but it’s not like the former didn’t have plenty of HPL stories (The Dreamquest of Unknown Kadath, The Dunwich Horror, and The Case of Charles Dexter Ward) nor is the latter lacking for advocates. For the earlier Cthulhu novel recommendations, check out this.
10] The War of the God Queen by David Hambling
Blurb: Jessica: a modern woman, thrown back into the bronze age, alone among a strange and violent people.
Amir: a nomad warlord, leading a hopeless battle against monstrous invaders, looking for a miracle.
To Amir, the beautiful stranger is a sign from heaven. And Jessica, though no warrior, has hidden talents even she does not appreciate. When Jessica recruits other women abducted through time, they band together to fight back against the seemingly invulnerable Spawn
The future of humanity is at stake, and Jessica’s supposed friends may be more dangerous than her enemies..
You’ll love this epic fantasy driven by characters facing the challenge of becoming what they could only dream.
Review: David Hambling is a master of fantastic and weird fiction. I am very fond of his Harry Stubbs series and writings in the Books of Cthulhu series. However, this is probably my favorite weird fiction work by him. A feminist tale of a number of time-lost women that have been transported back to the Bronze Age where cthulhoid creatures intend to use them as breeding stock. Well, they have objections. A bit of A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court mixed with Conan the Barbarian, mixed with plucky heroine stories.
9] The Statement of Andrew Doran by Matthew Davenport
Blurb: Dr. Andrew Doran has been out of touch with the major civilizations for quite a while. When an emissary from his Alma Mater demands his assistance, Andrew is in such a state that he has no choice but to help. The Nazis have taken the Necronomicon from Miskatonic University’s library. With it they could call upon every form of darkness and use the powers of the void to destroy all who stand in their way of unlimited power.
For years Doran has been at odds with Miskatonic University.
Putting his negative feelings aside, Andrew takes charge and heads straight into the Nazi-controlled territories of Europe. Along his journey from America and into the heart of Berlin, the dark Traum Kult, or Dream Cult, has sent beasts from the void between worlds to slow his progress.
This is adventure and monsters unlike anything the anthropologist has ever experienced, and only with the assistance of the trigger-happy Leo and the beautiful Olivia, both members of the French Resistance, does Dr. Doran have any chance of success. A sane man would flinch. Dr. Andrew Doran charges in.
Review: Sometimes you want a transparent Indiana Jones versus Cthulhu story. I’m a big fan of the Andrew Doran books. Our protagonist is an occult professor at Miskatonic University who is more interested in hunting down cultists, Nazis, and Nazi cultists than he is about teaching class. They’re very much in the Pulp mold of storytelling and perhaps a bit too episodic but our hero runs into every supernatural monster HPL created on his journey to recover the Necronomicon from Nazi Berlin.
8] Cthulhu Reloaded by David Croyden
Blurb: The Stars are Right. Humans… prepare for extinction.
Eldritch gods, cosmic horrors, and weird physics are the enemy, striking from nameless dimensions we can’t perceive, destroying us with strangeness beyond human comprehension. Major Harrison Peel understands these Great Old Ones better than anyone. He wishes he didn’t.
Forced into his latest assignment, Peel must confront an alien Outer God known only as the Impossible Object. Held in a secret facility deep in the Australian desert, no two people perceive it the same way, and it conforms to no known properties of the universe. Then the Impossible Object promises to reveal the secrets of everything, or cause all space and time to blink from existence… forever.
Are humans supposed to choose? And if so, can Peel guess the Impossible Object’s intensions? For the fate of everything could rest entirely in his hands…
For fans of weird science fiction, Delta Green and Charles Stross’s The Laundry, the Harrison Peel series is a collection of interconnected cosmic horror stories that explore the world, and the entire universe, of H. P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos, stretched across all space and time.
Review: The Harrison Peel stories are a perfect counter for the Lovecraftian ethos that humans should be helpless victims before unknowable horrors. Major Peel is a soldier for the Australian government who is continually roped into supernatural encounters. The stories work because the horror is still alien and unknowable but he reacts as intelligently as possible to dealing with them. He can’t punch or shoot them away like, say, Captain Booth in my books can. You know, except for running away and never thinking about the Mythos again.
7] Ashes of Onyx by Seth Skorkowsky
Blurb: They stole her magic.
They killed her friends.
Nothing in the multiverse will stop her quest for revenge.
Kate Rossdale once held all the promise of becoming Baltimore’s greatest sorceress. But promise is a hard thing to hold when your coven is murdered, your magic is stripped away, and the only solace left to you comes one powdered line at a time.
When she’s offered the restoration of her power by a man she doesn’t know or trust, Kate sets in motion the retribution of her enemies.
Soon she finds herself racing across the globe, and across worlds, venturing into exotic realms of forbidden dreams, to the spires of Lost Carcosa, hunting for the magic-thief who robbed her of everything she held dear, including the most dangerous magic any sorceress can possess—hope.
If you like Clive Barker, Joshua Bader, Shayne Silvers, Jim Butcher, M.D. Massey, and Brad Magnarella, you’ll love this unique urban fantasy adventure!
“Skorkowsky channels heavy themes of guilt, grief, and addiction into a bloody quest for revenge in this explosive, world-spanning urban fantasy. Gruesome fight scenes and wildly imaginative, richly described alternate worlds lend an epic feel to their adventure. Dark fantasy fans will relish this magical thrill ride.” – Publisher’s Weekly
Review: Seth Skorkowsky, one of the best Youtube commentators on Call of Cthulhu adventures, is a good friend of mine. He’s also a very talented writer. This book deals with a substance abusing mage, Kate Rossdale, as she finds herself on a quest that will take her to Lost Carcosa in the Dreamlands. If you like the more mystical and surreal elements of the Cthulhu Mythos then this is the book for you.
6] The Last Ritual by SA Sidor
Blurb: A mad surrealist’s art threatens to rip open the fabric of reality, in this twisted tale of eldritch horror and conspiracy, from the wildly popular world of Arkham Horror.
Aspiring painter Alden Oakes is invited to join a mysterious art commune in Arkham: the New Colony. When celebrated Spanish surrealist Juan Hugo Balthazarr visits the colony, Alden and the other artists quickly fall under his charismatic spell. Balthazarr throws a string of decadent parties for Arkham’s social elite, conjuring arcane illusions which blur the boundaries between nightmare and reality. Only slowly does Alden come to suspect that Balthazarr’s mock rituals are intended to break through those walls and free what lies beyond. Alden must act, but it might already be too late to save himself, let alone Arkham.
Review: While so many of these books go in different directions than HP Lovecraft, it’s nice to do something more traditional. In this case, a wealthy young dilettante has a strange encounter in Spain with a local festival before discovering that a famous artist has taken up residence in Arkham. The link between art and the supernatural is explored as well as the fact that the protagonist is woefully unqualified to deal with any of this. I think the graphic audio version of this book is the best way to enjoy it personally but the book itself is fun by itself.
5] Let Sleeping Gods Lie by David J. West
Blurb: Louis L’Amour Meets Lovecraft
Porter Rockwell, wanted for a murder he did not commit, is hiding out in Old California selling whiskey to thirsty forty-niners. When his friends dig up some monstrous bones and a peculiar book and offer to sell it for a helluva price, Porter can’t resist the mystery.
But when both his night bartender and the sellers are murdered at his saloon Porter has to find out what the mysterious artifacts are all about. With some Native American legends, Sasquatch, Lovecraftian horror, and murderous bandits thrown in, not even bullets and blades can stop Rockwell from leaving a swath of righteous carnage in his wake.
Let Sleeping Gods Lie is a weird western fantasy in the vein of classic pulp fiction and Louis L’Amour books. If you like frontier justice, larger-than-life characters, and witty humor, then you will LOVE the first installment of the Cowboys and Cthulhu series.
~Buy Let Sleeping Gods Lie to get lost in a horrific weird western adventure today!~
Review: I’m admittedly biased into loving the combination of Cthulhu and Westerns. There’s just something about the American frontier and its unique history that seems perfect for ghost stories. In the Porter Rockwell series, the real life figure has his adventures fictionalized as he deals with various supernatural horrors and baddies that contradict his American Christian background.
4] The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe by Kij Johnson
Blurb: World Fantasy Award winner, Hugo, Nebula, John W. Campbell, and Locus Award finalist for Best Novella, and one of NPR‘s Best Books of 2016
Professor Vellitt Boe teaches at the prestigious Ulthar Women’s College. When one of her most gifted students elopes with a dreamer from the waking world, Vellitt must retrieve her.
Kij Johnson’s haunting novella The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe is both a commentary on a classic H.P. Lovecraft tale and a profound reflection on a woman’s life. Vellitt’s quest to find a former student who may be the only person who can save her community takes her through a world governed by a seemingly arbitrary dream logic in which she occasionally glimpses an underlying but mysterious order, a world ruled by capricious gods and populated by the creatures of dreams and nightmares. Those familiar with Lovecraft’s work will travel through a fantasy landscape infused with Lovecraftian images viewed from another perspective, but even readers unfamiliar with his work will be enthralled by Vellitt’s quest.
“A remarkable accomplishment that repays rereading.” ―Pamela Sargent, winner of the Nebula Award
Review: This is an unusual example even for Lovecraftian fiction. Basically, in a women’s college in the fantasy world of the Dreamlands, specifically Ulthar the City of Cats, there’s a young woman who has gone missing. This young woman being the daughter of a god. Vellitt Boe, a teacher there, decides to cross the Dreamlands in hopes of finding them in order to prevent Ulthar from facing the god’s wrath.
3] Miskatonic by Mark Sable
Blurb: Miskatonic Valley holds many mysteries – cultists worshipping old gods, a doctor deadset on resurrecting the recently deceased, a house overrun by rats in the walls – but none more recent than a series of bombings targeting the Valley’s elite.
To Bureau of Investigation (the predecessor of the FBI) chief J. Edgar Hoover, there can be no other explanation than those responsible for similar actions during the Red Scare of the 1920s. But when the brilliant, hard-nosed investigator Miranda Keller is sent to stop the bombings, she uncovers an unimaginable occult conspiracy, one that may cost her both her job and her sanity.
From writer Mark Sable (WAR ON TERROR: GODKILLERS, Graveyard of Empires) and artist Giorgio Pontrelli (Dylan Dog), MISKATONIC is a mix of historical crime fiction and Lovecraftian-horror that dives deep into the American nightmare.
Review: Independent comics are a different breed from independent books. They require a lot more effort in production than your typical ebook or even print on demand work. Still, this is definitely an indie production and a fantastic one at that. Following the adventures of one of the last female detectives of the Bureau of Investigation before J Edgar Hoover fires them, they find themselves neck deep in the Cthulhu Mythos as well as the reactionary politics of the day.
2] New Cthulhu: The Recent Weird by Various
Blurb: For more than eighty years H.P. Lovecraft has inspired writers of supernatural fiction, artists, musicians, filmmakers, and gaming. His themes of cosmic indifference, the utter insignificance of humankind, minds invaded by the alien, and the horrors of history — written with a pervasive atmosphere of unexplainable dread — remain not only viable motifs, but are more relevant than ever as we explore the mysteries of a universe in which our planet is infinitesimal and climatic change is overwhelming it.
In the first decade of the twenty-first century the best supernatural writers no longer imitate Lovecraft, but they are profoundly influenced by the genre and the mythos he created. New Cthulhu: The Recent Weird presents some of the best of this new Lovecraftian fiction — bizarre, subtle, atmospheric, metaphysical, psychological, filled with strange creatures and stranger characters — eldritch, unsettling, evocative, and darkly appealing.
Review: A well-chosen and smartly edited anthology of such luminaries as Kim Newman, Neil Gaiman, Cherie Priest, Charles Stross, Sarah Monette, and China Mieville among others. There’s some truly great stories throughout this work like “Pickman’s Other Model” which is about a sexualized ghoul in the turbulent 1920s, “A Study in Emerald” which has been rightfully reprinted many times, and “Shoggoths in Bloom” which asks the question whether the shoggoths could ever have been as horrifying as the people who enslaved them.
1] The Brotherhood of the Beast by the Hp Lovecraft Historical Society
Blurb: A hardened archaeologist and a wealthy adventurer join forces to look into inexplicable murders in Boston. Before long, their investigation reveals a nefarious conspiracy, with tentacles reaching from their own past to the furthest corners of the globe. Will the duo and a team of trusted comrades be able to thwart an unholy alliance of dark forces, or does our very world stand upon the precipice of a terrifying doom?
Review: This is a radio play and doesn’t quite qualify as a novel but it’s got all of the enjoyment I got out of the Masks of Nyarlathotep one produced by Dark Adventure Theater. Here, a group of adventurers are caught up in plot to install a reincarnation of the Black Pharoah in as the Anti-Christ-esque ruler of the world. It’s based on the classic Chaosium adventure, The Fungi from Yuggoth and goes in different directions from HPL’s classic tales but I have to admit some of the stories like the opening one with a child murderer in an old lady’s house are just fantastic. I hope they make a sequel someday.

I've been getting into skirmish games recently and I am looking for a summer project and this game caught my eye. I love the Fallout universe and the single player aspect is very intriguing to me. I want to do a more Fallout 3 themed board/lists and was looking for starter help. I see everyone recommending the 2 player starter set but it's not really appealing to me. Besides stock issues, it seems very FO4 focused and I have found all of the rules for free online. Would the Enclave core set, Brotherhood T-45 and Brotherhood combat patrol work as a good starting point along with the Capital Rules Expansion? What other boxes are good to pickup up for FO3 themed Brotherhood vs Enclave? I can 3d print terrain and dice/range rulers seem like the only other thing I'd have to work out. Thanks for any help.

Quran

"They [jinn] made for him [Sulaiman] what he willed of elevated chambers, statues [icons of beings], bowls like reservoirs, and stationary kettles. [We said], 'Work, O family of David, in gratitude.' And few of My servants are grateful." (Quran 34:13)
Famous Tabi'i: That was allowed in their Shariah
Shariah changes, but shirk does not. Possession of statues isnt shirk because Sulaiman had statues.
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Ahadith

Narrated by Aishah:
"Allah's Messenger returned from a journey when I had placed a curtain of mine having pictures over (the door of) a chamber of mine. When Allah's Messenger saw it, he tore it and said, "The people who will receive the severest punishment on the Day of Resurrection will be those who try to make the like of Allah's creations." So we [Aishah] turned it [the curtain] into one or two cushions."
(Al-Bukhari 5954)
It was narrated that Aishah said:
The Messenger of Allah said: “The people who will be most severely punished on the Day of Resurrection will be those who imitate the creation of Allah.”
(Sahih Muslim 2107)
It was narrated from Abdullah ibn Umar that the Messenger of Allah said:
“Those who make images will be punished on the Day of Resurrection, and it will be said to them [image-makers]: 'Bring to life that which you have created.'"
(Al-Bukhari 7558 & Muslim 2108)
Said bin Abu Al-Hasan reported:
While I was with Ibn Abbas, a man came and said, "I earn my livelihood from making images." Ibn Abbas said: "I will only tell you what I heard from the Messenger of Allah. I heard him say: "Whoever makes an image will be punished by Allah until he puts life into it, and he will never be able to do that." After hearing this, the man became upset. Ibn Abbas then took pity on him and said, "If you insist on making pictures, I advise you to make pictures of trees and other non-living objects."
(Al-Bukhari 2225)
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said:
"Some of the Fire (in the shape of a long neck) will come out of the Fire on the Day of judgment. It will have two eyes which can see, two ears which can hear, and a tongue which can speak. It will say: 'I have been left in charge of three: Every obstinate oppressor, everyone who called upon a deity besides Allah, and the image makers." (Jami at-Tirmidhi 2574, Hasan (Darussalam))
Narrated by Jabir:
"The Messenger of Allah prohibited having images in the house, and he prohibited making them." (Jami at-Tirmidhi 1749, Sahih (Darussalam))
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Drawings

It was reported from Aishah Umm al-Mumineen that Umm Habeebah and Umm Salamah mentioned a church which they had seen in Ethiopia, in which there were images. They told the Prophet about it, and he said: "Those people, if there was a righteous man among them and he died, they would build a place of worship over his grave and put images in it. These will be the most evil of creation before Allah on the Day of Resurrection." (narrated by Al-Bukhari 427, Muslim 528)
Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar said:
"This hadith indicates that making images is haram."
Al-Nawawi said:
"Our companions and other scholars said: making images of animate beings is extremely haram and is a major sin, because severe warnings have been issued against it in the hadith. Whether the image is made to be used in a disrespectful fashion or for other purposes, it is haram to make it in all cases, because it implies that one is trying to match the creation of Allah, whether the image is to appear on a garment, carpet, coin, vessel, wall or whatever. With regard to pictures of trees, camel saddles, and other pictures in which no animate beings appear, these are not haram. This is the ruling on making images."
It was reported that Abu Hurayrah entered a house in Madinah and saw somebody making images in it. He said: I heard the Messenger of Allah say: [Allah says:] "Who does greater wrong than one who goes and creates something like My creation? Let them create a seed or a small ant!" (al-Bukhari 7559, Muslim 2111)
Al-Nawawi said:
"Concerning the words of Allah. “Let them create a small ant or a seed or a grain of barley!” means, let them create a small ant which has a soul and moves by itself, like this small ant which was created by Allah. Or let them createa grain of wheat or barley, i.e., let them create a grain which is eaten as food or which can be planted so it will grow and which has the characteristics of a grain of wheat or barley or other seeds which were created by Allah. This is impossible, as stated above. None can bring forth living vegetation out of nothing except Allah, may He be glorified.
Abu Juhayfah: "the Prophet forbade the price of a dog and the price of blood, and he forbade tattooing and asking to be tattooed, and the consumption or paying of ribaa, and he cursed those who make images. " (Narrated by Al-Bukhari 2086)
Imam al-Tabari: "...those who make figures in order that they may be worshipped besides Allah, and this is unbelief (kufr). As for those who do not make them for this purpose, they will be guilty only of making a representation (suar)."
Abd-Allah ibn Masood said: when the Prophet entered Makkah [at the Conquest], there were three hundred and sixty idols around the Kabah. He started hitting them with his stick and saying, “Truth has come and Batil (falsehood) has vanished. Surely, Batil is ever bound to vanish”
(al-Bukhari 2478, Sahih Muslim 1781a)
Abu’l-Hiyaaj al-Asadi said: "Ali ibn Abi Talib said to me: Shall I not send you on the same basis as the Messenger of Allah sent me? Do not leave any statue without destroying it, and do not leave any built-up grave without razing it to the ground. (According to one report: and do not leave any picture without erasing it). " (Sahih Muslim 969a, 969b)
Ibn Taymiyah said:
"The command is to destroy two types of images: images which represent the deceased person, and images which are placed on top of graves – because Shirk may come about from both types."
Ibn Taymiyah said:
"The reason why al-Lat was worshipped was the veneration of the grave of a righteous man which was there."
And he said:
"This problem [veneration] which is why Islam forbids [images], is the reason why so many of nations have fallen into committing Shirk to a greater or lesser degree."
Ibn al-Qayyim said:
"Tamaatheel is the plural of Timthaal (statue), which refers to a representative image."
One of the stated principles of usul-u-Fiqh (Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence) is that if anything directly leads to haram, it is likewise haram. In other words, Tasweer [image-making] was forbidden precisely for the reason that it was a means leading to shirk.
Ibn al-Qayyim said, describing how the Shaytaan plays with the Christians:
"He plays with them with regard to the images which they have in their churches and which they worship. You cannot find any church which is free of these images of Maryam, the Messiah, George, Peter and others of their saints and martyrs. Most of them bow to these images and pray to them instead of to Allah. The Patriarch of Alexandria even wrote a letter to the ruler of Rome supporting the idea of bowing to these images: (he said) Allah commanded Moosa to make images of cherubim in the Tabernacle; and when Sulayman the son of Dawood built the Temple, he made images of cherubim and put them inside the Temple. Then he said in his letter: this is like when a king sends a letter to one of his governors and the governor takes the letter and kisses it then touches it to his forehead [a sign of respect], and stands up to receive it. He does not do this to venerate the paper and ink, but to venerate the king. In the same way, when one bows to an image, it is to venerate the person represented by the image, not to venerate the paints and colours.
This is exactly the same as the example given to justify idol worship."
And he said:
"In most cases, the reason why nations fall into Shirk is because of images and graves.”
Making images is a way of falling into Shirk, because Shirk starts with the veneration of those who are depicted in the images, especially when people have little or no knowledge. The evidence for this is:
Ibn Abbaas said: "The idols of the people of Nuh were known among the Arabs later on. Wadd belonged to (the tribe of) Kalb in Dawmat al-Jandal. Suwaa’ belonged to Hudhayl. Yaghooth belonged to Muraad, then to Bani Ghutayf in al-Jawf, near Sabaa’. Ya’ooq belonged to Hamadaan. Nasar belonged to Humayr of Aal Dhi’l-Kalaa’. These were names of righteous men from the people of Nuh. When they died, the Shaytaan inspired their people to set up idols in the places where they had used to sit, and to call those idols by their names. They did that but they did not worship them [idols], but after those people died and knowledge had been forgotten, then they started to worship them. " (al-Bukhari)
Prohibition of images is because:

• it implies that one is trying to match the creation of Allah.
• it is an imitation of the kuffar.
• it is a means of veneration and falling into Shirk.

