Hi everyone —
I’m interested in (finally) getting my name changed this autumn, and I’m curious about people’s experiences with the process in general, particularly in the US, even more particularly in New York.
How long did it take? Did you ever need to show up in court or before any sort of government body? Was it terribly expensive to get it all done? I’ve done some research on the internet, but I’d prefer to get some first-hand accounts on it.
Thanks!

My (29F) husband (40M) wants to sell our family home. What do I do?
Hi Reddit,
I'm in need of some advice regarding my current marital situation and the potential sale of our home. To give you the full picture, I'll start from the beginning. Apologies for the length, but I feel all the details are necessary to understand the context.
I (29F) met my husband (40M) on Tinder four years ago. We dated for about eight months when my family had an opportunity to purchase a property. My then-boyfriend was also looking to be involved in a business deal of that sort, and he was interested in having his name on the property as well. My father supported this, seeing as how my boyfriend was a physician with a good income, and saw this as a way to bring him closer to our family. The opportunity came quickly, and we all signed the contract to purchase the house.
Trouble began shortly after this. My boyfriend requested that only he and I be on the title of the house, removing the rest of my family, as he saw a future with us and envisioned it as our potential family home. My father was very pleased to hear this and supported it, so we obliged. During this time, the property had increased in value, and I requested the other family members be paid off so we could buy out their shares. My boyfriend declined, feeling it was unfair.
To skim over some details, here are the highlights of the construction: My boyfriend paid more for the down payment than we initially realized would be required. Because of this, he paid no further construction costs. The construction proceeded with debt from my family until the construction loans came through. My family paid for the construction, and my father built the house for us without charging for his management services. My father was displeased with my boyfriend’s behavior and required him to pay more money for the construction due to inflation and the COVID shutdown. My boyfriend declined, and my mother and I secretly took out a line of credit to front the construction costs to my father, pretending it was from my boyfriend. Eventually, as we got the construction loans on a rolling basis after meeting construction milestones, my mother’s line of credit was paid off.
During this time, my family and I wondered why my boyfriend had not proposed. I decided that if he hadn't proposed by a certain time, I would leave him. Fortunately, he did propose on Valentine’s Day 2022. By spring of 2022, construction was coming to an end, and it was time for us to settle into the house. My fiancé felt uncomfortable with how much money he had put into the house and was worried I could leave him and make a profit. I promised him I wouldn’t leave him, but it wasn’t enough. He said he would believe me if I had a child with him, otherwise women would leave men if there were no ties. I told him I would have a child with him right when we got married. He suggested I come off birth control, as it takes months for a woman’s cycle to normalize after being on birth control for many years. I promised him I would come off birth control.
Coming off birth control was more stressful than I realized. I was very hormonal, breaking out, and felt unlike myself. This contributed to my fiancé and I fighting more than usual. In one particularly heated fight, I told him I would go back on birth control and even purchased the pills, but he told me he would break up with me if I did because he wanted to get to know the real me. I conceded, and then something switched in me and I became excited at the possibility of having a baby. I started tracking my cycle and figuring out my ovulation days. I shared this with my fiancé, and on one of those days, we got pregnant. I didn’t find out until the end of summer 2022. When I did find out, I told my fiancé and suggested we should probably get married.
My fiancé's first response was that we should wait to see if the baby sticks, and if it does, then we can plan a marriage but he wanted to wait until February 2023. I was very disappointed and angry and yelled at him. I felt alone and overwhelmed by the thought of having an illegitimate child. After discussing potentially getting an abortion, potentially breaking up, and potentially selling the house, I talked my fiancé into keeping the baby and getting married. He also wanted to keep the baby but was afraid of our situation. After many fights about when to have the wedding, we finally decided on December 2022. At that point, I was four months pregnant. During this time, my fiancé and I had major arguments that therapy couldn’t even remedy. We would yell at each other, slam doors, I would cry, and he would hold himself up in a room for hours. We had nice moments too, but they were heavily clouded over by the bad.
Finally, we got married, and things were good for a while. But then we faced some marital problems. My husband kept separate accounts and managed the finances himself. We had a joint credit card where I could pay for expenses without being questioned. He made all of the major investment decisions and major purchases. If I tried to disagree or speak up, he would get upset because this was not the submissive wife I had promised him I would be. I made significantly less money than him but lived a good lifestyle, buying almost anything I wanted within reason. Coming from a traditional family, I was upset that finances were kept separate. And so it continued that my husband would invest tens of thousands of dollars into our house so that his family from out of town would visit. We live in Vancouver, Canada, but his family is from Ottawa. In hopes of luring his youngest sister (of four) to Vancouver, my husband would make any modification to the house that his youngest sister showed the slightest interest in. This included a hot tub on the rooftop, a media system in the basement, a movie projector, and much more. After said sister got married, she made it clear that she would not move to Vancouver. Then a switch happened in my husband, and he suddenly wanted to sell the house.
Meanwhile, during all this time, I had my baby, and my husband and I were still fighting more than ever. I felt no support from him, and he felt drained by his work, our fights, and being away from his family. Recently, for the past three months, he has been consistently pushing for the sale of our house. This is where my dilemma lies. I am afraid to sell this house because my husband has kept finances separate, and the mortgage on this house has been serving as a way for me to feel secure. My husband contributes a monthly amount on a regular basis. He could have forced a sale in the past but didn’t, instead paying into the monthly mortgage on top of other bills. Now, he is considering forcing the sale of our house, but I am upset that he is citing financing as the issue when I have been begging him to save money instead of spending (his response is that $200,000 does not affect a $2M mortgage, and that he now feels burnt out and wants to retire sooner and live passively). If I agree to sell, I feel unstable about moving from our home given that my husband and I fight so frequently, and I am left alone to take care of the child. It is also worth noting that my parents live right across the street and come over frequently to help with the child, or I would go over to seek their help. My husband says that he feels abandoned and uncomfortable frequently because of our proximity to my parents, but I feel it’s only been helpful because there have been times when I felt truly alone, and my parents were my only solace and support. My husband would ignore me for days, especially when I was postpartum and vulnerable. My parents now see my husband as someone who doesn’t put his wife and child first. My husband says that the massive mortgage we have is too stressful for him, and he can’t take that burden. I am sad that my husband will not consider keeping this house for another three years so that I can get comfortable with the idea of selling the house and that potentially I and my family can all move to Ottawa so that we can allow my husband to be closer to his family. My husband says that he’s tired of the mortgage and feeling forced to work and missing out on spending time with our daughter (his job is very high stress).
I don’t know what to do at this point, Reddit. I’m currently on extended maternity leave, but it ends in six months. My husband and I will have to come to an agreement about the house, otherwise, it is likely that he will force the sale of the house even if I’m not ready to move. I’ve consistently felt rushed and overlooked in this relationship. I am tired of being the small voice that does not impact decision-making. My husband is now being nice to me and trying to show me a good time, but I see it as him turning on his charming mode so that I can say yes to the sale of this house. I’m not sure what to do. Our fights and disagreements are so bad and the marriage feels like doom sometimes (never any physical violence). I sometimes questions even staying with him, but I worry for my daughter. I’m afraid of her being an only child of divorce; I imagine it’ll be lonely and emotionally traumatizing. He is a good father to her, even though he is cold (but civil) with me.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
TL;DR:
I need advice. I met my husband four years ago, and we bought a house together with my family's help. Financial disputes caused issues. Despite getting married and having a baby, we fight often. My husband handles our finances separately, spent a lot on the house, but now wants to sell it. I feel insecure about selling because the mortgage is like an investment to me, and also I rely on my parents, who live nearby, for help with our child. My husband feels stressed by the mortgage and feels homesick for his family 3000km away. I feel overlooked in decision-making and am unsure whether to agree to the sale, or to stand my ground and not sell. Sometimes I question staying in the marriage for my daughter’s sake, or is it better give up on this unhappy marriage.

It's been years of struggle. I finally sorted out my strategy and became (I thought) aware enough of my psychology that I had it under control. My 4th attempt at getting funded with a prop firm. This time I passed. I passed both phases in 3 weeks averaging about 4.5% per week. My eyes turned to dollar signs. I finally passed! I made it!
Now. About 2.5 weeks into being funded I am, and have been since starting, enduring the greatest drawdown I've had in years. It's my first time trading real money. It's the first time I actually have something real to lose. I've heard of how few people actually make it to their first payout. "Not me" I thought. Well, turns out that the real money does have an impact.
First my trading suffered then my mindset started to spiral. Oh, how the losses rolled in. I keep a journal and am very honest and critical of myself. It's been clear that the strategy is fine. I keep breaking rules. Exiting early, passing on good trades, revenge trading, over-trading. You name it.
I have been humbled. Fortunately, I'm still in it. I know my strategy works. I know it's me that needs work. I've started to focus on studying psychology with YouTube videos, articles, etc. I just bought "The Biggest Loser Wins" and I'm excited to dig into that.
I remind myself that this is just another step in developing as a trader. We don't get to skip the steps of the process. Sucks to have to slow right down and sit in drawdown for weeks. But I know these are just growing pains. I'm grateful to still have the account. I'm grateful to be aware of my flaws. And I'm doing my best to embrace these feelings and lessons. I remind myself that this is the struggle that all great traders endured to become great.
Just needed to vent. Slow and steady. I'll get there. We all will if we don't quit.

and no i did not authorize it.... i am resetting my accounts password now. but it was generated by a password generator... my account was also secured by the app duo authentication...

Hello, i'm a casual player who happened to have problem that support refused to help me due Couple of reasons which i clearly can't see if the game doesn't support us player then how should we coutine supporting game who doesn't bother at all? i had electeric outage in middle of doing akkan gate 2 so i reached out to the support to help me to refind ticket from system since last week i had same problem with it as well. Here's a copy of Online Chat with Amazon Support Me: Lost Ark - Account: Something Else [2:28:23 PM]You are now connected to abhishek from Amazon.com.Me: Hello, i had electeric outage in middle of doing gate 2 in akkan and my ticket didn't refund i hope you can help me [2:35:41 PM]abhishek: Hello my name is abhishek. How can i help u ? [2:35:44 PM]Me: i hope if you can refund me my ticket due problem im having [2:36:12 PM]abhishek: In cases of disconnects caused by server-side issues, Amazon Games issues re-entry tickets within 24 hours. [2:37:26 PM]abhishek: For disconnects caused by player-side issues, we don't issue re-entry tickets. [2:37:26 PM]abhishek: Player support specialists can't manually issue re-entry tickets. [2:37:26 PM]abhishek: thank you for contacting amazon..is there any thing else i can help u with ? [2:37:35 PM]Me: What if the ticket doesn't come back in 24h? is there anyway i can get it? because last thing happened last week. [2:38:08 PM]abhishek: i am sorry but it is completely handled by the system [2:39:00 PM]Me: i had electeric outage in middle of doing gate 2 in akkan [2:39:06 PM]abhishek: For disconnects caused by player-side issues, we don't issue re-entry tickets. [2:39:23 PM]Me: That's why im reaching out to you, surely there is something you can do to help me [2:39:26 PM]Me: Yet again im asking for help [2:39:41 PM]Me: you can't possible ask me to wait for another week due something happened without my control? [2:40:06 PM]abhishek: i am sorry but nothing can be done in this case [2:40:38 PM]Me: What do you mean by that? Then why there is a support for a lostark in general? Sorry that just questionable if you can help a player with some issues in game then how can you call yourself one? [2:41:32 PM]Me: I just find it strange [2:41:43 PM]abhishek: i can totally understand but re entry tickets are handled by the system [2:42:10 PM]Me: It's like asking me : Don't support our game, we barely care whatever happens to you [2:42:15 PM]abhishek: we cannot issue [2:42:18 PM]Me: THE SYSTEM IS MADE BY HUMANS AND CAN BE ADJUSTED BY HUMANS [2:42:30 PM]abhishek: For disconnects caused by player-side issues, the system don't issue re-entry tickets. [2:42:36 PM]Me: its not dam robot. [2:42:42 PM]abhishek: is there any thing else i can help u with ? [2:42:53 PM]Me: Clearly, my problem [2:43:08 PM]abhishek: i told you before In cases of disconnects caused by server-side issues, Amazon Games issues re-entry tickets within 24 hours. [2:43:37 PM]abhishek: For disconnects caused by player-side issues, we don't issue re-entry tickets. [2:43:37 PM]abhishek: Player support specialists can't manually issue re-entry tickets. [2:43:37 PM]Me: Yet that didn't happen last week that's why i'm reaching out to you! [2:43:56 PM]Me: if the support can't do it then change channel to someone who actually cable of doing so [2:44:27 PM]Me: i been working my ass for month i'm not wasting that [2:44:42 PM]abhishek has left the conversation.
Now i'm wondering if the system can't be adjusted then what can be done?

You all must know very well about GBWhatsApp. If you have used it well then you will know what features you get in this WhatsApp and how you can use all those features. Otherwise, if you have not used it and want to know more information about it. So you have to stay with our article till the end. So that you can know well about every good and bad feature of it. Actually, there is no such bad feature in this WhatsApp due to which you have to face any kind of problem. But still, let us tell you that this is a third-party app, so you have to use it very carefully.
Although GBWhatsApp promises that no user’s data or any other information will ever be leaked, but still you have to run it very carefully so that you do not face any problems related to it in the future. In further information, we are going to tell you about some special features of GBWhatsapp and its excellent privacy. You have to read it very carefully, only then you will be able to know the real importance of WhatsApp and how to use it. Making it popular among millions of users around the world. If you want more privacy, more control over your chatting experience, or want a way to add some fun and excitement to your conversations then GB WhatsApp is a great solution for you.