From the above it is clear that it is forbidden to make statues/images. Whoever does that is trying to match the creation of Allah and thus deserves to be cursed.
The majority of Muslim scholars are of the opinion that this kind of images are haram
Reputable scholars + 4 madhabs: scenery, trees, stars, things without ruh/soul is OK
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Drawings of the body without the head

Ibn Abbas narrates that: The Prophet said: “The image is the head; if the head is cut off, there is no image.” (al-Ismaa’eeli in his Mu’jam; sahih by al-Albani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah 1921 and in Saheeh al-Jaami’ 3864)
Ibn Qudamah said: "If the head of the image is cut off, then it is no longer makruh. Ibn Abbas said: The image is the head. So if the head** is cut off, it is no longer an image. This was also narrated from Ikrimah." Based on that, what is prohibited with regard to drawing is that on which facial features appear in such a way that the viewer knows that it is the image of an animate being.
Musnad Imam Ahmad -> "Image is concentrated in the face area"
But if the drawing is without showing the facial features – such as the eye or nose for example – and it only shows its general shape, then there is nothing wrong with it.
If the drawing/image is without features that show the eye, nose and mouth, then this is not included in the prohibition, because it is not imitating the creation of Allah.
Vast majority of scholars: If something is cut off from an image without which it could no longer live, then it is not a haram image -> Parts of body (hand, ...), sculpt of a hand, shade/silhouette of living being is OK to draw
Parts of body (drawing a hand) -> difference amongst ulama, disagreement is weak (as though its haram)
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3D (that which casts a shadow):

4 madhab + Vast majority of scholars: haram to carve/scalp a face of living being,
carving/scalping a hand is OK.
Covering face partly doesnt change the ruling.
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Children drawing

Controversy = 2D images of a face, body with chest
hanafi, shafi, hanbali: never an excuse to draw a face & Children cannot draw.
The position of the vast majority of classical scholars is based on the fact that there is no distinction in the various Hadiths between a 3D and 2D picture.
Maliki and Imam Malik: prohibition applies only to 3D images with body to them, not hand-drawn pictures. A picture that does not have a body or shadow to it will not be unlawful although somewhat disliked. Its just makrooh. Children can draw in school because its not venerating images. Many said: If there is a reason then its neutral/mubah.
Saudi Arabian Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta: "What makes images forbidden is the fact that they are images of animate beings, whether they are sculptures, or drawings on walls or fabric or paper, or they are woven, and whether they are done with a quill, a pen, or a machine, and whether they represent something real or something imaginary, whether they are small or large, beautified or distorted, or drawn in the form of lines representing a skeleton. What makes them forbidden is that fact that they depict animate beings, even if they are imaginary like pictures of ancient people, Pharaohs, or leaders and soldiers of the Crusades, or like the pictures of Isa and Maryam that are kept in churches,..., because of the general meaning of the texts, and because that is competing with the creation of Allah, and because it is a means that leads to shirk."
The child’s guardian should raise him to keep away from making images/drawings of animate beings, and he should explain to him that this is haraam.
He should look for permissible alternatives that are available, such as drawing vegetables, fruits, trees and oceans, and any inanimate objects.
Children wearing images on clothes: This work is not permissible because it involves printing pictures of animate beings on shirts that children will wear, so the pictures will be openly displayed on the chest of the person wearing the clothes. Prohibition includes all images, whether they are carved, engraved, printed, drawn or taken with a camera, because all kinds of image-making are included in the general meaning of the hadith. There are no exceptions, apart from cases of necessity or need such as photos for personal identity documents, which are essential.
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Children playing with dolls

general ruling = One should not own 3D statues of living being
Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen said : "With regard to the issue of dolls that are made of cloth for children, of which the image is not clear even though there are limbs, head and neck, but there are no eyes or nose, there is nothing wrong with that, because this is not imitating the creation of Allah." "“Everyone who makes something that imitates the creation of Allah is included in this Hadith, which says that the Prophet cursed the image makers… and his words “The people who will be most severely punished on the Day of Resurrection will be the image-makers.” But as I said, if the image is not clear and if it does not have eyes or a nose or mouth or fingers, then it is not a complete image, and is not imitating the creation of Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted.” "
Narrated by Aishah:
" used to play with the dolls in the presence of the Prophet, and my girl friends also used to play with me. When Allah's Messenger used to enter (my dwelling place) they used to hide themselves, but the Prophet would call them to join and play with me. (The playing with the dolls and similar images is forbidden, but it was allowed for Aishah at that time, as she was a little girl, not yet reached the age of puberty.) " (al-Bukhari 6130)
Those toys which are made of wool are not considered to be images, because they do not have a head apart from a piece of wool, and it does not have the features of the face such as eyes, nose, mouth or ears. If an image does not have a head or any facial features, it is exempt from the ruling prohibiting images.
Even if we assume that it is an image, this does not mean that all images are permitted. Rather it is an exemption from the prohibition for a legitimate shariah purpose, which is to teach girls how to care for babies and to develop maternal feelings in their hearts, in order to prepare them for the future.
Most of the scholars have exempted the making of girls’ toys from the prohibition on making images and statues. This is the view of the Malikis, Shafis and Hanbalis. Al-Qadi Iyaad narrated that most of the scholars said that this is permissible, and he was followed in that by al-Nawawi in his commentary on Muslim. He said: “Exempted from the prohibition on making images that have a shadow are things that are used as toys for girls, because of the exemption that was narrated concerning that. This means that it is permissible, whether they are toys in the shape of people or animals, three-dimensional or otherwise, and whether they are supposed to represent real animals or not, such as a horse with wings…
The majority of scholars quote as evidence for this exemption the hadith of Aishah in which she says:
“I used to play with dolls in the house of the Prophet. I had friends who used to play with me. When the Messenger of Allah came in, they would hide themselves, then he would call them to join me and play with me.”
According to another report, she said that the Messenger came back from the battle of Tabook or Khaybar, and there was a curtain in her alcove. The wind blew and lifted the curtain, showing some dolls with which Aishah was playing. He said, “What is this, O Aishah?” She said, “My daughters.” Among them he saw a mare with wings made of leather.” He said, ‘And what is this that I see in the midst of them?” She said, “A mare.” He said, “What is this on it?” She said, “Wings.” He said, “A mare with wings?” She said, “Have you not heard that Sulaymaan had a horse with wings?” She said, the Messenger of Allah smiled so broadly that I could see his eyeteeth.
The Malikis, Shafis and Hanbalis interpreted this as an exemption for making toys because of the necessity of educating girls in how to bring up children. This interpretation is obvious if the toy is in the form of a human, but it is not obvious if it is in the form of a horse with wings. Hence al-Halimi used this report and others to support his argument. He said: “There are two benefits of that in the case of girls, one immediate and one which comes later. The immediate benefit is that they have fun, which is one of the most effective means of child development. If a child is well taken care of and feels happy and content, his development will be stronger and better. That is because joy energizes the mind, which in turn energizes the soul, and that has an effect on the body and produces physical strength. The benefit which is seen later on is that through that (play), the girls learn how to deal with children, love them and feel compassion for them, and that becomes second nature to them, so that when they grow up and see for themselves the things they used to play at, they will find that the compassion they used to play at is something very real indeed. Ibn Hajar quoted in al-Fath from someone who thought that making toys was haram, and that it had been permitted at first but was then abrogated by the general prohibition on making images. He responded by noting that the abrogation could have been the other way round and that the permission to make toys came later, on the grounds that in the hadith of Aishah about her toys, there is the indication that this happened at a later date, because it mentions that this happened when the Prophet came back from Tabook. So the apparent meaning is that it happened later on.
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Owning 2D painting

Large group of scholars within 4 madhabs + many seniors from hanbali:
owning picture ≠ creating it
Its permissable to own, if picture isnt placed on a place of veneration -> OK to have on a background, carpet, cushion, ...
Main proof:
Aishah Narrates:
"he Prophet entered upon me while there was a curtain having pictures (of animals) in the house. His face got red with anger, and then he got hold of the curtain and tore it into pieces. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Such people as paint these pictures will receive the severest punishment on the Day of Resurrection ." So Aishah cut it [curtain with pictures] up and covered two pillows/cushion with it."
(Al-Bukhari 6109)
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger saying:
"Angels [of mercy] do not enter the house in which there are portraits/pictures"
Opinions of the salaf:
- placing it in the center of attention is haram
- placing it in the center of attention is makruh, not haram -> Worst-case scenario = angels do not enter a house. Its OK to have it in the background/floor.
Number of ulama + Imam Al-Nawawi: All images always haram
At that time Sahaba used byzantine gold dinars and sasanian dirhams. These coins had images of emperors on them.
Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan minted first islamic coin with his image on it when some of sahaba were still alive.
Many explicit narations from Sahaba & Tabi'un where they distinguish between creating and owning image - having an image is not problematic if you are not venerating it.
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Photos

unanimate

Photos + movies = ijma (consensus) that its halal because its just capturing & preserving light. Owning unanimate photo is OK

animate

Most scholars do not place them in the same category as those things prohibited during the Prophet’s time, they say its halal because it just captures light and is similar to a reflection of light (same as mirror and reflection on water).
Salafi + deobandi + ... -> photos/movies are haram -> Photos come under hadith that says angels do not enter a house
Modern maliki, modern shafi, fatwas of egypt, north africa -> OK to display photos.
Fatwas of jodan -> OK but best to avoid hanging -> at max its makruh
Even more conservative scholars: its OK to store on computer because its just emission of light waves. If you print it, then its an image that is haram.
It is clear that image-making is one of the blameworthy actions of the jaahiliyyah which Islam came to oppose. It is well established from clear, saheeh mutawaatir ahaadeeth that it is not allowed, and that the one who does this is cursed and is warned of torment in Hell, as in the hadith of Ibn Abbas which is attributed to the Prophet: "Every image-maker will be in Hell, and a soul will be given to every image which he made so that it might torment him in Hell." (Sahih Muslim).
This applies to all images of animate created beings, humans and others. There is no difference between three-dimensional and other images, whether they were taken with cameras or produced by painting, engraving or other methods, because of the general meaning of the hadith.
The scholars have clearly stated that the prohibition applies to photographs and other kinds of pictures, such as Imaam al-Nawawi, al-Haafiz ibn Hajar and others. The hadith of Aishah concerning the story of the curtain is clear, and what it indicates is that an image which is on a curtain is not 3D, rather it is a kind of drawing on cloth, but despite that the Messenger counted it as trying to match the creation of Allah.
But if the image is originally incomplete, such as a head-and-shoulders picture, and there is removed from the picture that without which is could not live, then it may be understood from the comments of many of the fuqaha that this is permissible, especially if there is a need for such partial pictures. Whatever the case, one has to fear Allaah as much as one can, and avoid that which Allah and His Messenger have forbidden.
Ibn Uthaymeen said, when he was asked about pictures: "making pictures for this purpose is haram and is not permitted. That is because making pictures for memories is haram, because the Prophet said, “The angels do not enter any house in which there is an image,” (narrated by al-Bukhaari), and whatever the angels do not enter had no goodness in it."
This includes all images, whether they are carved, engraved, printed, drawn or taken with a camera, because all kinds of image-making are included in the general meaning of the hadith. There are no exceptions, apart from cases of necessity or need such as photos for personal identity documents, which are essential.
Saudi Arabian Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta: “Making images of animate beings is haram and earnings from doing this are haram.”
When Allah forbids a thing, He also forbids its price. Making images of animate beings is forbidden, as it was reported in the sahih evidence. Therefore earnings from doing this are unclean and it is not permissible to consume them. An exception is made in the case of images that are necessary, such as photos for ID documents and photos used to track down criminals and so on. It is permissible to make these images and receive payment for doing so. The one who is asking this question could work only with pictures of things that are not animate, or he can try to look for another job. Whoever gives up a thing for the sake of Allah, Allah will compensate him with something better.
These hadith indicate that pictures of animate beings are haram, whether they are humans or other creatures, whether they are 3D or 2D, whether they are printed, drawn, etched, engraved, carved, cast in moulds, etc. These hadith include all of these types of pictures.
The Muslim should submit to the teachings of Islam and not argue with them by saying, "But I am not worshipping them or prostrating to them!" If we think about just one aspect of the evil caused by the prevalence of photographs and pictures in our times, we will understand something of the wisdom behind this prohibition: that aspect is the great corruption caused by the provoking of physical desires and subsequent spread of immorality caused by these pictures.
But nowadays, unfortunately, one can even find in some Muslim homes statues of gods worshipped by the kuffaar (Buddha,...) which they keep on the basis that they are antiques or decorative pieces. These things are more strictly prohibited than others, just as pictures which are hung up are worse than pictures which are not hung up, for how easily they can lead to glorification, and cause grief or be a source of boasting! We cannot say that these pictures are kept for memory's sake, because true memories of a Muslim relative or friend reside in the heart, and we remember them by praying for mercy and forgiveness for them.
Taking pictures with a camera involves human actions such as focusing, pressing the shutter, developing, printing, and so on. We cannot call it anything other than "picture-making" or tasweer, which is the expression used by all Arabic-speakers to describe this action.
Among the scholars who have discussed the issue of photography is al-Albaani, who said: "Some of them differentiate between hand-drawn pictures and photographic images by claiming that the latter are not products of human effort, and that no more is involved than the mere capturing of the image. This is what they claim. The tremendous energy invested the one who invented this machine that can do in few seconds what otherwise could not be done in hours does not count as human effort, according to these people! Pointing the camera, focusing it, and taking the picture, preceded by installation of the film and followed by developing and whatever else that I may not know about none of this is the result of human effort, according to them!
Some of them explain how this photography is done, and summarize that no less than eleven different actions are involved in the making of a picture. In spite of all this, they say that this picture is not the result of human action! Can it be permissible to hang up a picture of a man, for example, if it is produced by photography, but not if it is drawn by hand?
Those who say that photography is permitted have "frozen" the meaning of the word "tasweer," restriciting it only to the meaning known at the time of the Prophet and not adding the meaning of photography, which is "tasweer" or "picture-making" in every sense - linguistic, legal, and in its harmful effects, and as is clear from the definition mentioned above. Years ago, I said to one of them, By the same token, you could allow idols which have not been carved but have been made by pressing a button on some machine that turns out idols by the dozen. What do you say to that?"
al-Albani: "I fear one day the salafis will say, photography is not imaging, you just press a button."
It is also worth quoting the opinion of some contemporary scholars who allow the taking of photographs but say that the pictures should not be kept: "The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or pictures."
According to another fatwa issued by the Standing Committee:
"It is not permissible to make pictures of animate beings using cameras or any other kind of image-making equipment, or to keep pictures of animate beings except in cases of necessity, such as pictures in identity documents or passports; it is permissible to take and keep such pictures because there is a need for that."
It is haram to take a picture of a man because making images of everything that has a soul is haram, indeed it is a major sin, because of the stern warning against that narrated in the texts of the Sunnah; and because it is imitating Allah in His creation of living things; and because it is a means that leads to temptation (fitnah) and that often leads to shirk. The one who takes the picture, the one who tells him to do it and those who help him to do it are all guilty of sin, because they are cooperating in sin, which Allah has forbidden when He said: “but do not help one another in sin and transgression” [Quran 5:2]
Alot of scholars: photography haram because they connect lingustic meaning of hadith-based word image-maker with lingustic naming of a person who takes a photo - image-maker.
Some scholars + Ibn Uthaymeen: photography OK
Both types: hanging photos of animate beings is haram, photos with inanimate objects is OK
Position of Imam Malik: there is no question with regard to the permissibility of taking photographs, for according to that position, painting pictures of human or animal life on a paper or fabric is allowed hence camera pictures would hold the same ruling.
The contemporary scholars have different opinions in this matter. However, it is safer for a Muslim not to engage in photography or to have pictures of living creatures, unless to make identity cards or the like.
Contemporary scholars have differed on this issue:
The position of the overwhelming majority of Indo-Pak and some Arab scholars is that photographs of human or animal life are not permissible for the very same reasons that paintings of these are not permissible. They state that the ruling on picture-making does not change by changing the tool with which the picture is produced. Whether an image is produced by painting it or using a camera, as long as it is an image of a human or animal, it will remain haram. This is more precautious and arguably stronger opinion.
The second position on the issue, held by most Arab Scholars (from all 4 Madhabs) and some from the Indian Subcontinent, is that there is a difference between photos and the prohibited picture-making (taswir). Shaykh Muhammad Bakhit al-Muti’i of Egypt, a 20th Century scholar known for his knowledge and piety, wrote a whole treatise titled al-Jawab al-Shafi fi Ibahat Surat al-Photography in support of this view of permissibility. His basic understanding is that the reason behind the prohibition of painting pictures (in the words of the Hadith) is challenging Allah in His Creating of living creatures. In camera photos, however, one does not produce an image through one’s own imagination; hence one is not challenging the Creating of Allah as such. It is merely a reflection of a living being already created by Allah Most High.

Live Broadcasting

Shaykh Mufti Taqi Usmani and many other scholars have declared that live broadcastings of images do not fall within the ambit of picture-making (taswir). A picture is something that is permanent and static, whilst the image broadcasted live is not permanent hence cannot be termed a picture. A live broadcast is in reality a reflection of the actual image, similar to seeing an image in a mirror.
Therefore, if an image of a human or animal is broadcasted live, then this does not fall into the unlawful picture-making. It will be permitted to broadcast something live or view a live programme, provided the content of the programme is halal.

Video Recording

According to Shaykh Taqi Usmani, that which is recorded in a videotape or DVD is also not considered a picture. In a videotape, the particles of an image are gathered and then re-opened in the same order to view the image. This is the reason why it is not possible to see the picture in the rail of the tape without playing it.
Therefore, if a permitted and Halal event, such as a lecture of a scholar, is played and viewed on a videotape or DVD, it will be permitted, Insha Allah.
Note that the above discussion does not in any way relate to watching Television. Watching TV and keeping it at home is another matter altogether, for which a separate answer is needed. The many harms and evils of keeping a TV at home are known to all. This answer only relates to the permissibility of viewing a Halal image through a live broadcast or a videotape/DVD.
Shaykh Taqi Usmani sums this up in one of his Fatawa:
“The images appearing on live programs or recorded programs on television are not the pictures in the strict sense envisaged in the A hadith of the Holy Prophet unless they are printed in a durable form on paper or on any other object. But the basic reason why Muslims are advised not to keep TV sets in their homes is that most of the programs broadcast on the TV channels contain impermissible elements.”
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Praying with an a image on a shirt:

Silhouette of living being = OK
Some say haram.
majority: makruh.
generally speaking prayer is valid, but should be avoided.
Prophet prayed, image closeby, after prayer he commanded image to be taken down because it distracte him from prayer -> makruh for images to be at praying place.
Ibn Tayimiyah said: "The correct view, which was narrated from Umar ibn al-Khattaab and others, and is mentioned in reports from Ahmad and others, is that if there are images in it (the church), he should not pray there, because the angels do not enter the room in which there are images, and because the Prophet did not enter the Kabah until the images that were in it had been erased. This is what Umar said: We would not enter their churches if there were images in them."
The later Hanafi and Shafi scholars – unlike the Hanbalis – were so strict that they even forbade praying in a place in which there are any images, even if they are behind the one who is praying or placed on the ground so that he cannot see them.
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Exception

Al-Nawawi said:
"With regard to sciences, some of them are a communal obligation, such as medicine."
Imam Shafi said:
"I do not know of any branch of knowledge, after knowledge of halal and haram, that is more noble than medicine."
In our religion it is permissible for women to treat men in cases of necessity.
Narrated by Ar-Rubayyi bint Mu'auwidh:
"We were in the company of the Prophet providing the wounded with water and treating them and bringing the killed to Medina (from the battle field)." (al-Bukhari 2882)
Ibn Hajar said, commenting on this hadith:
"This shows that it is permissible for a non-mahram woman to treat a non-mahram man in cases of necessity."
In a Fatwa issued by the scholars of the Standing Committee, there is evidence which indicates that it is permissible to make pictures in cases of necessity, such as pictures to prove the identity of a person and the like.
As for making pictures and drawing parts of the body separately, such as the head or the chest, many scholars are of the view that it is permissible.
All of the above indicates that it is permissible to use drawing and pictures in studying medicine, etc.
If producing images of criminals is necessary, because of the seriousness of their crimes and to protect the Muslims from their evil when they are known, or for other reasons, there is nothing wrong with that. “…He has explained to you in detail what is forbidden to you, except under compulsion of necessity …” [Quran 6:119]
Conservative scholars: Childens' toys + educational purposes + ID cards = OK
There is nothing wrong with taking pictures that serve a purpose. There is nothing wrong if pictures taken at the scene of the accident include people who are not involved. But if the pictures are taken by someone using his own camera, in order to keep the pictures for himself, then this is not allowed. It is haram not in and of itself, but because of the purpose, which is to keep the pictures for himself with no need to do so. The reason why you are taking the pictures, on the other hand, is for a legitimate and necessary purpose.

• Meet the Kyanah -- the alien civilization I've been working on since 2016
• A Primer on Kyanah Physiology
• Aliens Deserve Alien Brains
• A Primer on Kyanah Pack Dynamics
• Advanced Kyanah Psychology: Inter-Pack Dynamics
• The Motives for Project Hope: Part I
• The Motives for Project Hope: Part II
• The Motives for Project Hope: Part III
• The Motives for Project Hope: Part IV
• The Motives for Project Hope: Part V
• Intro to Kyanah Politics
• An (abridged) Beastiary of the Kyanah Homeworld
• Plantlife of the Kyanah Homeworld
• An Analysis of Kyanah Military Forces: Part I -- Tech
• An Analysis of Kyanah Military Forces: Part II -- Organizational Structure
• An Analysis of Kyanah Military Forces: Part III -- Military Doctrine
• Alien Computers Are Alien
• Alien Computers Are Alien -- Part II: Kyanah-Human Cyberwarfare
• Alien Computers Are Alien -- Part III: A Guide to Kyanah Internets
• A Look Into the Kyanah Education System
• A Rare Look at Kyanah Living Spaces
• A Primer on Kyanah Economics
• Kyanah Food and Drink
• The Kyanah Have A Desert Planet -- Wait No It Has 12 Biomes: Part I
• The Kyanah Have A Desert Planet -- Wait No It Has 12 Biomes: Part II
• Kyanah City-State Dynamics: Part I -- Intercity Relations
• Kyanah City-State Dynamics: Part II -- City-State Demographics

Finally, after eight years, a definitive map of the Kyanah homeworld. No more vague handwaving and here-be-dragons nonsense.
https://i.imgur.com/upQLM6w.png
(Main image)
https://i.imgur.com/FhoQbk0.png
(Plus labels)
In red are the impact ranges, the equivalent to mountain ranges since they have no tectonic plates on their homeworld. These are, as previously discussed, formed by debris streams from colossal asteroids--dozens of kilometers across before breaking apart--crossing orbits with the world, creating devastating meteor showers year after year, each event creating more and more craters and impact peaks and ejecta piles until the large rocks mostly run out after a few centuries. These impacts aren't always uniformly distributed across their entire great circle, and geological processes like erosion can wear away parts of an impact range over millions of years, so all the ranges have discontinuities, giving the illusion that they're separate mountain chains. However, by the time Kyanah science reached the level of 17th century Earth, geologists realized that they were all connected to others along great circle lines, and for this reason their maps usually fill in the gaps where the mountains have eroded away over time, hence the thin red lines. All the impact ranges are named after colors, a fact which has everything to do with early modern cartographers drawing each one in a particular color, and nothing to do with me being lazy. Exactly how these debris streams impact along great circles instead of just randomly impacting all over the place was not discovered until their science reached the level of the 20th century, and the Aktektan Effect was discovered: unique minerals in the Tau Ceti system's asteroid belt interact with the solar wind to produce a slight electrostatic charge preventing asteroid fragments from rapidly dispersing and instead holding them together in a relatively dense and narrow stream, allowing for the creation of cohesive impact ranges. (In-universe, the Aktektan Effect also explains how the Tau Ceti system has an enormously dense asteroid belt despite being older than the Solar System.)
Of course, not all impacts arrive in the form of debris streams, there have been plenty of one-off impacts over the eons. Dozens of recognizable independent impact craters over 50 kilometers across can be found on the planet, with the biggest being 300 kilometers across and still almost 2 kilometers deep despite being filled in over millions of years. The lack of oceans and less frequent rain has kept many of these craters well preserved, with who knows how many having eroded away or been buried. While there are no plate tectonics to create large volcano chains, some volcanoes have formed over hot spots or as a result of asteroid impacts; these stand alone or in small clusters, with only dozens of active ones instead of thousands like on Earth.
There are a bit over a hundred major Kyanah city-states with populations over 10 million individuals. Most of these occur in clusters, though there are a few one-off ones that gained such a high population due to their own assorted economic or political quirks. These clusters also, needless to say, have hundreds or even thousands of smaller city-states in between the larger ones. Major city-state clusters include:
The Rktakian Kwardniet (literally Civilized Plateau) (region 1), with 9 major city-states. As a whole, this is the wealthiest and most developed region on the planet, with 14 of the 20 strongest militaries. However, it wasn't always the political and economic center of the world; in pre-modern times, it was far from the wealthiest region, as it as locked out of the major ancient trade routes on all sides. To the north was the White Impact Range, to the west, the Red Impact Range, and to the south, the hot and desolate Dunelands, and the treacherous Shatter, where extant parts of the Yellow, Blue, and Black Impact Ranges (the first of which being the newest and thus most chaotic one, only 34 million Earth years old) cross each other in the same place, creating the widest and highest reach of shattered land in the world. Even in modern times, there are no railways or paved roads through the Shatter, and the vast majority of all travelers and commerce go around or fly over it; to pre-modern Kyanah in the Dunelands and the Rktakian Kwardniet, it truly seemed like the edge of the world. As time went on, they eventually had their own Age of Discovery and joined the ever-expanding global trade networks in earnest. However, the increase in contact between different parts of the world also spread disease and started a deadly pandemic called the Shadow. Without a scientific understanding of viruses or oceans to stop its spread, it circled out the planet, wiping out as many as a billion lives according to some estimates. The Rktakian Kwardniet was particularly hard-hit, losing over a quarter of their population in a generation, which necessitated the adoption of mechanization and industrialization to adapt to the labor shortage. Naturally, this proved to be a blessing in disguise, as the region underwent a meteoric rise in wealth and prosperity, and the first city-states to industrialize gained enormous political influence over the rest of the world. After the Utopian Wars, the rise of Ikun, the establishment of the Hegemony, and the Globalist doctrine further boosted the region's strength, partially at the expense of the poor equatorial regions. The gradual shift to a post-industrial service/information economy and their extensive lead in commercializing space during the Hegemony also contributed significantly. Though as of the Project Hope era, their crown is slipping as city-states in several other regions are rapidly catching up. Many packs from the Dunelands to the south have been immigrating here in recent decades, fleeing drought, corruption, and war to start anew in the wealthier northern city-states.
The Far South (region 2), with 20 major city-states. Currently the second most economically developed region on the planet, this cluster is located along an extant section of the Green Impact Range in the far southern hemisphere (duh). The northern side of the mountains tends to have a surprisingly mild climate for its latitude due to the westerlies bringing warmer air into the region, though the southern side (where a few major city-states have set up shop) is the opposite, with the very same mountains trapping them in a wind shadow with the dry, frigid polar air, creating exceptionally frigid (by Kyanah standards) climates; snow flurries aren't an uncommon sight in the winter, though they rarely accumulate. Most Far South city-states on both sides have the midnight sun and polar night, which both play a big role in their religion and culture, with huge festivals and ceremonies every year at the last sunset before polar night, and the sunrise of the polar day. The biggest reason these areas are densely inhabited in the first place is for the mining of precious metals and valuable minerals deposited by asteroids via the impact range. This meant that the Far South had a relatively poor economy centered around resource extraction and raw materials until after the Utopian Wars and the establishment of the Hegemony. It was at this point that they began to rapidly industrialize and undergo a second population boom to reach the vast population levels of modern times. While plenty of mining cities remain, the most prosperous ones have pivoted to high-tech industry, including but not limited to vehicles, satellites, robotics, consumer electronics, and computer hardware/software. This factor alone doesn't entirely explain the vast population boom; additionally, many of these city-states have a deeply religious populace that puts a high value on procreation. This is often encouraged by their governments, some of which even have hatchling quotas in order to boost their population to economically (and perhaps eventually militarily) compete with the Rktakian Kwardniet; many governments in the region dislike the Hegemony and are neutral to hostile towards the north, though Ikun and other Rktakian Kwardniet have various allies in the region all the same.
The Meatbucket (region 3), with 5 major city-states. This region is characterized by having some of the wettest climates on the planet, with rains exceeding 50 centimeters per Earth year. Trade winds being deflected northwards by an outcropping of the Black Impact Range, westerlies being deflected around the White Impact Range, and polar easterlies from the north all meet here, creating extensive storm systems. Combined with fertile soil being deposited against the White Impact Range by these winds, this is the best agricultural region in the northern hemisphere, a fact which the Kyanah have taken full advantage of; even in modern times, it remains the planet's breadbasket. Despite most city-states having an economy primarily based around agriculture and light industry, it has an average standard of living rivaling that of the Rktakian Kwardniet itself. Due to being next door to said region, it has enjoyed some of the knock-on effects from early industrialization and was an early adopter of high-tech mechanized agriculture, allowing it to produce more meat and livestock feed than any other region. Politically, while the Meatbucket city-states tend to stay out of the drama and convoluted geopolitical games between the north and the south, they also tend to maintain friendly relations with city-states in the Rktakian Kwardniet. Most governments in this region are quite stable and have relatively low levels of corruption. Though much like the Rktakian Kwardniet, the Meatbucket also has many immigrants coming from their south (the Nyruietkot Riyentkin), and also like the Rktakian Kwardniet, this tends to be politically controversial.
The Boreal Cities (region 4), with 14 major city-states. Spread widely across the planet's far northern hemisphere, and often not very culturally or diplomatically involved with each other these city-states are mostly found in the boreal scrubland, with a few in the boreal savanna. Despite mostly having a middling income and unremarkable economy by global standards, several city-states have attained a vast population simply by being very old, though it hasn't been a global power center for centuries, if not millennia. The boreal scrublands are the Kyanahs' ancestral homeland and the hatching place of the first civilizations, so many city-states have been around for thousands of years and gradually accumulated many, many packs. The low density of oases also encourages populations to clump together. The region tends to have a cool and damp climate by the planet's standards...though humans would call it warm and semi-arid.
The Western Sector (region 5), with 5 major city-states. Like the Rktakian Kwardniet to its immediate east, it is also wedged between the White and Red Impact Ranges, though it's separated from the other region by the White Impact Range. While being early to industrialize due to their proximity to the Rktakian Kwardniet, and thus having a high standard of living, most of them never caught up to their eastern neighbors and thus never gained the same tremendous influence on global affairs. Despite considerable cultural differences with the Rktakian Kwardniet, Kyanah in other parts of the world often see them as one and the same, something which neither the Rktakian Kwardniet nor the Western Sector are particularly amused by.
The Nyruietkot Riyentkin (literally Rising East) (region 6), with 33 major city-states. Located in a scorching yet not particularly arid part of the equatorial region, between several old and relatively broken down impact ranges, this region is actually one of the poorest despite its huge population. With an economy heavily centered on resource extraction and cash crops--despite attempts by some of the more well-to-do city-states to break into energy production and manufacturing--having large numbers of young is necessary to have enough helping hands for such demanding industries. Efforts by these city-states to modernize their economies have been hampered by ecological catastrophes, civil unrest caused by the large populations of said city-states, and the use of the region by both the Rktakian Kwardniet and the Far South and a proving ground for Globalist doctrine. Many refugees have fled the region and immigrated to the Meatbucket to the north.
The Middle South (region 7), with 17 major city-states. Rather obviously, it's located in between the Far South and the Near South (not a commonly used term, but typically referring to everything from the Dunelands south to the Shatter. It's easy to see why the Middle South is densely populated; large open plains with wind and precipitation from the westerlies (often carrying rich volcanic soil from the volcanic cluster at the west end of the region) have created a region almost as suitable for agriculture as the Meatbucket. Indeed, in the last few centuries before the Rktakian Kwardniet industrialized, the Middle South was the richest region on the planet, with massive trade hubs dealing in alcohol, hides, spices, and slaves from the northern hemisphere; gold, gems, meteoric iron, and exotic preserved meats from the Far South; and exporting their own textiles, printed books and paper, ceramics, and timber to everyone around them. Though naturally, many other goods were imported and exported over the centuries as well. However, the Middle South was relatively lightly affected by the Shadow, which proved to be a double-edged sword, as they didn't have the same pressure to industrialize and were rather late to the party. Coal would be discovered there in the industrial age, boosting its relevance again somewhat. Development remains mixed in modern times, with some city-states adopting high-tech economies and others sticking to agriculture or coal.
The Dunelands (region 8), with 0 major city-states (the largest is Orokun, with a population of just 8.6 million). However, as the Rktakian Kwardniet's immediate neighbors, they deserve a mention, especially as one pack in Road to Hope comes from the Dunelands. This region is located in a scorching hot and dry basin filled with extensive sand dunes, hence the name. It has a relatively low population-density overall, with most city states having lower middle income economies. The spent the pre-industrial era mostly locked in their own microcosm, with the Rktakian Kwardniet, as to their immediate south are the equally arid Ptekyen Highlands and the treacherous Shatter. They ultimately did not industrialize as quickly as the Rktakian Kwardniet, despite being right next door, which can mostly be attributed to political factors. The Dunelands were thus left in the dust by their northern neighbors and remain plagued by droughts, environmental destruction, and in many city-states, corruption, dictators, and civil unrest.

To get straight to the point - Last ~month, I started my first CK3 game after around 2 years. I played as Catalonia -> Hispania -> WC Attempt -> Abandonment due to lag. I also must note that I played on Very Easy due to time reasons (I barely have time to play games, so I play on easy difficulties to spare myself of resets), so if you think that makes this review invalid, feel free to skip.
As a note, I have the game + the royal court DLC I got in a bundle when I bought the game. Nothing else. I played with no mods, but later had to use some in order to get over some game breaking issues. (see below)
=== THE GOOD ===
Overall, the most basic game loop is fun: Despite the shade I am about to throw on the game later, I have to note that the most basic game mechanics are in general fun. I enjoyed dealing with my heirs, managing inheritance, court laws, subjects, wars, modifying my culture, creating a religion and so on. That is basically what kept me from going all the way until the game became unplayable due to lag.
I have more or less nothing to complain about in the early game: The early game was objectively the most fun I had in the campaign. This is most likely because as a small ruler, I actually had to strategize, prepare for bigger wars, manage intrigue, alliances and so on. Of course, things like intrigue are also important if you aren't playing on Very Easy later on, but I can only comment from my personal experience.
The pilgrimage mechanic is really fun: Nothing to do? Send your king to Jerusalem! During the early game I did an insultingly high amount of them, mainly to farm piety for claims and to get lifestyle experience. I think that they are really well implemented, although I would appreciate a way to extend the possible detour length that isn't moving my capital.
Early to Early-Mid game is great for RP: Thanks to the first three points, I was able to enjoy a pretty in-depth headcanon-RP with my dynasty. Spending years going after an annoying subject, RPing as a king whose life goal is it to visit as much landmarks as possible (King Álvar, such a chad, never to be forgotten) and so on. In late game, the only real RP you could do is learning as much languages as you can, revisiting landmarks you already visited with your previous rulers and trying to get a high kill count.
=== THE BAD ==
Uncountable quality of life/user interface/general jank issues: There is so many of them that I'll certainly only scratch the surface here, but here we go: - The pop-ups on top lag/sometimes don't close/waste my time with movement animations when I try to close them by right-clicking. This was particularly egregious after I decided to get communion to my religion. - Some windows are not possible to be closed due to being buried under pop-ups (see point above) - Left-side pop-ups popping up only one by one. When I execute people to clean out my prison, I don't want the game to spend the next three minutes printing individual kill messages. - Talking about which, the clean all button sometimes doesn't work - Once you max out a lifestyle type, you can get irremovable points from travel you can't spend until your ruler dies. - Artifacts displaying seemingly arbitrary numbers (aka seeing like 27 in the circle but only having one new item) - Current situations every so often completely resetting, forcing you to hover over everything all the time - When planning a pilgrimage, the game doesn't stop you from setting it up if you aren't eligible to travel (army/illness). When you close the window, everything resets. Several times, I spent several minutes planning a trip just to be notified that I am in the army, losing my progress. - When adding destinations to your trip, the list of places keeps resetting to the top, forcing you to unnecessarily scroll to the bottom every single time - When fabricating claims using piety, you can't buy them in bulk. Want to claim southern France? Oh boy oh boy, I sure do hope you like to go through the menus 50 times. - Each time you get a new court physician, the "Fight plagues" option unchecks. - The "demand payment subwindow" closes a few second after you use it to demand payment, forcing you to try to press the most buttons in ~1 second before it resets and forces you to open it again. - The "seek indulgence" and "character wants your artifact" popup buttons are identical - Army rally points being extremely hard to find. Like, at least make them big and glowy if I'm in a war without raised armies. There are certainly more, these are just from the top of my head
Questionable default pop-up choices: There are many completely useless pop-ups I get (Random child I never heard about revealed to be a bastard of some random guy I never heard about), but I don't get notified about my advisor finishing a job, which is IMO much more important. (Yes, I know that I can change it, but it's not something I'd want to be doing during my leisure gaming time)
Late game: Of course, keep in mind that I played on Very Easy, so I probably robbed myself of some of the fun, but late game really doesn't offer much besides getting perfect traits, conquering countries by the kingdom and maybe going on pilgrimages every so often to break the routine. You are also completely past the need to manage money/prestige and so on due to effectively having infinite of each, and building stuff in your domain also really doesn't matter anymore.
Rebels shouldn't be able to capitulate me so easily: When I formed my religion, I already controlled most of Western Europe. Due to that, every so often I got rebel uprisings. However, due to only being able to field so many armies, rebels were able to capitulate me and release half of my vassals by occupying 8 counties in Cornwall, even though I was perfectly able to defeat them once my armies got to them. That basically forced me to restart the game multiple times to try and guess the optimal army placement in order to prevent this from happening.
Not being able to set custom holy cities for your faith: My faith was called "Hispanism", so I wanted to move my holy cities to the Iberian peninsula. Unfortunately, this is not a thing, even though IMO it would be quite good for RP
Issues with artifacts: Artifacts in general aren't a horrible feature, but there are some issues with them: - Your inventory is filled with junk. Each time I conquer a kingdom, it gives me a ton of completely useless green-tier boar hides. - You cannot destroy blue artifacts - this is such a pain. It constantly gives you situation reminders to repair your boar hides. I could understand purple artifacts, but blue is just annoying. It leaves me with 50 blue boar hides that keep popping up begging me to repair them. I never will. Stop. - The low durability pop-up not showing you whether your artifact is being used - For most of the game, I had some blue artifacts equipped, so each time something blue popped-up, I had to click it and see if it's being used. - I'd appreciate a feature to search for artifacts - I got like 400 years into the game without having a purple regalia. Would be nice if there was a better way to get one. - Idk if this is a bug, but in the late game, I basically never had any antiquarian above mediocre eligibility show up on it's own. It often happened in early game.
Relatively low amount of events: Of course, not every single event can be unique, but even after playing a 400 year game, I feel that I more or less memorized 80% of all events I receive. This removes the need to even read them, most of the time I just look at what it is, and then click the memorized best/"does nothing" choice. It also feels like there aren't a lot of them in the game. Like, the game more or less just rotates through ~30 of the same events. There are some rare ones (get a dog), but usually it's just something you already clicked 3 times today. This is mainly an issue with the court, where it feels like there are only like 8 possible court events.
"Title rot": A term I coined. Basically, once you play long enough, your home empire becomes completely shattered between more or less anyone in your realm. Would be nice if there was a gamerule/5th authority option to somehow prevent this. It's not a major issue though, I suppose...
=== THE UGLY ===
Legitimacy is competely broken: In the mid-game, you are basically always on 0 legitimacy due to plagues. This results in having to deal with a spam of people demanding your artifacts and other issues.
The lag: Of course, I can understand lag in late game, but I would appreciate a non-ironman setting named something like "ultra low lag mode" that would force every single rules except for your and your direct vassals to only have one child - a valid heir with a mechanism to prevent title transfers. It's weird to click on a province in my 750 province empire and see that each one of the 3 barons has 4+ kids...
Iberian Struggle is a gamebreaking mess which forced me to use a cheat client mod: I assume that this is fixed if you have the DLC, but one of the conditions to finish the struggle is to have every single province in your kingdom be your culture. The issue however is that converting one province takes 5 years, and by the time I'm done, my title would have already integrated another kingdom. This is unfathomably silly and made it literally impossible for me to form an empire. In general, I must question the motives of this requirement. Shouldn't it be enough to control enough provinces in Iberia to form an empire and converting 100% of the area to your religion? Anyways, any bug that forces me to download a cheat menu is an incredibly disappointing sight to see.
However, the Iberian Struggle issue is simply a bruh moment. It might even be avoidable if I knew about it and rushed to convert the culture of my kingdom. All however pales to the single, most absolute flaw of CK3:
=== PLAGUES ARE AN UTTER INSULT OF A FEATURE WHICH ACTIVELY MADE THE GAME LESS FUN ==
Let me explain. Plagues by themselves aren't a problem. For example, when the black death came, I had absolutely no issue with it. Plagues however, as implemented by the game, are utterly broken:
The absolute primary issue is the pop-ups. I get a pop-up for more or less every single plague in my massive empire. Even if it shows up on the other side of the continent and the pop-up doesn't influence me at all. A pop-up isn't even one click, it's several:
- Click on "summon physician" - Click on the "normal treatment" option - Click on the "it worked" button (no shit, I have 10k+ coins and an excellent physician all the time) - Click on the "Isolate capital button" - Click OK Repeat this loop several times EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR.
Another issue is the alms popup. THE GODFORSAKEN ALMS POPUP! It is unironically like 80% of ALL events in the game. Once you get past early game, you get so many alms pop-ups that (i assume due to the way events are generated), the game barely even generates anything else at all. I basically got almost no flavor at all in the late game, because the only thing the game is throwing at me is alms.
To continue, plagues tank your legitimacy, worsening the issue with this mechanic even more.
Plagues are such a nuisance that I don't think that I will play CK3 (at least without a mod disabling them) in the near future. They actively make the game less fun. It's truly a pity, as when I played CK2 in the past, plagues were fine.