Download GBWhatsApp (112 MB)

Through which you can do everything which you cannot do in normal WhatsApp. GB WhatsApp is your preferred medium for your chats with more privacy, control and convenience. Enjoy the innovative features and customization of GBWhatsApp that attracts millions of people globally. Experience the best messaging with GB WhatsApp and take your chats to the next level. This is the only application which is used all over the world. And the best thing about it is that whoever uses this application once never thinks of using normal WhatsApp again. This WhatsApp has made a good place among the people in a very short time.What is GB WhatsApp & Its Other Detail
GB WhatsApp is actually one of the many versions of WhatsApp with rich features and is a very great application. It has many more features than WhatsApp, like secret, automatic reply, selecting to send message to more people simultaneously. It also has many other amazing features like sending text messages and even large video files. GB WhatsApp is the second version of WhatsApp. That said, there isn’t much difference in terms of look and structure between the original WhatsApp, GB WhatsApp, or GB WhatsApp Pro, or even FM WhatsApp. As you know the main difference between GB WhatsApp and WhatsApp is that GB WhatsApp has more features. That’s why people like to use GB WhatsApp. The latest version of GBWhatsApp is easily available on Android smartphones and anyone interested in using it can do so.
What is GB WhatsApp & Its Other Detail

GBWhatsApp APK History & Why Should I Download It?

The Facebook company made all the basic files for WhatsApp Messenger available as open-source software in late 2016. Now anyone can use those codes to develop a messaging service that competes with WhatsApp. An Android developer from the Arab world named Atnfas_hoak, better known as Omar. Uses those codes to create a chat application that connects directly to WhatsApp’s native database. Although he created this mobile application for entertainment. But the interesting thing is that it provides more features than the initially released WhatsApp and that is why the number of people using this WhatsApp is increasing day by day.
After one year of use it has more than 100k users which indicates a substantial increase in popularity. Also if you are satisfied with the normal WhatsApp application and its built-in capabilities then you can skip the need of getting the GB WhatsApp APK. However if you also want to be persistent then you should download the latest GBWhatsApp APK version. So that you always get to see something new with every update.

• Even WhatsApp doesn’t currently enable you to send large files to just anyone. But GB WhatsApp allows you to do so. The maximum file transmission capacity on GBWhatsApp can reportedly increase to 2GB.
• The ability to completely alter the app’s design and theme.
• Integrated function to reduce the length of the WhatsApp document to save up memory
• There are no flaws or mistakes.
• Along with this, there are many reasons which force you to download this WhatsApp at any cost.

The Special Feature of GBWhatsApp

• Auto Reply:-First of all you can use this auto-reply feature in gbwhatsapp when you want to reply to any of your friends at any time. You can use it to promote your business by sending unlimited bulk messages to a chat or group. Through this feature you will not be able to forget any of your friend’s birthday or any other event.
  
• Filter messages:- GB WhatsApp Pro APK is designed with Filter Messages feature that provides the user with the option to clear chats which can also filter your messages. You will benefit from this that if you want to view any of your chats separately then you can use this feature. Which is a very amazing feature and is also very useful for the people.
  
• Download Status:- Another great feature of this app is that you can download status photos and videos uploaded by other contacts which is great. Now you don’t need to use any third party application, you can easily save any type of status from your contact list, that too in its original quality. If we talk about normal WhatsApp then no such feature is included in it.
  
• Send High Quality Image:- Sometimes we have to send Images in Original Quality, and for that, we use the Document Option. Now GBWhatsApp Pro Allows you to end Images in the Highest Quality.
  
• Bulk Sender:- GB WhatsApp This tool lets you send bulk messages. This means you can send unlimited messages to contact and prank your friends with this amazing tool. This tool helps you send personalized WhatsApp messages to multiple people, even if you haven’t added them to your phonebook. It works with WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business on your mobile phones and laptops and is 100% secure and free to use.
  

The Special Feature of GBWhatsApp

• Pop-up notifications:- Similar to messaging app WhatsApp, GB WhatsApp also offers pop-up notifications with response opportunities. You can hide these notifications from view by opening the app’s notification options and turning off pop-up notifications. So that no one can bother you by sending messages again and again and you can do your work without any interruption.
  
• Amazing Fonts:- If you have used normal WhatsApp till now, then you would know that only one font is given for use in it, after seeing which the person gets bored. But you do not need to worry, after downloading GB WhatsApp, you get many more fonts in it which you can use as per your convenience. You can change the huge amount of fonts available every day.
  
• Infinite Themes:- The main advantage of GBWhatsApp APK with stunning fonts is its imaginative appearance as it offers an unlimited number of themes that can be used to help make WhatsApp look great. By simply browsing GB WhatsApp Themes you will be able to download the themes using any web browser. Not only this, if you do not like your WhatsApp theme then you can download the theme separately and apply it on your WhatsApp.
  

Change Colors

• Universal Color:- Changes Color everywhere, including UI
• Universal ActionBar Text Color:- Changes the color of the Actionbar on all screens
• Background:-Change Color of Background. Default is White
• List Background:- Change Background of list Chats in One UI.
• Status Bar:- Change Color of StatusBar on Every Screen
• Navigation Bar:- Change Color of NavigationBar on
• Tabs background color:- Change the background color for the Tabs in home screen
• Page Title Text Color:- Change color of ‘CHATS’, ‘STATUS’, ‘CALLS’
• Page Selected Title Text Color:- Change Selected color of ‘CHATS’, ‘STATUS’, ‘CALLS’
• Unread message counter color:- Change the background color for the unread message

GBWhatsApp Other Features and Advance Privacy

• Anti-revoke:- GBWhatsapp comes with an anti-revoke message feature, which means that even if someone sends any kind of message and then deletes everything on your behalf, you can still see those deleted messages by default.
  
• App Lock:- App Lock allows you to require a pattern, PIN, password or fingerprint to enter apps and access your messages. This adds a layer of security, and makes your WhatsApp chats even more secure so that no stranger can access your personal chats. And also keeps your messages hidden from people who have access to your phone. If you want, you can show the PIN and password while typing.
  
• DND Mode:- It has an inbuilt Do Not Disturb mode. If you are using any other app on your Android phone and do not want to be disturbed by WhatsApp messages then you can use the DND feature to disable the internet connection only for GB WhatsApp Pro. can do. Through this feature you can pause your WhatsApp for some time. And you can use other apps without any problem.
  
• People Nearby:- Developers added People Nearby to WhatsApp to exchange contact information face-to-face. With this update, people nearby can help you meet new friends. This allows you to automatically connect with everyone around you without any contact.
  