Welp, this was the review. I hope that this didn't sound too harsh and that I was able to articulate my points clearly, but in general, CK3, at this moment, is worse than EU4 or HOI4.
Feel free to let me know what you thought about this review. Do you agree/disagree?

Here's how to fix the Netherlands:

• illegalize extreme BDSM (first),
  
• legalize prostitution (already legal)
  
• especial unhackable cameras for sex-workers,
  
• the punishment for beating a woman be life sentence,
  

Extreme bdsm, as in, face-slapping, punching, anything that causes traumatic-brain-injury, concussions, (which can be detected in MRI tests for court trials), and any other permanent bodily injury.
That would make it the only place in the world where women be safe and free. The only place where:

• domestic violence is illegal (for real, not just on paper)
  
• sex-work is legal,
  
• abortion is legal.
  

To further limit domestic violence in households (not brothels), some optional things that can be implemented (which I highly advice) are:

• every registered home be laiden with unhackable ring-sig/multi-sig encrypted cameras with microphones sensitive to grid-line emf for timestampping,
  
• no court fees for women filing for domestic-violence cases (or any),
  
• no repercussions for falsely filing a case against your man (to reduce the fear of filing a case; the most that could go wrong is a mere No-Contact restrain order),
  
• if verifiably proven (as in, camera recordings, etc), suspect gets life sentence and forced labour with which the prison gets funded and the victim gets compensated,
  
• if not proven for certain, at least a restrain/no-contact order whereby the suspect cannot enter the towns/microstates the accuser happens to be in.
  
• suspicion-until-proven-not-guilty; the onus to prove one's innocence be upon the accused, the male, so men have every incentive to carry body cameras etc, to defend against false rape charges.
  
• everyone's past, past suspicions, trials, all such data, be on a website. If you can make a society safe for women, the good men would follow in like bees. Thus, catering to women's defence needs is very (Misesian) entrepreneurially advantageous. Afterall, the primary purpose of a society is DATING; keeping women safe in such dating/matchmaking game be your highest priority. There's many an evolutionarily evolved trait that keep children safe anyway, but fewer for women, especially in a non-tribal society with hookup culture wherein a psychopath has every incentive to harm/kill his date and run away. It's a surprise that that isn't more prevalent... Societies are playing with fire; they have no clue how deep in trouble they are. Reform or lose the game to psychopaths; much like the evol sexual-stretegy simulation studies on rat societies lol.
  

+++
Your current law code is lame and hypocritical; as per the current laws on racism, to highlight IQ differences between races, to emphasize empathy/psychopathy prevalence differences between racial groups, is racist! And yet, the very notion of a-law-against-racism rests on the belief that races do exist, that there's skin-coloskull-shape/genetic differences between so called "races" they aim to protect; how could the state accept that there be such differences but illegalize for such differences to be discussed and admitted? Utterly ridiculous!
Your current judicial framework is a joke. A client could beat the hell out of a prostitute (just short of killing her) and he has more-or-less legal impunity! A wife-beater gets a mere month is prison! What sense does that make? To believe that, somehow, in a closed cell, locked in for a few months, playing GTA, banging pussies (sex-therapy with prostitutes, for sex offenders; as dumb as it sounds; wouldn't be surprised if UN says the right to sex is every human's basic fundamental human right lol), free food in the prison, somehow makes a psychopath a sunflower, is beyond my comprehension. One would have to be utterly braindead to believe so. Another hypothesis: the dutch politicians and justices are NOT braindead, they're just a little too psychopathic themselves, and being so, concerned for themselves and their own future wife-beating sons. Facts.
Your king is too empathetic and naive, very like the many white people all over the globe who believe in humanity, who believe that every human is deep down a fluffy furry, and to prove so to the world (or themselves), who venture into dangerous territory in the Africas or Arabian towns, only to be lynched by the mobs (many such cases in the news)...
The dutch people who want diversity can go live in Africa or the UAE; in the name of diversity, to advocate that others be put in danger for one's own naivety, is not just foolish, but downright wrong.
The dutch people who have big hearts, who wish to help the desperate immigrants, go do so with your own money. To advocate that others' money be stolen to be donated to one group, is no philanthropy. Theft in the name of charity is just that: THEFT.
+++
To fix the Netherlands in the long run:

• do away with the laws on racism; keep only the laws against physical harm; words are words; one should only be prosecuted for actions, not threat by words, not threat to act, only action itself. At best, you could exile those deemed threatening (in the short run), but not imprison.
  
• do away with the laws against discrimination in the private sector; an entrepreneur who doesn't hire an equally talented woman/newcomeimmigrant/black for a job, would lose his revenue to the one who does; in the free market, wrong biases just aren't solvent, just aren't efficient and profitable. Such feminist equal-pay laws do more harm to women then good; no one wants to hire women anymore, especially for technical roles... Only misogynists pass such laws. Facts.
  

END WELFARE SOCIALISM:

• no free healthcare for nobody,
  
• no free housing for nobody,
  
• no state-funded pension for nobody,
  
• no child-care subsidies for nobody,
  
• etc.
  

+++
PRIVATIZE THE STATE:

• with defence (international and internal) as the only service of the state of Netherlands, privatize such an entity; privatize the Dutch Defence Agency.
  
• every citizen gets one (or ten, or thousand; whatever denomination) equal shares of the private entity Dutch Defence Agency.
  
• inhabitants of the netherlands be required to pay a head-tax, a fixed tax/payment per person, for the services of international defence (radars, nukes, anti-nukes, iron dome, etc).
  
• people be free to sell their shares in the open market. And no, it doesn't make you susceptible to foreign interference/meddling in dutch statehood, on the contrary: state-privatization flips-the-table overnight, making all one's enemies into one's extended friends. Not only is the amount of money needed to become the majority shareholder quite high, but, upon putting so much money in, (an amount of money only sensible people get to have), any sensible actor is incentivized to not mess up and keep peace in one's stock, not hijack one's earnings, and just reap the dividents. Very like the Bitcoin/Monero POW incentives for major-miner.
  
• no trade tarrifs. Trump thinks an equal trade-tax for countries which charge a trade-tax with the US, is based. It's not, but it's better than most's beliefs, so okay. But, if one is to be serious, then no, Austrian Economists would never support such a scheme, for the simplest of reasons: selfishness. If Trump (and any country) is to be selfish enough, they should realize that zero-trade-tarrifs for all countries is the thing that makes one prosper, regardless of how much they be taxing us. Mises has said it a million times: war begins when trade ends. So no trade tarrifs whatsoever. Physical/existential security be the only service and concern of a state. Leave it to the dutch people (and private source-auditing firms) to not buy goods from products sourced from child-labouRussians/whatever. The scandenavian madness of One-Family, with the president as the country's daddy, is ludicrous! People are grown ups; they can make their own decisions.
  
• replace the ill notion of democracy with shareholder democracy.
  
• the CEO/president, in power only as long as they stay popular with the state's shareholders.
  

+++
PRIVATIZE THE TOWNS:

• every town becomes a gated-community (with or without actual physical gates).
  
• every home-owner of such a town gets an equal number of shares in that community-stock (Citystate of Amsterdam, for example).
  
• dressing code (public nudity allowance), pollution/negative-externality laws (some with very strict noice-pollution laws, some lenient and affordable ones), traffic rules (bicycle exceptions, lanes, etc), architecture code and rules, all be the liberties of the city-state to decide upon.
  
• the only punishment a city-state be able to give people be: monetary fine, deducted from the prepaid lock-in fund, or, when it gets empty, eviction/exile from the city-state, free to move in to some cheaper lenient one in the Netherlands or elsewhere.
  
• no city-state could "imprison" people. A city-state which forbids abortion, cages pregnant women, preventing them from access to healthcare, would be thus unconstitutional.
  
• every city-state-resident be required to pay a policing-tax/fee; more protected towns have higher fees. Towns with more immigrants, requiring a well-funded police, for a bigger police force, to keep the people safe, would thus be more expensive, more inefficient, and it would thus only be a matter of time that the low-risk-tolerance Dutch populace segregate and buy up the city-stocks and even buy up the properties of the selling-immigrants-in-need-of-money-to-pay-their-state-tax-or-get-exiled, and vote to exile the immigrant population from their towns. All entrepreneurial. Mises knew it all in advance; he knew that the supreme notion of private-property was complete and enough, that it needed no exceptions for such immigration problems. Leftist liberals who are blindly pro-immigration shouldn't call themselves liberals; they're merely leftists, and they're wrong. In the liberal framework of private property, immigration is NEVER a problem that even needs addressing! Hail Von Mises. Ultimately, it all boils down to the entrepreneurial utilitarian benefits of lower policing costs and at a much higher safety-level that come from barring violent races from one's towns, benifits that ultimately pale the compromises in cheap-labour (that the immigrants provide) or the slightly higher shipping costs of buying such products of cheap-labour from a thousand miles afar. The idiots in the dutch parliament and the businessmen who pretend like without all this cheap labour their economy would collapse and they'd be in losses, are misguiding. Shipping costs are already low enough; the inefficiencies of slavery over willful employment and low shipping costs is what defunded slavery; you would be better off buying goods from Africa than having Africans in your own country making those goods at your doorstep. Instead, free trade cross-borders should be encouraged and cherished.
  

As for oppression and foreign wars, if you can't help a people defend their lives and territory by military and financial aid (funded from private charities), don't pretend to help by taking in refugees either, most of whom are, by the very definition of how things work, often the worst of the stock; the average good empathetic african/muslim/indian doesn't want to loot away someone's prosperous country. The good ones never even cry for help to begin with, and most of them are within your borders already: the native Dutch too afraid to express their fear of immigrants; heed to their cries and help them first instead.
+++
REFURNISH DOMESTIC SPACES:

• cameras in every registered home; totally very economical, heck, a billionaire could fund it all out of his own pocket. Mass survillience isn't a concern because it's not impossible to design a black-box encryption protocol with multi-signature encryptions which can only be decoded if all the parties (you, your wife, and the state) provide their keys to decode the video feed. Zero-knowledge-sharing sorcerry whereby keys don't get disclosed to any party either.
  
• the right to discriminate. It's the home-owner's right to dictate who gets to visit inside and who doesn't, whether he/she discriminates on the basis of skin colour or hair colour. In fact, the right to discriminate is as important as the right to free speech, and mutually dependent on each other. One has every right to discriminate who one marries based purely on their race! One has every right to befriend people based on their race. And so does an employer when hiring. To say otherwise and pass anti-discrimination laws is no less discriminatory; just discriminatory in a certain cunning state-sponsered way, for a select few's advantage. An argument can be made that, given how many white women only date big black guys, such anti-discrimination laws would hurt them so-called minorities as much, if not more.
  
• corporal punishment of children (or women/men) be illegal.
  
• no-caging law. One cannot cage someone in one's house without their consent. So, husband denying wife her freedom to abort be first degree violence, no different from switching the button on an electric chair, or pulling the trigger of a gun.
  
• gun laws up to the private property's owner. No home owner would wany guests to carry guns inside, prolly. As for city-state's rules on gun-ownership inside households, that's a purely entrepreneurial matter:
  

fines for owning a gun, disincentivizing gun ownership, has built-in unenforcability; criminal always carries a gun (which can even be 3d printed at home these days), but overall, fewer guns in the public, so fewer rage fights becoming lethal, less money needed to manage the populace for the police, so lower tax/fee,
vs
legal to own a gun in wild spaces, illegal in private spaces (like malls, homes, schools) as per private wish, with metal checks; more guns, higher tax to manage, but ability to defend oneself from criminals carrying guns.
The latter is better imo. Those who think the former is better, can opt in and live in such city-states. What there cannot be is: a sentence for just owning a gun. Only monetary fine or eviction from the city-state; a sentence would be unconstitutional as per the theory of actions-ultimate-judgement, not words, not threats, not gun ownership, not genes, not mental disorders, only actions. There's no better simulation substitute than the real world; all else predictions are merely probabilistic, and when people get imprisoned for mere threats, such predictions are doomed to become ultimately baseless and divorced from reality.
+++
REFORM YOUR CONSTITUTION:

• Make Ludwig Von Mises your constitution's founding-grandpa. Base the code to rule by, on his magnum opus Human Action.
  
• Besides the theoretical basings, short readable constitution that's basically a consent-form that every citizen consents to; consent to be rescued when drowning, consent to be operated on by doctor when unconscious, consent to be arrested for suspicion and inquiry (?), consent to be punched when resisting arrest (which no one would sign to, so no punching people EVER, especially in the name of law enforcement).
  

The idea is, it's a matter of selecting between explicit consent (consent denied unless explicitly granted) vs implicit consent (consent granted unless explicitly revoked); the former allows for illegalizing sex with drunk/unconscious people, and even the slaughter of animals (which, though probably an unpopular take even in the Netherlands, is ultimately the right thing to do, but boy oh boy do people hate vegans, and you'd get more support for illegalizing domestic violence (from women and half the men) than you would for illegalizing slaughter, but hey, when was the popular thing ever the right thing to do lol). Even for abortion, explicit-consent-theory (consent-denied-unless-granted) supports abortion in a legal constitutional sense in that the fetus' right-to-exist is denied by default, so the host mother be free to deny its existence and act upon it by aborting.
Much like, the theoretical basing of the judiciary on illegalizing suicide/euthanasia illegalizes extreme bdsm (brain damage) too, and, extrepreneurially speaking, saves many a woman from abuse; legalized lovemaking-in-exchange-for-money but illegalized-extreme-bdsm won't move the abuse underground either, or so my judgement says, for, the poor unfortunate untalented women would have plenty of monetary opportunity in the white sex market, and no such woman would want to go to the underground black market to make money off of her own possible murder; what use is such money if one's dead or braindead; upon a concussion, one's never the same again, one stops enjoying the things one once enjoyed, so the money earned thusly would be a waste too. Then again, I'm guessing you aren't interested in the theoretical philosophical and risk-assessment ideas behind this all, so won't bother with that.
+++
REFORM THE JUDICIARY:

• base the law code away from the fraudulent brain-dead notion of justice; 'cause, there really is no such thing as justice, as putting someone in their victim's shoes, tit for tat; a psycho could never know how it feels to have his tits cut off, for he doesn't have any to begin with! Even within the same gender, people are different, their ages are different. The earth is always moving through space, never in the same place twice; we're moving through time. It's just impossible to simulate being in another's shoes here on Earth (ignoring the NDE life-reviews in the afterlife lol); it's physically impossible.
  
• base the law code away from the fraudulent notion of punishment. Being in a prison, getting free food, is no punishment. Some loners might even enjoy it. Heck, Israeli women released from prison choose to commit petty crimes (like breaking the window of the police vehicle) just to get back in the prison. Prison is often far safer a place, and many feel comfy down there. Heck, even the Singaporean judicial caning is some people's most craved fantasy. Heck, extreme masochists would, rather than finding a psycho, paying them to chop their hands off, then making sure the other person doesn't get prosecuted, find it more effortless, cheaper, more realistic, to rob a bank then get their hands chopped off by the Sharia law enforcers! So really, there's no such thing as a just punishment, cause there's no such thing as a punishment to begin with!
  
• base the law code on the two pillars of PREVENTION and COMPENSATION;
  
• life sentence for violent people (be it, slapping/punching/stabbing/murdering), to PREVENT it from happening again, to PREVENT the society from such actors;
  
• compensation for the victim, proportional to the harm caused, funded by the victimizer's money and forced labour in the prison. Come up with an entrepreneurial figure, 50%, ish, portion of the inmate's income (remote working from the prison), which goes to the victim for compensation. Too high that portion and the inmate might lose the drive to work/be-productive. Psychopathy atrophies over generations when its evolutionarily advantageous opportunities cease to be. Rightful compensation tilts the trade-offs in good people's favour.
  
• Proportional compensation. When a man slaps a woman, the damage is a hundread times worse than when a woman slaps a man, and ten times worse than when the same gender slaps the same gender. Not only are men's hands bigger and arms more muscular, but also women's skulls are thinner and more susceptible to concussing. So such laws are not sexist; they're just. This notion called equality has been a menace for women, second only to neo-feminism that advocates fiddling with the free market.
  
• Inside prison, with their own earned money, inmates be free to buy TV, stereo, air-conditioning, king-size bed, whatever.
  
• ONLY for violent crimes does one be sent to prison, and once sent, to never return.
  
• for financial crimes, one be made an economic slave; losing one's 50% income to the victims of one's fraud/whatever. Economic slaves, which, most europeans paying 50% in taxes (and getting back close to nothing in return, thanks to states, by nature, being so inefficient with money), kinda already are, lol.
  

+++
REFORM THE CAPITAL MARKET:

• Do away with Limited-Liability. The idiots who call themselves climate activists who think capitalism is the enemy, are just that: idiots. The Koala escaping from wildfire gets comfort in the air-conditioned room that every household today can afford; none of this would be there if it weren't for capitalism. People get to feed and care for millions of stray animals; none of this would be possible without capitalism. Morality, especially charity, is a luxury commodity; something socialists don't get to enjoy. But the fact is, these so called climate activists don't care about animals, don't care about trees, all they care about is this molecule called Carbon Dioxide, because they're stupid, or wose, tesla-fanatics.
  
• Replace Limited-Liability with Full-Liability. If Nestle poisons a village or sells lead-laiden food products, or commits a murder, the ones responsible for the violent actions first-hand be convicted of first-degree physical harm, and the shareholders be convicted of third-degree harm, and be made to compensate the victims, whether that requires seizing all their assets (and those of the company) or making them economic slaves for the rest of their lives. Fact is, it is the duty and moral obligation of a shareholder to watch for the actions of the company; negligence, inaction, their primary sin. Buying is supporting; Bill Gates is a moron for being an investor in Monsanto.
  

There be basically, degrees of freedom:

• freest citizens
  
• economic slaves (losing half their income to victim-compensation),
  
• prison inmates (who have compensated fully, now buying luxury goods and mansions in the prison island),
  
• prison slaves (losing half their income to victim-compensation),
  
• tied prison slaves (who have anger issues, so be somewhat elbow-restrained to prevent them from being violent toward other inmates),
  
• solitary-confinement prison slaves (zero reason to do so, yet, Japan does it all the time). Prisoners should be free to socialize, bond together, share a cell together, and these things don't increase the risks of prison-escape either.
  

Ultimately, life's purpose is to just live, make experiences, form memories, and learn some lessons. Death penalty is just wrong; so is solitary confinement when so many mechanisms exist to prevent violence among inmates via boxing-gloves-handcuffs, teeth-covers, and elbow and knee restrains.
+++
REFORM THE POLICE:

• No impunity for cops. Cops be help liable for their actions, liable to the law. In fact, more liable.
  
• Learn from Prince Machiavelli lol; embrace some Game Theory. Legalize and grant moral impunity to cops who shoot down fellow cops abusing people wrongfully.
  

Those who think police reforms will never work are stupid; one lone man could make his men commit the organized genocide of 6 million, against the empathetic impulses of the men themselves, and they're saying, well-behaved police is impossible to have? What nonsense! Truth is, the powers that be are utterly inept or themselves psychopathic and fap to the videos of police officers punching women in the face for cursing them. Because the matter of fact is, one needs neither the right kind of people, nor the majority power, to commit acts of good or evil; just a good grip on whatever little power one has. Such a shame that literally no ruler alive knows how to rule.

• Cops be free to arrest fellow cops for misconduct.
  
• Cops (and others) be free to report such psychopathic cops.
  
• Samaritan protection laws. It be legal for strangers to beat a wife-beater beating his wife in public, or even, to shoot at a cop abusing someone when making arrest. Maybe even rewarding, in that, when imprisoned and compensated, the victim is free to pass on some share of her compensations to her savious who risked their well-being to save her.
  

In fact, no sociologist worth his salt would deny that women were safer and more protected from psychopaths and better off ten thousand years ago than in today's anonomyous mega societies; something even Ted Bundy alluded to. Sex as payments in ancient times lol, and David Friedman even hypothesizes that that's how and why women evolved concealed ovulation lol.

• for crimes like traffic law violation, no arresting and car-chases; the said person be sent a notice to appear in a court all by themself instead.
  
• city-state's domestic-law-enforcing cops be split into two teams:
  
• benign cops should not carry guns, instead, be wearing funny-looking non-intimidating bulletproof body suit and helmet and be carrying mancatchers, handcuffs, legcuffs; autistic people or psychopathic people never be hired, only those with very sharp social skills, and be trained to read social cues, to be funny, to crack jokes, make people laugh, break fights peacefully, or, as a last resort, arrest, but with dignity, never insulting the arrested, never judging, and be carrying those arrested on a bed instead of making them walk with their hands cuffed, which could be dangerous for drunk drivers, old people with arm pain, etc.
  
• gun-violence-control cops carry guns, but should only be deployed for gun-violence, wherein they might have to shoot (tranquilizers or bullets) to neutralize a gun-weilding madman.
  

Giving people unrestricted licence to kill is dangerous. No cops are better than bad cops. Just like no laws are better than bad laws whereby the average woman acting in self-defence gets sentenced to 20 years for killing her man, while a (drunk) man killing his wife gets 2 years. And that's a fact; women get five times longer sentences for homocide than men, in the US. And the average sentence for proven domestic violence cases is: a few weeks behind bars, with the possibility of parole and bail. Talk about feminism running rampant.
Some entrepreneurial suggessions:

• half the cops' income be locked in a conditional account, sorta a pension fund, which they lose entirely if they commit a crime on duty. Afterall, cops are petty puppet people too, who can be controlled by money just as neatly as any other.
  
• of the remaining half, half be conditional on the basis of being useful. Lazy cops who do nothing don't get that, and his employer be loosing more (from his allowance package; the more savings, the more his/her bonus) by design too, by hiring more useless cops without as much of a need in a neighbourhood. For making false arrests, arresting innocent people without reason, the cop be fined and the fine be handed to the person arrested wrongfully.
  
• like in Georgia, for misconduct (groping women, etc) or for taking bribes, the whole batch and the batch-leader (employer; sergent; whatever) be fired. Thus, sergents have every incentive to check for psychopathy (MRI tests, whatever), past history, beforehand, when hiring a cop.
  

+++
EDUCATE CHILDREN:

• corporal punishment be illegal,
  
• children who can pass language/literature test be full acting citizens, free to buy shares and vote in shareholder meetings,
  
• exploiting the power of the default to fiddle in the free-market of dating, for women's advantage. Why? Entrepreneurial: good laws that make women feel safe attract a surplus of rich happy attractive women who attract rich nice men (which need less police to manage), which means more population, lower expenses, higher dividents for the shareholders of the state!
  
• by default, for impregnating someone, whether they go through labour pain or lesser abortion pain, the guy be liable for a payment of 100k to her. [Vasectomies incentivized over pills, traumatic IUDs, fallopian-tying, all of which are unhealthy.]. Regarding science, though paternity tests and gene-sequencings are a blessing, IVF is a curse, and a woman could use a guy's skin dust for gametogenesis via stem-cell technology and impregnate herself with such artificial cum and the jury wouldn't know... Big gray zone.
  
• the mother gets the custody of the baby, always. Up to her to give up the custody to him or someone else if she feels so.
  
• artificial wombs be fully legal. It's utter pure hypocracy to advocate against external human-fetus-growth in labs past 7 days, in a world where slaughtering full grown animals, hunting them for fun, killing even SUPERIOR animals like Orcas, their entire families, baiting their mothers with their baby-whale tied in a fishing-net, is all legal. Artificial wombs are already fully viable, there's no scientific hurdle preventing them from being deployed, only legal. Regardless, for logistical reasons, I can bet many countries would be more than happy to adopt such technology in a decade. Only a matter of time.
  
• though every child deserves a female mother for none can love one like a woman does, it's something for culture to enforce and normalize, and for self-conscience to make gay couples consider a nanny/3rd-partner, not legal interventions.
  
• baby becomes an acting individual upon 3 years old, or whenever he can speak/read/write fluently and pass language tests, and has to read and sign the constitution or face eviction lol. Prodigies thus at an advantage in the money game 'cus they can start investing early on, unlike the current one which renders races which sexually mature before or at the legal age of 18 at an advantage over those who mature much later. Lol nevermind.
  
• up until the baby becomes an actor, animal-protection laws (or more specifically, pet-protection) laws should apply on the baby: no violence, no murder, unless in self-defence (i.e., almost never), no medical negligence, no abandoning the baby. For medical negligence or abandoning the baby, no sentencing, only blacklisting the said caretaker from future reproductive baby-care, so not allowed in kindergartens, schools, baby-spaces, and genetically blacklisted.
  
• criminals in prison should get genetically blacklisted. Eugenics is not a bad idea; it's the state that should stay out of it, except for the clensing of criminal genes. A criminal's entire descending-tree shuld get blacklisted; said violent criminal's children either get sterilized or promise to not procreate or get evicted. Gene banks be legal; culture should normalize borrowing the genes of (jewish/dutch) geniuses and raising their babies via IVF.
  

The selfish man doesn't have sex; he clones.
Why mix your genes with someone so different, of the opposite sex, despite being better than oneself. The fact that people have sex and choose good pretty intelligent partners unrelated to themselves, when compounded, is the same as adopting pure Jewish babies. Even Jews are distant cousins to all anyway. Heck, adopt orcas. Either black or white; clones or orcas; ignoring clone mutations (7 mutations per generation, I think), the latter, survival of the group over oneself, is a better strategy and thus more selfish a strategy, whereas the former is doomed to fail, at least for humans, and is only seen in ants which can afford a thousand kids and an epic one-in-a-thousand style selection pressures. Even if that's how superior alien societies operate, even in the latter case, most (worker ants) be raising the royal princes/princesses anyway; raising the babies of mathematical geniuses is not that different. Gene banking (positive eugenics) would speed evolution exponenetially!

• child-care payments. By default, the guy be liable to maternal-care payments to the mother.
  
• state-ensured child-care and pregnancy-payments to the mother. Even if the guy defaults/can't-pay, the state pays the mother and the state extorts the due from the guy in private/court. Mother always gets paid. Guy thus has no grudges against the mother, only the state. Such an arrangement reduces the chances of domestic or hate/revenge violence against the mother.
  
• prenups can be used to sway away from this defaults and arrange for custom scenarios.
  
• full liability for the baby/pet's actions. If your pet/baby hurts someone seriously, you be liable for full monetary compensation and economic slavery; you also lose your pet/baby-keeping licence.
  
• no impunity for acting children (post 3 years of age who have passed the tests) for commiting crimes. Schools should only accept acting-children, not babies. If your child punches another child on the head in school, he gets tried as an adult acting actor. Incentivizes parents to inculcate values of conviction to non-violence in their kids, if they wish to send them to schools and public places. If your babies are violent, postpone the language-comprehension test and constitution-signing and keep them at home; don't put other's kids at risk. American schools are a hellscape. Not only is segregation in schools outlawed, kids have legal impunity, so of course, (black) psycho bullies roam free and abound.
  
• full head-tax per baby. From day 1.
  

+++
DO AWAY WITH SOCIAL SECURITY:

• Instead, private insurance companies can replace most of the services of social-security.
  
• An insurance package of 100k, insurance against homeless, whereby, once deposited, the company invests it in long term assets, compounds it with every passing day, and should one become bankrupt, one should be able to use such a Social-Security-Number to buy rent of up to 20$/day, food up to 10$/meal, three meals a day, for as long as one lives. Or pooled insurance based on average bankrupcy risk statistics, for much lower premium.
  
• Likewise, health insurance, bough from private insurance companies.
  
• For babies, an insurance package of orphan-insurance, so, should the parents die in a car crash or whatever, the insurance company pays its head-tax, pays for its orphanage fee, its schooling and medical expenses, etc.
  
• No, none, zero, nil whatsoever, restrictions/laws/rules on insurance companies. Hans Herman Hoppe is right on how messy and ridiculous the laws have made the insurance market into. Of course, if an insurance company defaults on its promises, it, like with all Full Liability Companies, should get scavenged along with its shareholders. But other than that, no forcing inclusion of fringe groups in insurance pools over such insurance companies.
  

+++
TRANS-CONTINENTAL COLONY

• bribe some local leader and arrange for a colony in Africa whereupon to dump those unable to pay the taxes (the poor immigrants, for the most part; the dutch poor can be saved by private charities funding their head-tax) and those barred from dutch city-states (non-dutch).
  
• in the long run, deport them to whichever country they be willing to go, whichever be willing to accept them.
  

+++
That's it. And just like that, you'd have fixed the Netherlands, and, the world being a mere copycat mirror-complex of stupid politicians (except Wilders) unable to think for themselves, only learning from other's experiences, very like the trickling down of monarchies after the French Revolution like a domino falls, just like that, you'd possibly have fixed the whole world! If the world sees from the Dutch exemplary example of privatization of statehood and follows suit, that would singlehandedly save humanity from poverty (socialism), war (tradelessness), and immorality (dictatorships like in Iran where morality police kills girls who don't wear proper dresses). The Dutch were the example of free-trade and privatization once before, they can do it again too.
Geert Wilders is the only hope.
Milei, being so totally anti-abortion, is an utter disgrace in the name of an Austrian Liberal; should have been aborted before he was even born.
Mises was, is, and forever will be, PRO-CHOICE.
That's right, I just said it. And any liberals who are pro-life are fake liberals who pretend to be liberals but are at the core, braindead or worse, psychopaths.
Nicholas Sarwark doesn't talk about abortion (to stay nice to both groups, when actually, that just makes him an idiot who'd get votes from neither unless he takes a stance; classic demogogue),
Ron Paul is very very against abortion too, his whole lineage sucks,
Justin Amash outright opposes it,
it's so funny, cause, Mises, Ludwig Von Mises, the guy he so likes to quote, himself was very pro-choice, and said the process of becoming sentient, becoming a consenting individual of the society, is "gradual", doesn't happen overnight, that a fetus is not the same as an adult, and above all, was a UTILITARIAN who believed in family-planning at the family-level as per the family's economic potential and incentives and time-preference, who vouched against state-sponsered eugenics and child-subsidies as population control measures, who believed in women being more of an acting being, was the champion of economic freedom for women, who in his own personal life recognized the entrepreneurial value bargain in prefering these talented undervalued women, who was the biggest feminist and women's liberator in the history of manking (equal contestent with Morgentaler, another Jew)! Amash's (and others') preaching Mises wholly, saying that their views are practically indistinguishable from Mises's, then opposing abortion, is like killing people "in the name of God the creator"; it's pure blasphemy, heck, worse than that, for Mises is above God, and these false preachers shall be judged harshly by Mises' immortal spirit. *inhales lol.
Not all races are equal. Sexual and survival stretegies dictate the differences. The muslims have been murdering the intelligent (dissident/scientific) and beautiful (emo boys/girls) among themselves for more than a millenia; no wonder they've gotten so retarded. The Chinese are apathetic people, bred to obey, war, and kill, without remorse; free-thinking pricipled dissidents all but extinct among them. Evolutionary psychologists who think that war is good for the genes are idiots; sure, war is good for genes, but peace is better. Heck, EVERYTHING is good for the genes. The genes are set on a track to evolve forwards, and they'd only do so, and abominations like Islam are mere incidental dips in a more or less upward-rising curve. The least-warring greeks were the most feminist, the highest longevity-people, the most nicest, until war struck Europe too.
The Dutch are one of the best races in the world, second only to the Jews who have significantly higher IQ, higher empathy, the lowest domestic violence and physical violence rates, and the cleanest past history (never practiced witchhunts, and despite brutal punishments legal in Judiasm, never practiced them; it's like, despite judiasm, the Jews never gave in to barbarianism; such noble genes; never committed genocides), way better than the forever stained dutch history of the witchhunts which took the lives of some 300 innocent women... Still, the Dutch are better than the rest, by a huge margin. Not to mention the Dutch are the most good-looking tall handsome honest people in the whole world. Unpopular opinion but, me thinks Geert Wilders is the most handsome man ever; boy would I pay to suck his cock lol. Even an imaginary anime character better looking than Wilders is too wild an idea to be plausible lol. Lol I literaly saw him in my dream yesterday on the second day of discovering him and binge-watching his videos, lol.
The Dutch people need saving. You're already very few in numbers; intermarriage is the Dutch's biggest existential threat; extinction by dissolution. A Dutch State is the only possible saviour; people mostly only fall in love with someone within a mile from them; a state wherein most (if not all) are Dutch, would thus preserve the dutch genes.
A free-market championing privatization-proposing Geert Wilders wouldn't need to resort to Islam to achieve the end result all Dutch people desire: a safe and prosperous Netherlands for the Dutch.
Thanks.
-- Mises's no. 1 cocksucker.

Here's how to fix the Netherlands:

• illegalize extreme BDSM (first),
  
• legalize prostitution (already legal)
  
• especial unhackable cameras for sex-workers,
  
• the punishment for beating a woman be life sentence,
  

Extreme bdsm, as in, face-slapping, punching, anything that causes traumatic-brain-injury, concussions, (which can be detected in MRI tests for court trials), and any other permanent bodily injury.
That would make it the only place in the world where women be safe and free. The only place where:

• domestic violence is illegal (for real, not just on paper)
  
• sex-work is legal,
  
• abortion is legal.
  

To further limit domestic violence in households (not brothels), some optional things that can be implemented (which I highly advice) are:

• every registered home be laiden with unhackable ring-sig/multi-sig encrypted cameras with microphones sensitive to grid-line emf for timestampping,
  
• no court fees for women filing for domestic-violence cases (or any),
  
• no repercussions for falsely filing a case against your man (to reduce the fear of filing a case; the most that could go wrong is a mere No-Contact restrain order),
  
• if verifiably proven (as in, camera recordings, etc), suspect gets life sentence and forced labour with which the prison gets funded and the victim gets compensated,
  
• if not proven for certain, at least a restrain/no-contact order whereby the suspect cannot enter the towns/microstates the accuser happens to be in.
  
• suspicion-until-proven-not-guilty; the onus to prove one's innocence be upon the accused, the male, so men have every incentive to carry body cameras etc, to defend against false rape charges.
  
• everyone's past, past suspicions, trials, all such data, be on a website. If you can make a society safe for women, the good men would follow in like bees. Thus, catering to women's defence needs is very (Misesian) entrepreneurially advantageous. Afterall, the primary purpose of a society is DATING; keeping women safe in such dating/matchmaking game be your highest priority. There's many an evolutionarily evolved trait that keep children safe anyway, but fewer for women, especially in a non-tribal society with hookup culture wherein a psychopath has every incentive to harm/kill his date and run away. It's a surprise that that isn't more prevalent... Societies are playing with fire; they have no clue how deep in trouble they are. Reform or lose the game to psychopaths; much like the evol sexual-stretegy simulation studies on rat societies lol.
  

Your current law code is lame and hypocritical; as per the current laws on racism, to highlight IQ differences between races, to emphasize empathy/psychopathy prevalence differences between racial groups, is racist! And yet, the very notion of a-law-against-racism rests on the belief that races do exist, that there's skin-coloskull-shape/genetic differences between so called "races" they aim to protect; how could the state accept that there be such differences but illegalize for such differences to be discussed and admitted? Utterly ridiculous!
Your current judicial framework is a joke. A client could beat the hell out of a prostitute (just short of killing her) and he has more-or-less legal impunity! A wife-beater gets a mere month is prison! What sense does that make? To believe that, somehow, in a closed cell, locked in for a few months, playing GTA, banging pussies (sex-therapy with prostitutes, for sex offenders; as dumb as it sounds; wouldn't be surprised if UN says the right to sex is every human's basic fundamental human right lol), free food in the prison, somehow makes a psychopath a sunflower, is beyond my comprehension. One would have to be utterly braindead to believe so. Another hypothesis: the dutch politicians and justices are NOT braindead, they're just a little too psychopathic themselves, and being so, concerned for themselves and their own future wife-beating sons. Facts.
Your king is too empathetic and naive, very like the many white people all over the globe who believe in humanity, who believe that every human is deep down a fluffy furry, and to prove so to the world (or themselves), who venture into dangerous territory in the Africas or Arabian towns, only to be lynched by the mobs (many such cases in the news)...
The dutch people who want diversity can go live in Africa or the UAE; in the name of diversity, to advocate that others be put in danger for one's own naivety, is not just foolish, but downright wrong.
The dutch people who have big hearts, who wish to help the desperate immigrants, go do so with your own money. To advocate that others' money be stolen to be donated to one group, is no philanthropy. Theft in the name of charity is just that: THEFT.
To fix the Netherlands in the long run:

• do away with the laws on racism; keep only the laws against physical harm; words are words; one should only be prosecuted for actions, not threat by words, not threat to act, only action itself. At best, you could exile those deemed threatening (in the short run), but not imprison.
  
• do away with the laws against discrimination in the private sector; an entrepreneur who doesn't hire an equally talented woman/newcomeimmigrant/black for a job, would lose his revenue to the one who does; in the free market, wrong biases just aren't solvent, just aren't efficient and profitable. Such feminist equal-pay laws do more harm to women then good; no one wants to hire women anymore, especially for technical roles... Only misogynists pass such laws. Facts.
  