• Anti-Ban:- Some users may have trouble using third-party WhatsApp mods GB WhatsApp developers have integrated anti-ban features to reduce the risk. This assurance means you can enjoy additional features without the constant fear of losing access to the account. Now you can use this WhatsApp for a long time, this time the developers have given anti-ban form to this WhatsApp.
  
• Hide Last Seen:- With GB WhatsApp you can hide your last seen status. This allows you to appear offline to others and also see their last seen status. Unlike the original WhatsApp where hiding your last seen prevents you from seeing the last seen of others. GB WhatsApp offers the ability to hide your own Last Seen while retaining the ability to view the Last Seen of others.
  
• Block and Restrict Calls:- Now restrict callers without blocking them with GBWhatsApp Apk download. This is an amazing feature of this app because you don’t need to block the person or turn off the internet if you don’t want to talk to them. Go to the calls section of the app and block the caller from calling you. He will be able to text you and share his voice notes with you, which you can listen to at your convenience.
  
• Show Double Ticks after Reply:- This is an exciting feature of this app that you can use to take your privacy to the next level. The messages will be delivered to you. But the sender will see a tick on his message. Double and blue ticks will be visible to him only when you reply otherwise he will think that you are offline or for some reason his message has not been delivered yet.
  
• No In-App Ads:- Despite being a free application, it is an ad-free app. Advertisements are the main reason to distract users from using any app. GBWhatsApp comes with an ad-free interface and just like the original WhatsApp, you will never see a single ad while using this app.
  
• Change Chat Names:- GBWhatsApp app will allow you to have maximum control over the chat. You can easily change the name of a chat without changing the name of the contact in the contact list. Set nicknames for your chat with this beautiful app and talk to them with more passion and love.
  

Other Features

• Forward messages to anyone without forwarding the tag.
• You can select all chats at once from the home screen of this app.
• Add new fonts and icons.
• Anti-ban feature, you will not be banned from using WhatsApp.
• Stickers from other apps can be added.
• You can select all chats at once from the home screen.
• Enable drag to reply in group call.
• Hide the last seen.
• You can send a private reply to groups.
• The ability to send a group message supported by photos and videos.
• One-time photo and video viewing.
• Feature hide visiting cases to your friends.
• Hide the two check marks (correct) when receiving the message.
• Get notified of deleted messages.
• You can now read the description of the group in the title as the normal case.
• Airplane mode has been added so that the internet can be locked off from the WhatsApp application only.
• The possibility of sending 100 documents at once instead of 30.
• The feature of uploading your friends’ statuses.
• Video Now you can send a file size of up to 50 MB.
• You can send a group message to up to 600 people at once.
• With the theme option you can easily change the appearance.
• Make a list of who can contact you.
• Send up to 90 photos at once.
• The possibility of making a lock for Watts GP against blocking.
• You can download gbwhatsapp for free with a direct link

Conclusion

In today’s article we have told you about some special features of GBWhatsapp. We hope that you have understood all this information well. As we have mentioned earlier that WhatsApp is a third party app which cannot be trusted blindly. Most of the people around the world are using it but some people also say that all the data of this app has been leaked. Actually GB WhatsApp promises its users that no WhatsApp user’s data will be leaked. But you have to use it very carefully so that you never face any problem due to which you have to worry. Apart from this, there are many other flaws in it due to which people have to get a little worried.
Therefore you will have to be very careful while using it. Although we have given you all the information about this WhatsApp, but if you have any doubt about this article then you can tell us by commenting. We will definitely solve all your problems. Apart from this, we write many useful articles on our website which are very useful for people. If you want to know more things related to this, then you will have to visit our website as much as possible. So that you can read our every post first. GBWhatsApp Pro is a great app for those who want a more personalized and feature-rich WhatsApp experience.

Hi folks. I'm trying to fix a friend's computer (2012 MBP), which failed to boot. I replaced the original spinning rust with an SSD, and installed the latest Catalina as the most recent OS it would run. Then used Migration Assistant to restore from the original hard drive. This all completed without error.
However, when I open Mail, I can see his accounts (3 separate iCloud/IMAP accounts), but a little while later, the accounts disappear. If I exit Mail and restart, I am prompted to add an account or Quit.
If I compare ~/Library/Accounts/Accounts4.sqlite before and after, I see:
find Accounts* -name \*4.sqlite -ls cut -c65- 159744 May 15 11:46 Accounts/VerifiedBackup/Accounts4.sqlite 159744 May 15 11:46 Accounts/Accounts4.sqlite 4096 May 15 08:57 Accounts.bak/Accounts4.sqlite 75857920 May 15 11:37 Accounts.orig/UnverifiedBackup/Accounts4.sqlite 83701760 May 15 11:38 Accounts.orig/Accounts4.sqlite
i.e. the original Accounts/Accounts4.sqlite files are substantially bigger than what ends up a few minutes later after Mail has had a go at them. (I assume it is Mail, I guess it could be some other process?)
Having dumped the contents of each sqlite file to a set of sql statements, I can see the following: sdiff -w 60 <(grep "INSERT INTO" Accounts.orig/Accounts4.sql cut -f3 -d" " uniq -c sort -k2) <(grep "INSERT INTO" Accounts/Accounts4.sql cut -f3 -d" " uniq -c sort -k2) 7 ZACCESSOPTIONSKEY 7 ZACCESSOPTIONSKEY 21 ZACCOUNT 2 ZACCOUNT 192358 ZACCOUNTPROPERTY 2 ZACCOUNTPROPERTY 51 ZACCOUNTTYPE 54 ZACCOUNTTYPE 41 ZDATACLASS 34 ZDATACLASS 12 Z_1OWNINGACCOUNTTYPES 12 Z_1OWNINGACCOUNTTYPES 26 Z_2ENABLEDDATACLASSES 1 Z_2ENABLEDDATACLASSES 49 Z_2PROVISIONEDDATACLASS 5 Z_2PROVISIONEDDATACLASS 102 Z_4SUPPORTEDDATACLASSES 104 Z_4SUPPORTEDDATACLASSES 39 Z_4SYNCABLEDATACLASSES 40 Z_4SYNCABLEDATACLASSES 1 Z_METADATA 1 Z_METADATA 1 Z_MODELCACHE 1 Z_MODELCACHE 7 Z_PRIMARYKEY 7 Z_PRIMARYKEY
i.e. the bulk of the size difference appears to be located in entries in the ZACCOUNTPROPERTY table, but those are mostly (hex-encoded) binary blobs.
Does anyone have any details as to the structure of this database? Anything that could give me a pointer as to why this file has got so large, what I can try to delete to bring it down to a manageable size, or a way in which I can see the details of the accounts previously existing on this computer?

I am helping my gf. We are about to order a package from Women help Women but banks in PH wants the name of the account holder. Not just the bank account name of the org. Basically, they are demanding actual names. I dont think that is possible.
For women here that got their package overseas, how did u manage/send money from PH to overseas? Badly need your help

So after playing this game for 3 months I feel like there is so much more to offer… I am at a point where I’ve got most of the mythic items I was hunting so bad and getting a bit burnt whilst waiting for events to get the last ultimates to smith them.
1) Season Pass - I’ve seen other games do it and I believe this is a great opportunity to offer unique items on a monthly basis through a season pass. After each city you move through a season pass this giving people incentive to play when they have mythic gear.
2) City difficulty - like in events when you play the harder difficulties and it takes longer I’d like to see a harder difficulty selection for cities but with better rewards. Maybe an introduction of seperate leaderboards for different difficulties.
3) Titles - Quite a simple idea but I’d like to see titles underneath your name. For example titles can be unlocked for clearing 50/100/150 cities etc. Have titles for clearing events in certain times etc this is a cool way to customise your account and show off in your club/leaderboards.
4) customization - I’d like to see customization of your EatVenture character, such as skin coloueye colour. Also, I’d like to see customization to items, this could be done through kits that you apply to items/pets to give it a unique look. These could be super rare to get but another reason to keep people opening event chests/club boxes after they achieve “max gear”.
5) Club chat - I’d like the option to speak in my club rather than having to find everyone you share a club with and try and invite them to discord or other chat platforms in order to speak to them. It would be a lot easier to communicate within a club chat.
These are a few suggestions for updates that would personally keep me playing as I’m getting to the point where there is nothing keep me interested in playing long-term.
Thanks!

Hello all,
I wanted to use short-lived tokens for auth with HashiCorp Vault and I configured my vault's backend as follows (Terraform):

resource "vault_kubernetes_auth_backend_config" "connect_sa_with_vault" { backend = vault_auth_backend.kubernetes.path kubernetes_host = data.aws_eks_cluster.eks_cluster.endpoint token_reviewer_jwt = kubernetes_secret_v1.vault_client_secret.data["token"] kubernetes_ca_cert = kubernetes_secret_v1.vault_client_secret.data["ca.crt"] } 

However, if I do that, the token is always the same, is this right?
In the Hashi documentation (https://developer.hashicorp.com/vault/docs/auth/kubernetes#use-the-vault-client-s-jwt-as-the-reviewer-jwt) I can see I can omit the token_reviewer_jwt and it will use the "Vault client's JWT as its own auth token".
So for example, in the issuer of cert-manager:

spec: vault: server: ${var.vault_address} path: "${vault_mount.pki_engine.path}/sign/${local.raw_domain}" auth: kubernetes: mountPath: ${"/v1/${local.vault_namespace}/auth/${vault_auth_backend.kubernetes.path}"} role: ${vault_kubernetes_auth_backend_role.sa_issuer_role.role_name} serviceAccountRef: name: ${kubernetes_service_account_v1.issuer_sa.metadata[0].name} 

I would be using the token of the service account, but again, that token is always static, isn't?
So the question is, is there a way to use different tokens from time to time? What does Hashi Vault mean with short-lived tokens if at the end of the day I am using static tokens? Does it mean I have to recreate the secrets attached to the service accounts from time to time?
Sorry for the unstructured post but I am very confused and do not even know how to place well the question.
Thank you in advance, I would appreciate any hint or help. Regards

I have an employee who really truly just needs to be let go due to emotional outbursts, unprofessionalism towards customers, consistent tardiness, taking extended lunches etc. She has become very disruptive in our small office environment to the point where I can’t even stand to be in my office anymore and pretty much avoid her at all costs. She doesn’t receive feedback without an emotional response and is just overall emotionally immature (she is 45yrs old).
The angel on my shoulder believes I should give her opportunity after opportunity, but it’s to the point where everyone in the office can’t bear to be around her. I don’t want to fire her and blindside her with this, but from a business standpoint, it’s the right thing to do. Give me your 2 cents! I will atatch the email I planned to send her today below. (Names redacted for privacy purposes)
Subject: Important Reminder: Phone Protocol, Time Management, and Professional Conduct
Hi ________
I wanted to address a few critical issues that need immediate attention and explain the importance of these matters.

1. Phone Protocol: It is essential that your phone ringer remains on at all times and is never muted. As stated in your job description, you are responsible for handling all incoming calls regarding scheduling. With caller ID, it should be clear who is calling, especially if you've contacted them previously and left messages. I've noticed that -—-, ——-, and ——- frequently have to answer your calls and transfer them to you, which disrupts their workflow and efficiency. Moreover, it is imperative that you answer promptly when ——-, ——-, and ——— call you. They are extremely busy, and it is not acceptable for them to have to contact me to reach you or to leave their desks to find you because you are not answering your phone. Consistent phone availability is crucial to maintaining seamless communication and ensuring our operations run smoothly.
   
2. Time Management: Starting immediately, you are required to clock in and out on ADP when you arrive at the office in the morning, when you take lunch, and when you leave for the day. While I have been somewhat lenient with minor tardiness, it has become a consistent and daily issue. Additionally, there have been instances where you’ve left early for appointments and did not make up the time as promised. Being punctual and accountable for your time is essential for maintaining fairness and productivity within the team. Clocking in and out will provide a clear record of your working hours and help ensure that your salaried position is justified by the hours you are contributing weekly. This accountability is crucial for our overall productivity and fairness to all employees.
   
3. Customer Service: It is imperative to treat our customers with the utmost respect and kindness. Our customers are the backbone of our business, and their satisfaction is critical to our success. If a customer is upset, it is important to de-escalate the situation rather than becoming combative or defensive. Effective and empathetic communication can turn a negative experience into a positive one, fostering customer loyalty and enhancing our reputation. Handling difficult situations with professionalism and a calm demeanor reflects positively on our entire team and the company as a whole.
   
4. Professional Conduct with Co-Workers: It is also essential to treat your co-workers with kindness and professionalism, especially when tagging people on ————. While there are often highly stressful situations, and it is okay to vent about these periodically among each other, it is unacceptable to act on these emotions in a disruptive manner. In your position, it is crucial that others feel comfortable approaching you regarding job-related matters. Displaying unprofessional behavior, such as being confrontational or overly critical, is not acceptable. Maintaining a respectful and supportive work environment is key to our collective success and fosters a positive, productive atmosphere.
   