END WELFARE SOCIALISM:

• no free healthcare for nobody,
  
• no free housing for nobody,
  
• no state-funded pension for nobody,
  
• no child-care subsidies for nobody,
  
• etc.
  

PRIVATIZE THE STATE:

• with defence (international and internal) as the only service of the state of Netherlands, privatize such an entity; privatize the Dutch Defence Agency.
  
• every citizen gets one (or ten, or thousand; whatever denomination) equal shares of the private entity Dutch Defence Agency.
  
• inhabitants of the netherlands be required to pay a head-tax, a fixed tax/payment per person, for the services of international defence (radars, nukes, anti-nukes, iron dome, etc).
  
• people be free to sell their shares in the open market. And no, it doesn't make you susceptible to foreign interference/meddling in dutch statehood, on the contrary: state-privatization flips-the-table overnight, making all one's enemies into one's extended friends. Not only is the amount of money needed to become the majority shareholder quite high, but, upon putting so much money in, (an amount of money only sensible people get to have), any sensible actor is incentivized to not mess up and keep peace in one's stock, not hijack one's earnings, and just reap the dividents. Very like the Bitcoin/Monero POW incentives for major-miner.
  
• no trade tarrifs. Trump thinks an equal trade-tax for countries which charge a trade-tax with the US, is based. It's not, but it's better than most's beliefs, so okay. But, if one is to be serious, then no, Austrian Economists would never support such a scheme, for the simplest of reasons: selfishness. If Trump (and any country) is to be selfish enough, they should realize that zero-trade-tarrifs for all countries is the thing that makes one prosper, regardless of how much they be taxing us. Mises has said it a million times: war begins when trade ends. So no trade tarrifs whatsoever. Physical/existential security be the only service and concern of a state. Leave it to the dutch people (and private source-auditing firms) to not buy goods from products sourced from child-labouRussians/whatever. The scandenavian madness of One-Family, with the president as the country's daddy, is ludicrous! People are grown ups; they can make their own decisions.
  
• replace the ill notion of democracy with shareholder democracy.
  
• the CEO/president, in power only as long as they stay popular with the state's shareholders.
  

PRIVATIZE THE TOWNS:

• every town becomes a gated-community (with or without actual physical gates).
  
• every home-owner of such a town gets an equal number of shares in that community-stock (Citystate of Amsterdam, for example).
  
• dressing code (public nudity allowance), pollution/negative-externality laws (some with very strict noice-pollution laws, some lenient and affordable ones), traffic rules (bicycle exceptions, lanes, etc), architecture code and rules, all be the liberties of the city-state to decide upon.
  
• the only punishment a city-state be able to give people be: monetary fine, deducted from the prepaid lock-in fund, or, when it gets empty, eviction/exile from the city-state, free to move in to some cheaper lenient one in the Netherlands or elsewhere.
  
• no city-state could "imprison" people. A city-state which forbids abortion, cages pregnant women, preventing them from access to healthcare, would be thus unconstitutional.
  
• every city-state-resident be required to pay a policing-tax/fee; more protected towns have higher fees. Towns with more immigrants, requiring a well-funded police, for a bigger police force, to keep the people safe, would thus be more expensive, more inefficient, and it would thus only be a matter of time that the low-risk-tolerance Dutch populace segregate and buy up the city-stocks and even buy up the properties of the selling-immigrants-in-need-of-money-to-pay-their-state-tax-or-get-exiled, and vote to exile the immigrant population from their towns. All entrepreneurial. Mises knew it all in advance; he knew that the supreme notion of private-property was complete and enough, that it needed no exceptions for such immigration problems. Leftist liberals who are blindly pro-immigration shouldn't call themselves liberals; they're merely leftists, and they're wrong. In the liberal framework of private property, immigration is NEVER a problem that even needs addressing! Hail Von Mises. Ultimately, it all boils down to the entrepreneurial utilitarian benefits of lower policing costs and at a much higher safety-level that come from barring violent races from one's towns, benifits that ultimately pale the compromises in cheap-labour (that the immigrants provide) or the slightly higher shipping costs of buying such products of cheap-labour from a thousand miles afar. The idiots in the dutch parliament and the businessmen who pretend like without all this cheap labour their economy would collapse and they'd be in losses, are misguiding. Shipping costs are already low enough; the inefficiencies of slavery over willful employment and low shipping costs is what defunded slavery; you would be better off buying goods from Africa than having Africans in your own country making those goods at your doorstep. Instead, free trade cross-borders should be encouraged and cherished.
  

As for oppression and foreign wars, if you can't help a people defend their lives and territory by military and financial aid (funded from private charities), don't pretend to help by taking in refugees either, most of whom are, by the very definition of how things work, often the worst of the stock; the average good empathetic african/muslim/indian doesn't want to loot away someone's prosperous country. The good ones never even cry for help to begin with, and most of them are within your borders already: the native Dutch too afraid to express their fear of immigrants; heed to their cries and help them first instead.
REFURNISH DOMESTIC SPACES:

• cameras in every registered home; totally very economical, heck, a billionaire could fund it all out of his own pocket. Mass survillience isn't a concern because it's not impossible to design a black-box encryption protocol with multi-signature encryptions which can only be decoded if all the parties (you, your wife, and the state) provide their keys to decode the video feed. Zero-knowledge-sharing sorcerry whereby keys don't get disclosed to any party either.
  
• the right to discriminate. It's the home-owner's right to dictate who gets to visit inside and who doesn't, whether he/she discriminates on the basis of skin colour or hair colour. In fact, the right to discriminate is as important as the right to free speech, and mutually dependent on each other. One has every right to discriminate who one marries based purely on their race! One has every right to befriend people based on their race. And so does an employer when hiring. To say otherwise and pass anti-discrimination laws is no less discriminatory; just discriminatory in a certain cunning state-sponsered way, for a select few's advantage. An argument can be made that, given how many white women only date big black guys, such anti-discrimination laws would hurt them so-called minorities as much, if not more.
  
• corporal punishment of children (or women/men) be illegal.
  
• no-caging law. One cannot cage someone in one's house without their consent. So, husband denying wife her freedom to abort be first degree violence, no different from switching the button on an electric chair, or pulling the trigger of a gun.
  
• gun laws up to the private property's owner. No home owner would wany guests to carry guns inside, prolly. As for city-state's rules on gun-ownership inside households, that's a purely entrepreneurial matter:
  

fines for owning a gun, disincentivizing gun ownership, has built-in unenforcability; criminal always carries a gun (which can even be 3d printed at home these days), but overall, fewer guns in the public, so fewer rage fights becoming lethal, less money needed to manage the populace for the police, so lower tax/fee,
vs
legal to own a gun in wild spaces, illegal in private spaces (like malls, homes, schools) as per private wish, with metal checks; more guns, higher tax to manage, but ability to defend oneself from criminals carrying guns.
The latter is better imo. Those who think the former is better, can opt in and live in such city-states. What there cannot be is: a sentence for just owning a gun. Only monetary fine or eviction from the city-state; a sentence would be unconstitutional as per the theory of actions-ultimate-judgement, not words, not threats, not gun ownership, not genes, not mental disorders, only actions. There's no better simulation substitute than the real world; all else predictions are merely probabilistic, and when people get imprisoned for mere threats, such predictions are doomed to become ultimately baseless and divorced from reality.
REFORM YOUR CONSTITUTION:

• Make Ludwig Von Mises your constitution's founding-grandpa. Base the code to rule by, on his magnum opus Human Action.
  
• Besides the theoretical basings, short readable constitution that's basically a consent-form that every citizen consents to; consent to be rescued when drowning, consent to be operated on by doctor when unconscious, consent to be arrested for suspicion and inquiry (?), consent to be punched when resisting arrest (which no one would sign to, so no punching people EVER, especially in the name of law enforcement).
  

The idea is, it's a matter of selecting between explicit consent (consent denied unless explicitly granted) vs implicit consent (consent granted unless explicitly revoked); the former allows for illegalizing sex with drunk/unconscious people, and even the slaughter of animals (which, though probably an unpopular take even in the Netherlands, is ultimately the right thing to do, but boy oh boy do people hate vegans, and you'd get more support for illegalizing domestic violence (from women and half the men) than you would for illegalizing slaughter, but hey, when was the popular thing ever the right thing to do lol). Even for abortion, explicit-consent-theory (consent-denied-unless-granted) supports abortion in a legal constitutional sense in that the fetus' right-to-exist is denied by default, so the host mother be free to deny its existence and act upon it by aborting.
Much like, the theoretical basing of the judiciary on illegalizing suicide/euthanasia illegalizes extreme bdsm (brain damage) too, and, extrepreneurially speaking, saves many a woman from abuse; legalized lovemaking-in-exchange-for-money but illegalized-extreme-bdsm won't move the abuse underground either, or so my judgement says, for, the poor unfortunate untalented women would have plenty of monetary opportunity in the white sex market, and no such woman would want to go to the underground black market to make money off of her own possible murder; what use is such money if one's dead or braindead; upon a concussion, one's never the same again, one stops enjoying the things one once enjoyed, so the money earned thusly would be a waste too. Then again, I'm guessing you aren't interested in the theoretical philosophical and risk-assessment ideas behind this all, so won't bother with that.
REFORM THE JUDICIARY:

• base the law code away from the fraudulent brain-dead notion of justice; 'cause, there really is no such thing as justice, as putting someone in their victim's shoes, tit for tat; a psycho could never know how it feels to have his tits cut off, for he doesn't have any to begin with! Even within the same gender, people are different, their ages are different. The earth is always moving through space, never in the same place twice; we're moving through time. It's just impossible to simulate being in another's shoes here on Earth (ignoring the NDE life-reviews in the afterlife lol); it's physically impossible.
  
• base the law code away from the fraudulent notion of punishment. Being in a prison, getting free food, is no punishment. Some loners might even enjoy it. Heck, Israeli women released from prison choose to commit petty crimes (like breaking the window of the police vehicle) just to get back in the prison. Prison is often far safer a place, and many feel comfy down there. Heck, even the Singaporean judicial caning is some people's most craved fantasy. Heck, extreme masochists would, rather than finding a psycho, paying them to chop their hands off, then making sure the other person doesn't get prosecuted, find it more effortless, cheaper, more realistic, to rob a bank then get their hands chopped off by the Sharia law enforcers! So really, there's no such thing as a just punishment, cause there's no such thing as a punishment to begin with!
  
• base the law code on the two pillars of PREVENTION and COMPENSATION;
  
• life sentence for violent people (be it, slapping/punching/stabbing/murdering), to PREVENT it from happening again, to PREVENT the society from such actors;
  
• compensation for the victim, proportional to the harm caused, funded by the victimizer's money and forced labour in the prison. Come up with an entrepreneurial figure, 50%, ish, portion of the inmate's income (remote working from the prison), which goes to the victim for compensation. Too high that portion and the inmate might lose the drive to work/be-productive. Psychopathy atrophies over generations when its evolutionarily advantageous opportunities cease to be. Rightful compensation tilts the trade-offs in good people's favour.
  
• Proportional compensation. When a man slaps a woman, the damage is a hundread times worse than when a woman slaps a man, and ten times worse than when the same gender slaps the same gender. Not only are men's hands bigger and arms more muscular, but also women's skulls are thinner and more susceptible to concussing. So such laws are not sexist; they're just. This notion called equality has been a menace for women, second only to neo-feminism that advocates fiddling with the free market.
  
• Inside prison, with their own earned money, inmates be free to buy TV, stereo, air-conditioning, king-size bed, whatever.
  
• ONLY for violent crimes does one be sent to prison, and once sent, to never return.
  
• for financial crimes, one be made an economic slave; losing one's 50% income to the victims of one's fraud/whatever. Economic slaves, which, most europeans paying 50% in taxes (and getting back close to nothing in return, thanks to states, by nature, being so inefficient with money), kinda already are, lol.
  

REFORM THE CAPITAL MARKET:

• Do away with Limited-Liability. The idiots who call themselves climate activists who think capitalism is the enemy, are just that: idiots. The Koala escaping from wildfire gets comfort in the air-conditioned room that every household today can afford; none of this would be there if it weren't for capitalism. People get to feed and care for millions of stray animals; none of this would be possible without capitalism. Morality, especially charity, is a luxury commodity; something socialists don't get to enjoy. But the fact is, these so called climate activists don't care about animals, don't care about trees, all they care about is this molecule called Carbon Dioxide, because they're stupid, or wose, tesla-fanatics.
  
• Replace Limited-Liability with Full-Liability. If Nestle poisons a village or sells lead-laiden food products, or commits a murder, the ones responsible for the violent actions first-hand be convicted of first-degree physical harm, and the shareholders be convicted of third-degree harm, and be made to compensate the victims, whether that requires seizing all their assets (and those of the company) or making them economic slaves for the rest of their lives. Fact is, it is the duty and moral obligation of a shareholder to watch for the actions of the company; negligence, inaction, their primary sin. Buying is supporting; Bill Gates is a moron for being an investor in Monsanto.
  

There be basically, degrees of freedom:

• freest citizens
  
• economic slaves (losing half their income to victim-compensation),
  
• prison inmates (who have compensated fully, now buying luxury goods and mansions in the prison island),
  
• prison slaves (losing half their income to victim-compensation),
  
• tied prison slaves (who have anger issues, so be somewhat elbow-restrained to prevent them from being violent toward other inmates),
  
• solitary-confinement prison slaves (zero reason to do so, yet, Japan does it all the time). Prisoners should be free to socialize, bond together, share a cell together, and these things don't increase the risks of prison-escape either.
  

Ultimately, life's purpose is to just live, make experiences, form memories, and learn some lessons. Death penalty is just wrong; so is solitary confinement when so many mechanisms exist to prevent violence among inmates via boxing-gloves-handcuffs, teeth-covers, and elbow and knee restrains.
REFORM THE POLICE:

• No impunity for cops. Cops be help liable for their actions, liable to the law. In fact, more liable.
  
• Learn from Prince Machiavelli lol; embrace some Game Theory. Legalize and grant moral impunity to cops who shoot down fellow cops abusing people wrongfully.
  

Those who think police reforms will never work are stupid; one lone man could make his men commit the organized genocide of 6 million, against the empathetic impulses of the men themselves, and they're saying, well-behaved police is impossible to have? What nonsense! Truth is, the powers that be are utterly inept or themselves psychopathic and fap to the videos of police officers punching women in the face for cursing them. Because the matter of fact is, one needs neither the right kind of people, nor the majority power, to commit acts of good or evil; just a good grip on whatever little power one has. Such a shame that literally no ruler alive knows how to rule.

• Cops be free to arrest fellow cops for misconduct.
  
• Cops (and others) be free to report such psychopathic cops.
  
• Samaritan protection laws. It be legal for strangers to beat a wife-beater beating his wife in public, or even, to shoot at a cop abusing someone when making arrest. Maybe even rewarding, in that, when imprisoned and compensated, the victim is free to pass on some share of her compensations to her savious who risked their well-being to save her.
  

In fact, no sociologist worth his salt would deny that women were safer and more protected from psychopaths and better off ten thousand years ago than in today's anonomyous mega societies; something even Ted Bundy alluded to. Sex as payments in ancient times lol, and David Friedman even hypothesizes that that's how and why women evolved concealed ovulation lol.

• for crimes like traffic law violation, no arresting and car-chases; the said person be sent a notice to appear in a court all by themself instead.
  
• city-state's domestic-law-enforcing cops be split into two teams:
  
• benign cops should not carry guns, instead, be wearing funny-looking non-intimidating bulletproof body suit and helmet and be carrying mancatchers, handcuffs, legcuffs; autistic people or psychopathic people never be hired, only those with very sharp social skills, and be trained to read social cues, to be funny, to crack jokes, make people laugh, break fights peacefully, or, as a last resort, arrest, but with dignity, never insulting the arrested, never judging, and be carrying those arrested on a bed instead of making them walk with their hands cuffed, which could be dangerous for drunk drivers, old people with arm pain, etc.
  
• gun-violence-control cops carry guns, but should only be deployed for gun-violence, wherein they might have to shoot (tranquilizers or bullets) to neutralize a gun-weilding madman.
  

Giving people unrestricted licence to kill is dangerous. No cops are better than bad cops. Just like no laws are better than bad laws whereby the average woman acting in self-defence gets sentenced to 20 years for killing her man, while a (drunk) man killing his wife gets 2 years. And that's a fact; women get five times longer sentences for homocide than men, in the US. And the average sentence for proven domestic violence cases is: a few weeks behind bars, with the possibility of parole and bail. Talk about feminism running rampant.
Some entrepreneurial suggessions:

• half the cops' income be locked in a conditional account, sorta a pension fund, which they lose entirely if they commit a crime on duty. Afterall, cops are petty puppet people too, who can be controlled by money just as neatly as any other.
  
• of the remaining half, half be conditional on the basis of being useful. Lazy cops who do nothing don't get that, and his employer be loosing more (from his allowance package; the more savings, the more his/her bonus) by design too, by hiring more useless cops without as much of a need in a neighbourhood. For making false arrests, arresting innocent people without reason, the cop be fined and the fine be handed to the person arrested wrongfully.
  
• like in Georgia, for misconduct (groping women, etc) or for taking bribes, the whole batch and the batch-leader (employer; sergent; whatever) be fired. Thus, sergents have every incentive to check for psychopathy (MRI tests, whatever), past history, beforehand, when hiring a cop.
  

REGARDING CHILDREN:

• corporal punishment be illegal,
  
• children who can pass language/literature test be full acting citizens, free to buy shares and vote in shareholder meetings,
  
• exploiting the power of the default to fiddle in the free-market of dating, for women's advantage. Why? Entrepreneurial: good laws that make women feel safe attract a surplus of rich happy attractive women who attract rich nice men (which need less police to manage), which means more population, lower expenses, higher dividents for the shareholders of the state!
  
• by default, for impregnating someone, whether they go through labour pain or lesser abortion pain, the guy be liable for a payment of 100k to her. [Vasectomies incentivized over pills, traumatic IUDs, fallopian-tying, all of which are unhealthy.]. Regarding science, though paternity tests and gene-sequencings are a blessing, IVF is a curse, and a woman could use a guy's skin dust for gametogenesis via stem-cell technology and impregnate herself with such artificial cum and the jury wouldn't know... Big gray zone.
  
• the mother gets the custody of the baby, always. Up to her to give up the custody to him or someone else if she feels so.
  
• artificial wombs be fully legal. It's utter pure hypocracy to advocate against external human-fetus-growth in labs past 7 days, in a world where slaughtering full grown animals, hunting them for fun, killing even SUPERIOR animals like Orcas, their entire families, baiting their mothers with their baby-whale tied in a fishing-net, is all legal. Artificial wombs are already fully viable, there's no scientific hurdle preventing them from being deployed, only legal. Regardless, for logistical reasons, I can bet many countries would be more than happy to adopt such technology in a decade. Only a matter of time.
  
• though every child deserves a female mother for none can love one like a woman does, it's something for culture to enforce and normalize, and for self-conscience to make gay couples consider a nanny/3rd-partner, not legal interventions.
  
• baby becomes an acting individual upon 3 years old, or whenever he can speak/read/write fluently and pass language tests, and has to read and sign the constitution or face eviction lol. Prodigies thus at an advantage in the money game 'cus they can start investing early on, unlike the current one which renders races which sexually mature before or at the legal age of 18 at an advantage over those who mature much later. Lol nevermind.
  
• up until the baby becomes an actor, animal-protection laws (or more specifically, pet-protection) laws should apply on the baby: no violence, no murder, unless in self-defence (i.e., almost never), no medical negligence, no abandoning the baby. For medical negligence or abandoning the baby, no sentencing, only blacklisting the said caretaker from future reproductive baby-care, so not allowed in kindergartens, schools, baby-spaces, and genetically blacklisted.
  
• criminals in prison should get genetically blacklisted. Eugenics is not a bad idea; it's the state that should stay out of it, except for the clensing of criminal genes. A criminal's entire descending-tree shuld get blacklisted; said violent criminal's children either get sterilized or promise to not procreate or get evicted. Gene banks be legal; culture should normalize borrowing the genes of (jewish/dutch) geniuses and raising their babies via IVF.
  

The selfish man doesn't have sex; he clones.
Why mix your genes with someone so different, of the opposite sex, despite being better than oneself. The fact that people have sex and choose good pretty intelligent partners unrelated to themselves, when compounded, is the same as adopting pure Jewish babies. Even Jews are distant cousins to all anyway. Heck, adopt orcas. Either black or white; clones or orcas; ignoring clone mutations (7 mutations per generation, I think), the latter, survival of the group over oneself, is a better strategy and thus more selfish a strategy, whereas the former is doomed to fail, at least for humans, and is only seen in ants which can afford a thousand kids and an epic one-in-a-thousand style selection pressures. Even if that's how superior alien societies operate, even in the latter case, most (worker ants) be raising the royal princes/princesses anyway; raising the babies of mathematical geniuses is not that different. Gene banking (positive eugenics) would speed evolution exponenetially!

• child-care payments. By default, the guy be liable to maternal-care payments to the mother.
  
• state-ensured child-care and pregnancy-payments to the mother. Even if the guy defaults/can't-pay, the state pays the mother and the state extorts the due from the guy in private/court. Mother always gets paid. Guy thus has no grudges against the mother, only the state. Such an arrangement reduces the chances of domestic or hate/revenge violence against the mother.
  
• prenups can be used to sway away from this defaults and arrange for custom scenarios.
  
• full liability for the baby/pet's actions. If your pet/baby hurts someone seriously, you be liable for full monetary compensation and economic slavery; you also lose your pet/baby-keeping licence.
  
• no impunity for acting children (post 3 years of age who have passed the tests) for commiting crimes. Schools should only accept acting-children, not babies. If your child punches another child on the head in school, he gets tried as an adult acting actor. Incentivizes parents to inculcate values of conviction to non-violence in their kids, if they wish to send them to schools and public places. If your babies are violent, postpone the language-comprehension test and constitution-signing and keep them at home; don't put other's kids at risk. American schools are a hellscape. Not only is segregation in schools outlawed, kids have legal impunity, so of course, (black) psycho bullies roam free and abound.
  
• full head-tax per baby. From day 1.
  

DO AWAY WITH SOCIAL SECURITY:

• Instead, private insurance companies can replace most of the services of social-security.
  
• An insurance package of 100k, insurance against homeless, whereby, once deposited, the company invests it in long term assets, compounds it with every passing day, and should one become bankrupt, one should be able to use such a Social-Security-Number to buy rent of up to 20$/day, food up to 10$/meal, three meals a day, for as long as one lives. Or pooled insurance based on average bankrupcy risk statistics, for much lower premium.
  
• Likewise, health insurance, bough from private insurance companies.
  
• For babies, an insurance package of orphan-insurance, so, should the parents die in a car crash or whatever, the insurance company pays its head-tax, pays for its orphanage fee, its schooling and medical expenses, etc.
  
• No, none, zero, nil whatsoever, restrictions/laws/rules on insurance companies. Hans Herman Hoppe is right on how messy and ridiculous the laws have made the insurance market into. Of course, if an insurance company defaults on its promises, it, like with all Full Liability Companies, should get scavenged along with its shareholders. But other than that, no forcing inclusion of fringe groups in insurance pools over such insurance companies.
  

TRANS-CONTINENTAL COLONY

• bribe some local leader and arrange for a colony in Africa whereupon to dump those unable to pay the taxes (the poor immigrants, for the most part; the dutch poor can be saved by private charities funding their head-tax) and those barred from dutch city-states (non-dutch).
  
• in the long run, deport them to whichever country they be willing to go, whichever be willing to accept them.
  

That's it. And just like that, you'd have fixed the Netherlands, and, the world being a mere copycat mirror-complex of stupid politicians (except Wilders) unable to think for themselves, only learning from other's experiences, very like the trickling down of monarchies after the French Revolution like a domino falls, just like that, you'd possibly have fixed the whole world! If the world sees from the Dutch exemplary example of privatization of statehood and follows suit, that would singlehandedly save humanity from poverty (socialism), war (tradelessness), and immorality (dictatorships like in Iran where morality police kills girls who don't wear proper dresses). The Dutch were the example of free-trade and privatization once before, they can do it again too.
Geert Wilders is the only hope.
Milei, being so totally anti-abortion, is an utter disgrace in the name of an Austrian Liberal; should have been aborted before he was even born.
Mises was, is, and forever will be, PRO-CHOICE.
That's right, I just said it. And any liberals who are pro-life are fake liberals who pretend to be liberals but are at the core, braindead or worse, psychopaths.
Nicholas Sarwark doesn't talk about abortion (to stay nice to both groups, when actually, that just makes him an idiot who'd get votes from neither unless he takes a stance; classic demogogue),
Ron Paul is very very against abortion too, his whole lineage sucks,
Justin Amash outright opposes it,
it's so funny, cause, Mises, Ludwig Von Mises, the guy he so likes to quote, himself was very pro-choice, and said the process of becoming sentient, becoming a consenting individual of the society, is "gradual", doesn't happen overnight, that a fetus is not the same as an adult, and above all, was a UTILITARIAN who believed in family-planning at the family-level as per the family's economic potential and incentives and time-preference, who vouched against state-sponsered eugenics and child-subsidies as population control measures, who believed in women being more of an acting being, was the champion of economic freedom for women, who in his own personal life recognized the entrepreneurial value bargain in prefering these talented undervalued women, who was the biggest feminist and women's liberator in the history of manking (equal contestent with Morgentaler, another Jew)! Amash's (and others') preaching Mises wholly, saying that their views are practically indistinguishable from Mises's, then opposing abortion, is like killing people "in the name of God the creator"; it's pure blasphemy, heck, worse than that, for Mises is above God, and these false preachers shall be judged harshly by Mises' immortal spirit. *inhales lol.
Not all races are equal. Sexual and survival stretegies dictate the differences. The muslims have been murdering the intelligent (dissident/scientific) and beautiful (emo boys/girls) among themselves for more than a millenia; no wonder they've gotten so retarded. The Chinese are apathetic people, bred to obey, war, and kill, without remorse; free-thinking pricipled dissidents all but extinct among them. Evolutionary psychologists who think that war is good for the genes are idiots; sure, war is good for genes, but peace is better. Heck, EVERYTHING is good for the genes. The genes are set on a track to evolve forwards, and they'd only do so, and abominations like Islam are mere incidental dips in a more or less upward-rising curve. The least-warring greeks were the most feminist, the highest longevity-people, the most nicest, until war struck Europe too.
The Dutch are one of the best races in the world, second only to the Jews who have significantly higher IQ, higher empathy, the lowest domestic violence and physical violence rates, and the cleanest past history (never practiced witchhunts, and despite brutal punishments legal in Judiasm, never practiced them; it's like, despite judiasm, the Jews never gave in to barbarianism; such noble genes; never committed genocides), way better than the forever stained dutch history of the witchhunts which took the lives of some 300 innocent women... Still, the Dutch are better than the rest, by a huge margin. Not to mention the Dutch are the most good-looking tall handsome honest people in the whole world. Unpopular opinion but, me thinks Geert Wilders is the most handsome man ever; boy would I pay to suck his cock lol. Even an imaginary anime character better looking than Wilders is too wild an idea to be plausible lol. Lol I literaly saw him in my dream yesterday on the second day of discovering him and binge-watching his videos, lol.
The Dutch people need saving. You're already very few in numbers; intermarriage is the Dutch's biggest existential threat; extinction by dissolution. A Dutch State is the only possible saviour; people mostly only fall in love with someone within a mile from them; a state wherein most (if not all) are Dutch, would thus preserve the dutch genes.
A free-market championing privatization-proposing Geert Wilders wouldn't need to resort to Islam to achieve the end result all Dutch people desire: a safe and prosperous Netherlands for the Dutch.
Thanks.
-- Mises's No. 1 Cocksucker.

Technology is such a strange mechanic in EU4. The technological progress of your nation is based primarily on how competent your ruler is (mana) and if you appreciate old art/eat potatoes/oppress serfs (institutions).
Plus, the technology paths being completely linear leads to bizarre outcomes, e.g. native Americans just… inventing horses before they are brought over by Europe.
Instead, they should combine the two systems. Make tech spread like institutions. In order to have guns, you need the Gunpowder institution. Horses need the horse husbandry institution. Some states might start out without some basic institutions, like ironworking or agriculture. You can make certain states acquire institutions via different means. Maybe China starts with the printing press, and a second point of spread appears later with Gutenberg. Europeans get the institution for bette ocean faring boats near the start of the game.
Some of the institutions, like printing press, are already just technologies anyways so why differentiate the two. Since EU5 seems to be moving away from mana, this seems like a good solution. I think it would be annoying to just add a Civilization or Imperator style tech tree complete with a new type of “Science Points” or whatever.
Thoughts?

The Bible teaches a strict Monotheism – that God is numerically one.
Only the Father of Jesus is the one true God. The unique man Jesus is His Messiah/Christ. God the Father sent Jesus, gave him His message, empowered him, and endorsed him “by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him.” Jesus obeyed God, laying down his life to achieve the atonement. God raised Jesus from the dead and exalted him to His right hand, making Jesus the one Lord under the one God.
In short, the one God is the Father alone, and Jesus is His human Messiah, who was exalted as Lord and Saviour.
The following four points demonstrate why Unitarian Monotheism is the only position that makes Biblical sense:

1. YHVH Is Always Presented As a Singular Entity

"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:"-Deuteronomy 6:4

YHVH gave us the Scriptures in normal human language, and the singular personal pronouns of "I", "me", "he", and "him" refer to one person. Therefore, when the Bible uses these words to refer to YHVH, it's teaching us that YHVH is one. The handful of times that the Bible uses a plural pronoun to refer to YHVH must be weighed against the thousands of times that singular personal pronouns are used for YHVH. Consider the following passages:

"Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else."-Deuteronomy 4:39
"See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand."-Deuteronomy 32:39
"O Lord, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears."-1 Chronicles 17:20
"Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God [...] Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any."-Isaiah 44:6, 8
"I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: [...] Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else."-Isaiah 45:5, 21-22
"And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: [...] And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:"-Mark 12:28-29, 32
"Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith."-Romans 3:33
"But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him."-1 Corinthians 8:6
"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."-Ephesians 4:4-6
"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;"-1 Timothy 2:5

These passages tell us that YHVH is one and there is none like Him.

2. Jesus Is Always Presented In the Bible As a Distinct Person from YHVH

"And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."-Philippians 2:11

In 1st Corinthians 15:27-28, we read: "For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all." Paul is saying here that YHVH put all things under the Messiah's feet, but obviously not YHVH Himself. This makes clear the distinction between Jesus, the exalted Messiah, and YHVH, the one who exalted him.
This distinction is echoed in Philippians 2:9-11: "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." YHVH, the Father, is irrefutably distinct from His Son whom He exalted to His right hand.
How can Jesus be “God” and have a “God” at the same time? The God of the Bible is the Almighty, the Creator, the Most High, and no one compares to Him. Jesus Christ cannot be “God” if he says that our heavenly Father is his “God.”
You cannot be the “Most High God” and be in submission to the “Most High God” (1 Cor. 15:28) and say that He is your God. This makes no sense.
If words truly have meaning, then one cannot be “God” and have a “God” at the same time.
Check out the verses below that clearly show that our Father is the “God” of Jesus Christ:

"That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."-Romans 15:6
"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;"-2 Corinthians 1:3
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: [...] That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:"-Ephesians 1:3, 17
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,"-1 Peter 1:3

The above verses are very clear. Jesus Christ has a God. Who is the God of Jesus Christ? Ephesians 1:17 very clearly says that this God is our glorious Father.
Jesus Christ himself called our Father his “God” and Father many different times in Scripture.

"Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God."-John 20:17
"Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name."-Revelation 3:12
"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."-Revelation 3:21

If Jesus was sitting at the right hand of God in heaven when the book of Revelation was written, why does Jesus continue to make such clear statements that our heavenly Father is his “God” if he himself is God?
If Jesus is God, then why does he pray to God and call Him “the only true God” in John 17:3?:

"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

In this verse, Jesus Christ makes a clear distinction between “the only true God” and himself. Jesus called his Father “the only true God,” and that doesn’t leave any room for Jesus to also be “God.”

3. Scripture Never Requires a Person to Believe Jesus is YHVH

"But these [signs] are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."-John 20:31
In Matthew 16:16, Peter correctly confesses that Jesus is the Messiah, Son of the living God. John 20:30-31 also says: "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." So neither Peter nor John says that Jesus is YHVH; rather, they say that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of YHVH.
Jesus was the highest exalted being in the created order, but he was still under YHVH. Jesus was the exalted, sinless human Son of YHVH.

4. YHVH Possesses Certain Attributes, Which Are Incompatible With Being Human

"Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen."-1 Timothy 1:17

We learn from 1 Timothy 1:17 that YHVH is "immortal and invisible," and from the same epistle in 6:16, that He alone possesses immortality. John 1:18 tells us that "no man hath seen God at any time." According to the New Testament, Jesus was seen, he was visible, and he obviously died since the foundation of the faith of New Testament believers was his death, burial, and resurrection (1 Cor. 15:1-4).
If God cannot be tempted by evil, yet Jesus was tempted in every way we are, how can he be God?

"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:"-James 1:13
"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."-Hebrews 4:15

The Bible never says that Jesus’ “human nature” was tempted, it says “Jesus” was tempted. Nowhere does it say that “part” of Jesus was tempted; it was “all” of him. If Jesus is God, this would be a clear contradiction. Thankfully, there are no such contradictions; Jesus is the Son of God, and not God Himself.
Furthermore, how can Jesus “be like us in every way” and still be “100% man and 100% God”?

"Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people."-Hebrews 2:17

If Jesus is God and also “like us in every way,” that means we are all 100% man and 100% God. This makes no sense. Either Jesus is not God and truly like us in all ways (a man), or he is God and so are we.
What makes more sense?
Finally, If Jesus is God and God cannot be tempted, why would the devil tempt Jesus? The Bible says that “God cannot be tempted” (Jam. 1:13) and we know that the devil knew Scripture because he quoted it while trying to tempt Jesus (Matt. 4:6). The devil was totally evil and persistent, but he was not dumb.
Why did the devil continue to ask Jesus “if thou be the Son of God…” when he was tempting him?
Wouldn’t the devil (a fallen angel) and his demons know if they were speaking with the Almighty Himself?
In fact, he tauntingly said to Jesus: "If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread [...] If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down:" (Matt. 4:3, 6).
The devil knew that Jesus was a man, the Son of God, and the promised Messiah, and that is why he did his best to try to get him to sin. The devil knew that if he could get Jesus to sin one time, he could not be the perfect sacrifice that was necessary for the forgiveness of our sins.
We believe that Jesus Christ was a unique man because he was the only man who was born of a virgin, who was the Last Adam, who by his free will choices to trust God lived a sinless life, always doing the will of his Father. He died as the perfect sacrifice for our sins so that we too could have a relationship with God. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, our Saviour, and our brother. Because of his obedience, God promoted Jesus to the highest place possible – “Lord” over heaven and earth (Acts 2:36, Matt. 28:18). He was Head of the Church, working with them to make known God’s love and truth on the earth.

"What About Genesis 1:26 and 11:7?"

Genesis 1:26 is a verse you'll see brought up all too often by Trinitarians in order to support their 3-in-1 doctrine, as it seemingly shows God referring to Himself in the plural: "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." Genesis 11:7 uses similar language when God speaks about His plans concerning Babel: "Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech."
There are different views amongst Biblical Unitarians concerning these passages. The following seem to be some of the most popular:
1) God counseled His own will. Admittedly, this sounds a little odd on the surface. But this view is in fact supported by Scripture. In Ephesians 1:11, we read that God “worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:”. It’s like someone saying, “Let’s see”, even though they are alone. It could be that God was simply using a form of speech like His creation later would when talking to themselves as a single person. Most people do this all the time and we would never believe that because they do so they are more than a single entity.
2) Some explain Genesis 1:26 and 11:7 as majestic or literary plural, referring to the practice in formal writing of the writer referring to himself in the plural (especially if the person is royal). This is a practice that can be seen in at least one other area of Scripture: the Book of Daniel. Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar, “we will tell the interpretation [of the dream] before the king,” even though Daniel proceeded to give the interpretation alone. Thus, it's possible God was simply using majestic plural pronouns to refer to Himself, as He is the King of kings, after all.
3) Finally, some would say that God was talking to the angels. This does not mean that they had a part in creating man, but rather that God informed the angels of His plans. We've seen God share His plans with angels in other areas of Scripture as well, such as 1st Kings 22:19. So, it doesn’t seem out of place for God to do the same here. We also know from the book of Job that the angels were present at creation, so this gives even more credibility to the idea that these Scriptures are speaking of a divine council of some sort.
Personally, I find this last view the most convincing, as there seems to be more evidence which supports it than the other views listed here.

"What About John 17:5?"

In his prayer just before he was betrayed and arrested in Gethsemane, Jesus said, “And now, O Father, glorify me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was” (John 17:5). Do these words prove that the Son was eternally a divine person distinct from the Father?
We see a trend in the 17th chapter of John of Jesus speaking of things that are not as though they were and are, also known as prolepsis.
Prolepsis:

1. The anachronistic representation of something as existing before its proper or historical time.

a. the representation or assumption of a future act or development as if presently existing or accomplished
Examples of prolepsis in John 17 are:

"I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." (vs. 4)
"And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are." (vs. 11)
"While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the Scripture might be fulfilled." (vs. 12)
"Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." (vs. 24)

We know that Christ had not indeed finished his work, was yet present in the world, and had not yet been slain or glorified; but he spoke as if these things were already accomplished. We conclude then that verse 5, in sync with the rest of chapter 17, involves prolepsis instead of pre-existence. And we do so not out of ideological necessity, but from logic and consistency. One doesn’t even have to be Unitarian to interpret the verse in this way. Augustine, a Trinitarian, interpreted the passage like this and did not even think to use it as a proof for Trinitarianism. Other so-called "church fathers" did the same.
We also see prolepsis being used in Isaiah 53, which is clearly a prophecy about Jesus, and yet the author spoke as if the prophecy had already passed. This is because prolepsis was a common literary technique for the Jews, being that they viewed God as so powerful that they would sometimes speak as if the prophecy had already happened, to almost solidify it.
John described the Messiah as “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev. 13:8). Although the word translated “slain” (esphagmenou) is a perfect passive participle, indicating that the slaying occurred in the past, Bible readers instinctively understand that this does not mean that Jesus was crucified at the time the world was created, but that his crucifixion was anticipated in the mind of God.
The plan of redemption was in the mind of God from the creation of the world. The plan of God was put into action and "became flesh" when the gospel was proclaimed through Jesus (John 1). Sort of like how a blueprint is not a house, but it "becomes" a house whenever construction takes place and finishes.
This is how the Father could "lovedst [Jesus] before the foundation of the world," as stated in verse 24 of the passage in question.
Some at this point have tried to argue that there is no prophecy in Jesus' statement in John 17:5, but there was prophecy in said statement, because Jesus came to fulfill all things (cf. Luke 24:44-47), and the context clearly dictates this since Jesus explicitly states in verse 12 of the same passage that what he's doing is so that "the Scripture might be fulfilled."

"How Could Jesus Share Glory With the Father?"

Some point to Isaiah 42:8 as indirect proof that Jesus is YHVH, since Jesus would share glory with the Father:

"I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images."

The following is taken from reddit user u/ArchaicChaos here. (Note: Some of what he said has been edited to better fit the views of this page):

God isn't selfish and saying [H]e won't give anyone who isn't God glory. He glorifies even [believers]. John 17 goes on to say that the glory Jesus has received in verse 5, he gives to [his Church].

[...]

[W]hen God says he will not give his glory to another, the context is, [H]e will not give His glory to another nation besides Israel. Yes, God shares [H]is glory with Israel. Moses' face reflected God's glory after all (see 2 Corinthians 3). God's deal/covenant with Israel was that they would be [H]is people exclusively and no other people will receive [H]is blessings if they remained faithful to [H]im. He won't share [H]is glory with another nation. They broke that covenant (See Romans 7) and so God gave [H]is glory to [the Church] as the new Jerusalem. Jesus asked for the glory he receives when he sits at the right hand of the Father (Psalm 110:1), which he [invited New Testament believers] to sit on too (Revelation 3:21). There's no contradiction. God gives his glory to his servants through covenantal arrangements.