If there is anything you need help with, such as clocking in and out or ensuring your phone ringer is turned up, please do not hesitate to reach out. I am here to support and assist you to ensure these processes are smooth and effective.
I would also like to see an action plan from you on how these issues will be addressed and the timeline by which they will be resolved. Please submit this plan to me by Friday 5/17.
Please address these issues immediately to ensure smooth operations and maintain our professional standards. Your cooperation and commitment to these areas are vital for the success of our team and the satisfaction of our customers.
Thank you for your attention to these matters.
Best regards, —————-

BOYS! I NEED YOUR HELP!
So basically, I have my account that I’ve been grinding on since season 3 and has a bunch of old rare cards/players. Last week I linked it to Facebook because I’m getting married and getting my own Apple account separate from my parents. I used to have it linked to Apple but I wanted to take the game to my next phone so I wanted something more universal like Facebook. So I made a Facebook account and named it after my username “Curry30”. Then put a picture of a Steph curry card I pulled this season as my profile pic. Facebook was the only thing linked to my account at this point and everything was fine, until it was not…. The Facebook account I had made got temporarily suspended due to issue of authenticity because Facebook thinks I’m posing as Steph Curry and I had 180 days to appeal the suspension or I would get permanently suspended. They had me send in a picture of my drivers license and obviously I’m not actually Steph Curry and this is an account I made for a video game and my account got permanently suspended. Now I have no way of accessing my account. Has this happened to anyone else? Can anyone help or know of any solutions? SOS someone please help me! I can’t lose this account!

[H] Spotify Premium Family Plan Spots and Disney+ profiles [W] 3$ per month
I have this spots available, started a family last month. Want to share this spots to cut costs on the monthly bill.
● SPOTIFY (3/6 available)
3$ for a month
How this works: - After you send a PM state how long do you want it for (min 1 month, no max) - I will then send you the invite link to join the family (no need for account logins) - After that i will be expecting payment for the time you want to be in the family. Billing is done every 24th.
Based in Argentina, works worldwide. Dm if you have any questions or if you are interested.
● DISNEY (6/7 available)
3$ for a month
How this works: - After you send a PM state how long do you want it for (min 1 month, no max) - I will then send you the account details and the profile name and password - After that i will be expecting payment for the time you want to be in the plan. Billing is done every 24th.
Only 4 streams can happen at the same time on a Disney+ account.
Based in Argentina Works worldwide. Dm if you have any questions or if you are interested.
Pm or comment if you are interested in any of the services.

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Drakkenheim is no more. An eldritch storm of falling stars devastated the city on that woeful eve, leaving behind a meteorite that would have lasting effects. Fifteen years later, Drakkenheim is a dismal urban wasteland contaminated by otherworldly magic and haunted by hideous monsters. Fantastic wealth, lost knowledge, and powerful artifacts lie ready for the taking by adventurers brave or foolish enough to venture into the ruins. However, even those who survive the dangers of Drakkenheim may not return unmarked by its terrors!
Hello everyone! I’m Emma (she/her) and me and our group (all of us are around 25 y/o) are looking for another player to join our ongoing Dungeons of Drakkenheim game. You’ll be the fourth player in a group that really enjoys roleplay and a DM who will help you bring your character to life - this will be facilitated by a personal quest, which will tie you directly to the world. This campaign strives to be a balance between roleplay, combat and exploration, sometimes skewed to one of the three pillars more depending on what’s currently going on. Your characters and choices matter and will eventually decide the fate of Drakkenheim itself.
Currently, we've got:

• a Scribes Wizard looking to put his brother on the throne,
  
  • an Old Gods Barbarian plagued by visions of the meteor and the crater, and

-a Glory Paladin looking to give missing family members a proper burial outside of the city.
We play on Wednesdays at 20:00 CEST for three hours (with a small break in the middle somewhere).
We’re playing in Roll20. You just need to have a decent mic and a discord account (voice only, no video required). You create your character at level 3, and the module is set to go all the way to level 2. You generate stats with point buy and can either choose a personal quest from a list or work with me to create a custom one. All official classes and subclasses are allowed, as well as material from Sebastian Crowe’s Guide to Drakkenheim. You’ll be given plenty of time to create your character; I wouldn’t want you to rush the process!
THE WORLD
The world of Drakkenheim, in the fifteen years since the meteor fell, has known civil war and unrest. All the while, the city is covered in the Haze, contaminated mists that hide and empower the horrors that wander the ruined streets. It also harbors delerium, strange crystal chips and fragments that are well-sought after by mages and scoundrels alike for their magical properties and high market value. But be warned: not just anyone would dare to face the city. What brings your character there? Whatever it is, it is something they fiercely believe in, something that will drive them to return to the city every single morning and that will face the risks. Not just death awaits within the city; the chance of a horrible death pales in comparison to the monstrous transformation you may undergo once the contamination seeps into your bones.
CONTENT WARNING
Drakkenheim portrays a dark fantasy world. References to the following are common in this adventure:

• Violence, murder, blood, gore, cannibalism, and body horror.
  
• Degenerative mutations that cause physical disfigurement and madness/insanity.
  
• Rats, spiders, insects, demons, undead, ghosts, and other monsters.
  
• Natural disasters, large-scale loss of life, civil war, displaced persons, and refugees.
  
• Moral ambiguity, social/political manipulation, religious zealotry and military nationalism.
  

The campaign does not contain explicit sexuality, sexual assault, racial prejudice, systemic racism, homophobia, or transphobia.
If you are interested, please fill in the following form and I’ll get back to you soon. Love to hear from you!