The Law of Agency

In Hebrew thought, the first cause or ultimate cause is not always distinguished from secondary or proximate causes. That is to say, the principal is not always clearly distinguished from the agent (the one commissioned to carry out an act on behalf of another). Sometimes the agent standing for the principal is treated as if he were the principal himself, though this is not literally so. The principal and agent remain two distinct persons. The agent acting and speaking for the principal is the principal by proxy (a person authorized to act for another).
The Hebrew term for an agent or legal emissary is Shaliach which is comparable to the Greek word Apostolos and the English word Apostle. An apostle is an agent commissioned by a principal. We read in Hebrews 3:1-2, Jesus is the apostle and high priest of our confession and was faithful to Him who appointed him, just as Moses was also faithful in all God’s house.
"Agent (Heb. Shaliach): The main point of the Jewish law of agency is expressed in the dictum, 'a person’s agent is regarded as the person himself' (Ned. 72b; Kidd. 41b). Therefore any act committed by a duly appointed agent is regarded as having been committed by the principal, who therefore bears full responsibility for it with consequent complete absence of liability on the part of the agent."-The Encyclopedia of the Jewish Religion
"In a specialized sense when the patriarch as lord of his household deputized his trusted servant as his malak (his messenger or angel) the man was endowed with the authority and resources of his lord to represent him fully and transact business in his name. In Semitic thought this messenger-representative was conceived of as being personally — and in his very words — the presence of the sender.”-R.A. Johnson, The One and the Many in the Israelite Conception of God
The law of agency explains many passages which, on the surface, seemingly contradict the Unitarian Monotheist understanding of God. In the Bible, agents of God were often called God. Jesus made direct reference to Psalm 82:6 when clarifying that those to whom the word of God comes are called God and that he was only claiming to be the Son of God in doing the works of his Father. In Psalm 45:2-7, the Son of Man is called “God” on account of the blessing and majesty that God will give him. In other cases, Moses was made like God to Pharaoh and the Judges within Exodus were referred to as God (Elohim).
In the texts in which an angel is called “God” or “the Lord,” it is imperative to notice that he is always identified as an angel. This point is important because God is never called an angel. God is God. So if a being is called “God,” but is clearly identified as an angel, there must be a reason. In the record of Genesis 16:7-13, the angel is clearly identified as an angel four separate times. Why then would the text say that “the Lord” spoke to Hagar? It does so because as God’s agent or messenger, the angel was speaking for God and the message he brought was God’s message. The same basic idea is expressed when “God” is said to “visit” His people, when actually He sends some form of blessing (Luke 7:16). God Himself does not show up, but someone unfamiliar with the culture might conclude from the wording that He did.
Jesus said it is the Father in him who does the works (John 14:9-11). Nowehere does he claim to be YHVH, as all the things Jesus does and could do was because it was granted to him by the Father, and everything Jesus did was only based on what he was told to do by his Father. This is how Jesus could be the "invisible image of God" (Col. 1:15), for he only did anything on his Father's initiative.

"How Could Jesus Share Certain Titles With YHVH?"

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."-Romans 10:13

The context of this verse in Romans makes it clear that the “Lord” referred to in this verse is the Lord Jesus Christ. However, this verse is a quotation from Joel 2:32 in the Old Testament, and in Joel the “Lord” is YHVH. That has caused some Trinitarians to say that Jesus is God. The argument is not valid, however. There is nothing in the context or scope of Scripture that shows that YHVH and Jesus Christ are the same being. What it shows is simple and straightforward: In the Old Testament, one called upon YHVH for salvation, and in the New Testament times, one would call upon Jesus Christ for salvation. This does not show an identity of persons, rather it demonstrates a shift of responsibility. This responsibility that Jesus had was foreshadowed in the Old Testament record of Joseph: the people would go to Pharaoh for their needs to be met, but after Pharaoh elevated Joseph to second-in-command, he told them, “Go to Joseph” (Gen. 41:55). No one would conclude that Pharaoh and Joseph were the same being, and there is no reason to conclude that Jesus and God are both “God” just because Jesus had some of the responsibilities that God had when He exalted Jesus.
Part of the confusion surrounding this issue is that in the Old Testament, many versions do not print the name Yehovah, but instead say “Lord.” Although God never commanded it, it was the custom of the Jews, out of reverence for God, not to pronounce the name of God, so they wrote “Lord” when the Hebrew text said Yehovah. Many Christian Bibles do not have God’s name clearly translated, but have “Lord” where the Hebrew has Yehovah. This confuses many Christians who see “Lord” in both the Old and New Testaments, and assume it is the same person. Also, many Christians who have some training in the Scriptures have been taught that YHVH in the Old Testament was Jesus Christ. So, instead of seeing YHVH in Joel and “Lord” in Romans, and then realizing that the Lord Jesus was now doing what YHVH did, they erroneously believe the same person is acting in both places.
God made Jesus Lord and gave him all authority. This verse and others show that Jesus took on many of the jobs God used to do. We understand that perfectly in our culture, because we know what it means to get a promotion and take over a job someone else used to do. With the promotion and new job often comes a new title. Thus, “this same Jesus” was made “Lord” and “Christ” and was given all authority, including raising the dead and judging the people (John 5:21-27). The verses in the Old Testament that speak of God’s authority are often quoted in the New Testament and applied to Christ because God gave the authority to Christ.
There is no reason to assume that just because someone is called "Lord," they must be God. It's simply a title. Plenty of people throughout Scripture were called "lord," and yet clearly weren't God.
The following is taken from reddit user u/Agreeable_Operation here. (Again, what this person has said has been edited to better fit the views of this page):

[God gave] over rule of [His] creation to Jesus [when he was exalted]. [T]he Bible gives us a good picture or type of this in the story of Joseph in Egypt. [...] [T]he authority transfer and status' of Pharaoh and Joseph [in Genesis 41:40-44 foreshadow] the authority transfer and status' of God and Jesus [...]. Pharaoh gave all authority over his dominions to Joseph and he did it simply because it pleased him to do so. But even though he gave Joseph the authority to rule, Pharaoh still outranked Joseph in that the Pharaoh was still Pharaoh. And Pharaoh took Joseph around his land for all to see and had his people bow to Joseph and made it known that Joseph ruled the people. Joseph would rule anyone who lived in the land currently, or who would come into the land in the future. No one from outside the land was able to enter the land without Joseph's permission.
[Again, this is] a good picture of what authority was given to Jesus. Jesus[, in the New Testament,] received authority from God over the creation, but God still outrank[ed] Jesus in that God alone is God and God remains the only God, but it pleased God to make Jesus ruler over the creation. God gave authority to Jesus to rule and to judge, to determine who could come into the land (the new creation).

It is stated by Trinitarians that since YHVH is called “King of kings and Lord of lords,” as is Christ, that Christ must be YHVH. Again, simply because the same title is used for two individuals does not mean that they are actually somehow one being. Looking at Scripture reveals that the phrase “king of kings” simply means “the best king.” In Ezra 7:12, Artaxerxes is called “the king of kings” because he was the most powerful king at the time. Consider also Ezekiel 26:7: “For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, a king of kings, from the north, with horses, and with chariots, and with horsemen, and companies, and much people.” God again calls Nebuchadnezzar “king of kings” in Daniel 2:37. Nebuchadnezzar was the most powerful king of his day, and the Bible calls him “king of kings.” Thus, Scripture shows us that having the title “king of kings” does not make a person God. In the Bible, other powerful kings had that title, and no one denies that Jesus Christ was a powerful king and thus is also worthy of it.
The phrase, “the first and the last,” is a title that is used five times in the Bible, twice in Isaiah of God (44:6; 48:12) and three times in Revelation of the Son (1:17; 2:8; 22:13). As already shown, there is no Biblical justification on which to base the assumption that since the same title applies to both the Father and the Son, they must both be God.
In the Old Testament, God truly was “the first and the last.” The meaning of the title is not specifically given, but the key to its meaning is given in Isaiah 41:4, in which God says He has called forth the generations of men, and was with the first of them and is with the last of them: "Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he." Thus, the Bible connects the phrase “the first and the last” with calling forth the generations.
While God was the one who called forth the generations in the Old Testament, He conferred that authority on His Son in the New Testament. Thus, it is easy to see why the Lord Jesus was called “the first and the last” in the book of Revelation. It was Jesus Christ who would call forth the generations of people from the grave to enter in to everlasting life. Again, God gave Jesus authority to raise the dead (John 5:25-27). His voice would raise all then dead believers at his return (1 Thess. 4:16-17), and change their bodies into new glorious bodies (Phil. 3:20-21). However, even when Jesus said he had the authority to raise the dead, he never claimed he had that authority inherently because he was God. He always said that his Father had given authority to him. You don't need to be given authority if you're already God.
It is thus clear why Christ would be called the “beginning and the end” in association with being the start and finish of something. He was the firstborn from the dead, the man by whom God would judge the Judeo-Roman world, the beginning of the new creation, and the one who would bring to completion the next ages.

"And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."-Revelation 1:17-18

"Wouldn't It Have Been Blasphemy to Worship Jesus?"

Much can be said on this subject. To make it short, the Hebrew word shachah and the Greek word proskuneo account for most of the appearances of the word “worship” in most English versions of the Bible, and a study of them reveals that both these words mean “to bow down.” The Hebrew word shachah is used of bowing or prostrating oneself, often before a superior or before God. In the King James Version, it is translated by a number of different English words, including: “worship” (99 times), “bow” (31 times), “bow down” (18 times), “obeisance” (9 times), and “reverence” (5 times).
There are examples of “worship” in the Bible which confirm that in the Biblical culture, people bowed down before those to whom they wanted to show respect or honor. Lot “worshipped” (shachah) the strangers who came to Sodom even though he had never seen them before. He prostrated himself before them to show them respect (Gen. 19:1). Moses “worshipped” (shachah) his father in law, whom he respected and honored (Ex. 18:7). Abigail “worshipped” (shachah) David. She honored him by prostrating herself before him. These three examples can be multiplied many times over, but they show that when someone wanted to honor another, he would fall down before him.
The Greek word proskuneo (Strong’s number 4505) comes from the Greek words pros, “to” or “toward,” and kuneo, “to kiss.” It literally means to kiss the hand to (toward) someone in token of reverence, and among the Orientals, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence. Hence, in the New Testament it means kneeling or prostration to do homage or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication.
Some Unitarians have argued that the kind of "worship" that Jesus received was not religious worship, but only the kind which meant to bow down to someone in mere honor of them as someone above them. Other Unitarians have argued the opposite, stating that it was religious worship, but that this was only after his ressurection and after he was exalted to sit on the throne of David, quoting Scriptures which seem to state or at least imply that anyone YHVH appoints to sit on that seat is allowed to be worshipped together with YHVH in a religious sense, (and that Jesus was only worshipped in the non-religious sense prior to his ressurection, being that he was the Messiah/annointed one whom God sent, after all).
Regardless of whichever of the above propositions are true, Christ was the vice-regent or representative of the Father. So, to "worship" Christ was really to worship the one who sent him (John 12:44, 1 John 2:23). The Law of Agency essentially makes this a non-issue.

"How Could Jesus Forgive Sins If He Was Not God?"

"Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?"-Mark 2:7

On several occasions, the Lord Jesus told the Pharisees that their doctrine was wrong. Mark 2:7 records an instance where this was the case. There is no verse of Scripture that says, “only God can forgive sins.” That idea came from their tradition. The truth is that God grants the authority to forgive sins as He pleases. He granted that authority to the Son and, furthermore, to the apostles. John 20:23 records Jesus saying to them: “Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.” If the Pharisees were right, and only God can forgive sins, then God, Jesus and the apostles were all God, because they all had the authority to forgive sins.
One should not go to the Pharisees for right doctrine. They are consistently portrayed as the antagonists in the Gospels. We are told over and over again that they conspired to kill Jesus, that they were looking for any reason they could find to get him charged with something worthy of capture and death by the authorities, and that they could not even "hear" (understand) the words and truth that Jesus was speaking, because they were not of the Father.
If, as many people often assume, the Pharisees' accusation that Jesus was actually claiming to be YHVH was correct, he would've been charged with such blasphemy at his trial. Yet, this is never brought up, and the Pharisees wouldn't have feared the crowds that loved Jesus so much had those same crowds also believed Jesus claimed to be YHVH, since they would've had reason to have him captured and killed by the authorities right then and there.

"What About NT Verses Which Seemingly Identify Jesus with YHVH Through Prophecy?"

When someone points to something like, say, Mark 1:2-4 as proof that the Bible identifies Jesus with YHVH, they're committing something called "the fulfillment fallacy" (credits for coinage of the term goes to Biblical Unitarian scholar Dr. Dale Tuggy, by the way).
The fulfillment fallacy is when someone infers that because a New Testament author applies an Old Testament text about YHVH to Jesus, then that author must thus be asserting the numerical sameness of YHVH and Jesus, i.e. that Jesus just is YHVH Himself. This is a fallacy because many of the prophecies that New Testament authors would reference as fulfilled in Jesus were prophecies that most wouldn't have originally thought applied to the Messiah, being that many of those same prophecies already had a past fulfillment. For example, there was literally a child called "Immanuel" born during the time of Isaiah's prophecy, and yet Matthew said that this prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus.
Sometimes, the NT authors would simply view Jesus as the one through whom God was acting when fulfilling a prophecy, and other times, the authors just seemed to think that there was a different meaning encoded by God in the very prophecies that they were referencing. A meaning that wasn't known to the original author of the prophecy or human readers, but revealed later as a double fulfillment in latter times when Jesus came.
The New Testament is basically a big midrash. Midrash is a method of interpreting the Old Testament used by various Jewish groups, before and after the time of Jesus, to analyze Old Testament texts and derive new information from them. Midrash is a mixture of interpretation and commentary that produces significance not intended by the original text (at least, not on the surface level)—especially as it applies to the writer and his audience. The writers of the New Testament were mostly all Jewish, and used Jewish techniques. The audience was primarily Jewish as well and recognized midrash for what it was (Rom. 15:4 cf. 1 Cor. 9:8-14, 1 Tim. 5:17-18). Today, most don't, because they're detached from history and Jewish writing techniques. The difference between the midrash the authors of the NT did and those that the non-believing Jews committed, however, is that the NT authors were actually directly inspired by the Holy Spirit and confirmed by God Himself (1 Cor. 2:6-16, 2 Tim. 3:16, Heb. 1:2, 2 Pet. 1:19-21; 3:15-16).
No one among Isaiah's original audience would have ever have understood his prophecy about the one who prepares the way of the Lord to predict the arrival of a desert eccentric, wearing camel's hair clothing and subsisting on a diet of locusts and honey. This is clearly an example of midrash, as are many other texts like Mark 1:2-4. This is further proven by the fact that that Mark 1:2-4 itself is a combination of 2 entirely separate prophecies spoken as if they were originally one (Mal. 3:1 cf. Isa. 40:3), which the NT authors would often do with other prophecies they said were fulfilled in Jesus.

Conclusion

All parts of the Bible should be interpreted in light of the whole. What's written here is just a few of the reasons why Unitarian Monotheism makes the most Biblical sense, and the idea that Jesus was/is YHVH does not.

I work as the Purchasing Manager for a mid sized residential builder. On top of purchasing, my department also does all estimating in house. Historically my VP has done all of the estimates himself in the most low tech way you can imagine. Prints out 11x17 copies and scales with a ruler. We have nearly 50 floor plans at the moment (hopefully discontinuing a dozen or so soon) which are all being actively built in one community or another. I recently picked up a Bluebeam Complete account and so far I love it. I've done a good amount of the online training and have been using it a for area measurements, mark ups, even recently started experimenting with quantity takeoff. I think I'm at the point where I'm ready to take the plunge and start building a system to utilize Revu, but there is one question that keeps holding me back from really getting after it and that is: How efficient is it to copy estimates over from a current version of a floor plan to a revision?
We often have very extensive revisions. For instance, I'm work on one now for a popular two story plan where we are going to move the utility room from upstairs to downstairs. doing this is changing the slab and layout significantly. The slab is growing 3' in length and the bedrooms upstairs are shifting around.
Would this kind of change be an ordeal? I know markups can be exported and uploaded to a new file, but would I then have to adjusted all of the markups to the new print? My fear is wouldn't any major (or minor even) revision be like starting over on the print? I hate the low tech way we do things now, but one benefit of doing it the old head way is that revisions aren't a nightmare. I write what needs to changed on a piece of paper, make the changes in the takeoffs, and then save the new revised print as current.
If any experienced user could provide some feedback on their experience and how you use Revu I would really appreciate it.

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Still an addict, but now the time/money/effort goes into restoring vintage synthesizers.I beat a 15 year heroin addiction... Still an addict, but now the time/money/effort goes into restoring vintage synthesizers.I beat a 15 year heroin addiction... Still an addict, but now the time/money/effort goes into restoring vintage synthesizers.I beat a 15 year heroin addiction... Still an addict, but now the time/money/effort goes into restoring vintage synthesizers.I beat a 15 year heroin addiction... Still an addict, but now the time/money/effort goes into restoring vintage synthesizers.I beat a 15 year heroin addiction... Still an addict, but now the time/money/effort goes into restoring vintage synthesizers.I beat a 15 year heroin addiction... Still an addict, but now the time/money/effort goes into restoring vintage synthesizers.I beat a 15 year heroin addiction... Still an addict, but now the time/money/effort goes into restoring vintage synthesizers.I beat a 15 year heroin addiction... 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Still an addict, but now the time/money/effort goes into restoring vintage synthesizers.Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it!Got my 2nd tattoo today, knew this sub would appreciate it! this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub this sub Moog + Korg = Morg. My appreciation of the Simpsons has increased after noticing this in the background. (i.redd.it) Moog + Korg = Morg. My appreciation of the Simpsons has increased after noticing this in the background. (i.redd.it) Moog + Korg = Morg. My appreciation of the Simpsons has increased after noticing this in the background. (i.redd.it) Moog + Korg = Morg. My appreciation of the Simpsons has increased after noticing this in the background. (i.redd.it) Moog + Korg = Morg. My appreciation of the Simpsons has increased after noticing this in the background. (i.redd.it) Moog + Korg = Morg. My appreciation of the Simpsons has increased after noticing this in the background. (i.redd.it) Moog + Korg = Morg. My appreciation of the Simpsons has increased after noticing this in the background. (i.redd.it) Moog + Korg = Morg. My appreciation of the Simpsons has increased after noticing this in the background. (i.redd.it) Moog + Korg = Morg. My appreciation of the Simpsons has increased after noticing this in the background. 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THANK YOU FOR YOUR PURCHASES AND REMEMBER TO LEAVE FEEDBACK SMOKE FREE PET FREE HOME SANDYLION FUZZY MOOSE FAMILY 1 SQUARE OF RETIRED VTG STICKER SQUARE IS 2" x 2" WITH 5 FUZZY STICKERS FOR SCRAPBOOK PAGES, CARDS OR ANY PROJECT. RULER FOR SIZES. USE THE CART FOR EASY CHECKOUT ON 1 INVOICE AND COMBINED SHIPPING. SANDYLION LOGO ON BACK ANY QUESTIONS CONTACT ME AND I WILL RESPOND ASAP. INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING IS PAID FOR FIRST ITEM ONLY IF PAID ON 1 INVOICE WITH COMBINED SHIPPING. NO REFUNDDDDDQUARE IS 2" x 2" WITH 5 FUZZY STICKERS FOR SCRAPBOOK PAGES, CARDS OR ANY PROJECT. RULER FOR SIZES. USE THE CART FOR EASY CHECKOUT ON 1 INVOICE AND COMBINED SHIPPING. SANDYLION LOGO ON BACK ANY QUESTIONS CONTACT ME AND I WILL RESPOND ASAP. INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING IS PAID FOR FIRST ITEM ONLY IF PAID ON 1 INVOICE WITH COMBINED SHIPPING. NO REFUNDS ON SHIPPING FEES. TRACKING IS ADDED AT MY DISCRETION UNLESS REQUESTED AND PAID FOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PURCHASES AND REMEMBER TO LEAVE FEEDHIPPING FEES. 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