To clarify, I now know that there are different definitions of the word “ship”, but for the purposes of this article and to keep things simple I will use the definition of “a relationship that’s rushed and/or forced with no real development.” I hope you can understand as I do not know of any other single word to describe that concept. If you do, perhaps you can tell me. Also, fair warning, this is long form content (some 10 pages), if you like it but can’t read it all at once you can save it and come back to it over a period of time, or you can stop reading whenever you get tired of it and still discuss those parts of it with me that you have read. But keep it civil if you want a civil response.
With that, to qualify the title, no, Ezra and Sabine do NOT absolutely have to be a couple, but if they were to become one, it would NOT be a ship. Ezra and Sabine’s relationship has had years of development. Could they remain as simply friends? Yes, but ironically, it was their “friendship” that felt like more of a ship. It felt like the Ahsoka show, helmed by Dave Filoni, was going out of its way to tell us: “no, they’re not a couple, they’re just friends.”
I believe that Filoni made some very poor writing choices to stress something that didn’t really need to be stressed, such that it almost felt like he was in denial. The line “I love you like a sister” was never in Rebels, Filoni essentially had that retconned in, and like many I was put off by their (largely) emotionless reunion. Even if they were “just friends” I believe there would be a great deal more emotion displayed between two people that hadn’t seen each other in some ten years, especially when one of them was in a precarious situation when they parted. I also believe Ezra would be far more curious about Sabine being Force sensitive, perhaps even offering to help train her when she told him that her training hadn’t gone as well with Ahsoka. He did help to train her with the Darksaber, didn’t he? Why that never came up is another discussion, but for now, let’s focus on shipping.
In case you think I’m desperate to have them as a couple, no I’m not. I’m about the furthest thing from it. Like many millennials and Gen-Z’ers (and perhaps some Gen-Xers and boomers) I DESPISE shipping. Absolutely DESPISE it. With a flaming passion. Perhaps for this reason, and maybe some others, like many millennials and Gen-Z’ers (and perhaps some Gen-Xers and boomers), I’m generally wary of nearly all romance in fiction, and generally avoid it in my own work. The sad reality is that romance is perhaps the most abused genre in all of fiction, all throughout history. It has been so badly abused that many people, including myself for the longest time, have equated romance with shipping, though I’m slowly beginning to see that they are not the same thing, and one does not necessarily have to go with the other.
But sadly, many writers, through time immemorial, have not been able to separate them, going back into ancient times and perhaps even into pre-history, that is before languages were actually written down. Some of what is considered great literature; classics like Romeo and Juliet, are predicated on shipping, though at least the consequences of this “whirlwind romance” are shown to be fairly stark. Star Wars itself is no stranger to shipping, resulting in a very awkward incestuous kiss when Luke was shipped with Leia, then Leia was placed with Han and Lucas made Luke and Leia brother and sister, apparently having forgotten his original ship. Later Lucas essentially shipped Anakin and Padme, resulting in some of the most cringeworthy dialog in the history of film. Many fans of the Prequels even have been somewhat critical of Anakin’s portrayal, particularly in regards to the “romantic” scenes, with many describing them as “creepy”. Some have speculated that this was intentional, though personally I think it was just the result of bad writing on the part of George Lucas, and an impatience on his part for Anakin and Padme to become a couple, hence “shipping”.
One might wonder why this is so prevalent in fiction, and tragically, one does not have to look far. Fiction is merely a reflection of reality, therefore the reason that shipping is so common in our stories is that we fall so easily into it in real life. Indeed, entire cultures may be based around shipping, or at least very heavily wrapped up in it. Throughout history arranged marriages have been the norm, and the idea of marrying for “love” is something relatively new. To be fair, I’ve actually met people in arranged marriages who seemed to be fairly happy, but those same people were very open in telling me that many despise that aspect of their culture, and that it is quite normal for those in an arranged marriage to try to get out.
People might come together for “love” without marrying, but even then it often creates expectations that might turn into a burden. Even when a marriage is voluntary and for “love”, people are often left unsatisfied, such that today in the West the divorce rate is something like 50%. Happy, stable, long term relationships seem to be the exception across cultures and across the breadth and width of time. And yet pursuit of love and some kind of relationship seems to be the highest calling for many people, both in real life and in fiction. And it could be that the accumulated disgust is finally starting to boil over.
To be fair, this may not be the first time in history that the pendulum has shifted. You may recall that in Victorian times attitudes changed drastically, as compared to the previously bawdy Elizabethan times. Looking at a play from Shakespear, if you can understand the language, you’ll see all kinds of vulgar references, as well as what I believe are fairly sappy romances like in the aforementioned Romeo and Juliet, though I can’t say for certain whether Shakespear was actually endorsing that type of attitude towards “love” or presenting it as a cautionary tale, maybe even something to be ridiculed in some of his other plays.
But regardless, Victorians as you may well know had a very conservative attitude towards anything to do with romance, and would often avoid the subject in many places, or tread very carefully around it, as if walking on eggshells. It’s not that people stopped being romantic, in fiction or real life, but it was treated as something very serious and even dangerous, with many urges repressed or even suppressed entirely. This had all kinds of effects on society, both positive and negative. On the positive side, it reinforced the ideal of people being committed to their partners, and of marriage as a sacred institution rather than a “casual hookup” as was more common in Elizabethan times. Likewise it reinforced ideals of modesty and chastity, which may be coming back into vogue, though under different names. But just as there were positive aspects to these attitudes, so were there negative ones.
Just because the urges I described were repressed did not mean that they disappeared. In fact, they often morphed into things that many would consider “unhealthy”. From one statistic that I saw, in Victorian times about one in every 60 houses was a brothel, with the modern rate being closer to one in 6000. Additionally, the rights of women were often repressed, such that they could not fully express themselves and find their own identity, and path in life, as individuals. Just as Elizabethan ideals gave way to Victorian ones, so did the Victorian ideals gradually begin to erode.
Perhaps it began with the Jazz Age of the 1920’s (the “Roaring Twenties”), or with the increased interconnectivity of people traveling to different parts of the world during World War I, not to mention the cynicism that pervaded throughout the West in response to failed old ideals leading to the deadliest war in history up to that point, but many Victorian ideals began to be seen as a joke, and even resented for their “oppression”, which to be fair was not entirely unjustified. But regardless, people gradually, and at times not so gradually, became more and more “liberated” and promiscuous. This culminated in the Sexual Revolution in the late 1960’s, when what had previously been seen as a vice and even a sin was now seen as not only “normal” but as a healthy form of expression, a virtue even. And just as these ideas were embraced in real life, so too were they reflected in our films, TV shows, and other media, often to the consternation of older people and institutions, like the Vatican. The Catholic Church even went so far as to “ban” certain films, that is to declare them immoral for good Catholics to watch. Many of the films that were banned back then, or at least controversial, like The Graduate with Dustin Hoffman, are fairly tame by today’s standards.
It continued through the 70’s, at times warming and at times cooling through the rest of the century, until you could argue it reached a kind of crescendo in the early 21st century with the advent of so-called “dark romance” and the publication of books like Fifty Shades of Grey. (Ironically, many of the themes within this “dark romance” can trace their roots back to the Victorian era, yet another indication that repressing urges without addressing them often doesn’t work out as one might hope.) But as happens all too often, just as something reaches peak popularity is when it begins to go out of style, and that is what we may be experiencing right now. As weird as it may sound, we may actually have come full circle and may be on the cusp of a “New Victorian Age” (complete with “dark romance”, even). Web sites like Porn Hub and OnlyFans, as well as other similar sites, may be the new “brothels”, and what was once openly celebrated may be going underground, to an extent. The effects of this on society have been interesting to say the least, and at times I would even say bizarre.
Whilst many younger people seem content with these changes, many older people are concerned. I’ve seen a number of books, films, and other media receive positive reviews for example based specifically on their lack of romance. Many of these books/films, etc. fall into the “young adult” category, meaning that it is young adults obviously who mostly consume them. At the same time I’ve heard a number of older people, mostly boomers and Gen-Xers, criticize these same books/films for their lack of romance. Even some older millennials seem upset by the changes, as perhaps evidenced by Jennifer Lawrence’s latest film No Hard Feelings (though to be fair that film may be lampooning the older generation’s frustration as well as the younger generation’s frigidity). So just as in the past older people were concerned about the promiscuity of the youth, now it actually appears that many older people are concerned about the youth’s lack of promiscuity.
Who could have seen that coming? But to be fair, the younger generation hasn’t gone completely frigid. As stated earlier, much of the promiscuity has gone “underground”, or online, which many would argue is not very healthy as it might undermine actual relationships, whether they are romantic in nature or simple friendships. And speaking of that, friendships within stories nowadays often aren’t portrayed in a very authentic or compelling manner, perhaps because in ditching romance modern writers haven’t quite yet learned how to replace it with something else. In other words, the “New Victorian Age” may not be an exact repeat of the previous one, but may have its own twists and turns, for better and for worse.
This may all essentially be a manifestation of the Human Condition, in that we just can’t seem to find a happy medium, neither in real life nor in fiction. Thus we keep swinging from one extreme to the other, apparently getting wilder with each swing.
So where does all this leave us? What is it that we really want in our lives, and in our stories? Especially in regards to relationships? I think at some level we all want to see good and healthy relationships between people and/or characters, whether romantic or platonic. I believe at some point we would like to see good examples of both friendship and romance, and I would argue that the best examples of romance have them combined. Even a toxic relationship, if well portrayed or documented, can be instructive and serve as a good example of what to avoid in our lives that we might be happier and relate better to each other. A good relationship, by contrast, can give us something to aspire to and inspire us to not only look for the right kind of person to complement our lives, but to make ourselves worthy of that person. And here I’ll add that I’m perfectly aware that in real life (and thus in fiction) relationships can be very complicated and heavily nuanced, with elements of both “good” and “bad” in them. Just as people change over time so can the relationships between them change, at times getting better and at times worse, sometimes breaking entirely and sometimes growing stronger. Relationships can have just as many layers and dimensions as characters, more even perhaps, and a skilled writer should be able to reflect this complexity. At other times a relationship can be fairly straightforward, simplicity sometimes being the best approach. But regardless, the audience should be able to relate and identify with what they are seeing, such that hopefully they can incorporate the lessons from it in their own lives.
Where can we find good examples of relationships to study? There may be a number of them in the real world, but the trouble with studying real world relationships is that they’re often much more complicated than fictional ones (just as real people are more complicated than fictional characters), and for many of them it is almost impossible to know all the details and nuances because they are often kept private, understandably so, and even if they aren’t it can still be difficult, due to unique circumstances, to see how to relate them to our own lives. Additionally there may be far more disagreement about a real life situation than a fictional one, with many more points of view. To keep things simple, for the purpose of this article I would like to focus on fictional relationships. (And fair warning, there will be some spoilers.)
One of the best places to look, I would argue, would be the films of Hayao Miyazaki. (And this is pretty significant to Star Wars as you will see in a bit.) A film of his that stands out to me the most is Princess Mononoke. Like many of Miyazaki’s films it has elements of romance, and yet subverts them in a way that makes complete sense and feels very genuine, without taking away from any of the accompanying charm. It starts with two young people, San and Ashitaka, and as soon as they encounter each other there is a kind of expectation of romance. This may be inevitable to some degree when you have a man and a woman of about the same age encounter each other in a story, especially if they happen to be adolescents. The expectation may not be inherently bad, and Miyazaki does play with it. Both characters are thrust into dangerous situations, at various points end up saving each other’s lives, and at a certain point I think it is obvious that they have feelings for each other. I was certain that at the end of the film, they would be together, and if things had gone that way, it would make complete sense. Instead, they go in different directions, but remain good friends, and considering their backgrounds and differing worldviews, this ends up making even more sense to the story.
Essentially, Miyazaki could have gone for the more conventional, tried and true “love conquers all” narrative, where the characters’ feelings for each other would negate everything that comes between them, they would somehow find a common ground in spite of their differences, the romance would not only take over the narrative but somehow also solve all the problems in the story, and then the couple would live “happily ever after”. Such an approach is not inherently bad or wrong, and is fairly common in Western media and storytelling. We can see it in films like Fern Gully, and more recently James Cameron’s Avatar, both of which have been compared to Princess Mononoke. As you can probably guess, the problem is that at a certain point such a narrative can become fairly simplistic, and lack nuance.
Miyazaki’s films, by contrast, are very heavily nuanced, and are anything but simplistic. In Princess Mononoke the characters San and Ashitaka don’t help each other simply because they are “in love”, but because it is the right thing to do, regardless of how they might feel about each other. Yes, romantic feelings are certainly alluded to, but they are not essential to the plot, for it could have worked just as well without any romantic allusions. And ironically, this makes those allusions even more valid, even if they are unrequited. How so?
Consider that if love is essential to a given narrative, is it not relegated to being nothing more than a plot device? Again, this is quite common in Western media and storytelling, and is not inherently bad or wrong, but when it becomes a trope or cliche, I believe it is the essence of where shipping comes from. Many storytellers get caught up in this, usually without realizing it, and while a story can still work even with shipping, I believe that it usually works that much better without it.
This extends not only to Miyazaki’s handling of romance but also to other things like environmentalism, the conflict between man and nature, and the contrasting ideals of human progress vs. preserving the natural order. Movies like Fern Gully and Avatar, as already mentioned, handle these themes in a fairly simplistic and I would even say hamfisted manner, whereby all progress and technology is shown as being inherently “bad” and in service to “evil”, while everything that’s “natural” is shown to be inherently “good”. Even our notions of good and evil, and right vs. wrong, are challenged by Miyazaki, with nearly all of his characters having complex motives and multiple dimensions to them, as well as understandable reasons for doing the things that they do. Rarely can any one of his characters be branded as a simple “villain”, and rarely is any one individual the source of conflict in his stories, again in contrast to most Western narratives.
I’ll reiterate once more, a simple, straightforward narrative is not inherently a bad thing, whether the themes being dealt with are romantic or anything else. Sometimes it is in fact the best approach. But the best stories in my opinion are usually the most nuanced, that challenge our notions of what we believe to be true, and that force us to think about what we do with our lives and what we could do differently. To that end Miyazaki introduces all manner of themes and motifs within his films that are familiar to us but shows them in a light most of us might not have considered, thus giving more dimension to our understanding of things.
“How is any of this related to Star Wars?” you might ask. It is quite related, and you don’t even have to look all that closely to see it. A very influential figure within Star Wars was very heavily inspired by the works of Miyazaki, and that figure is Dave Filoni.
This video shows the connections in some detail:
https://youtu.be/Q_4L0BbSpHo?si=04jDo6qFCnZT135w
But to summarize if you’ve seen any of Miyazaki’s films, especially Princess Mononoke, I think the callbacks in Filoni’s work will be all too obvious, especially in Star Wars Rebels. Some of the scenes in Filoni’s work look like they were taken directly from Miyazki’s films, and many of the same themes and motifs often come up. The relationship between San and Ashitaka I would argue is very similar to the relationship between Ezra and Sabine, and not just because both couples rode wolves together.
Incidentally, Dave Filoni was also heavily involved in Avatar: The Last Airbender, which I would also argue was at least to some degree inspired if not by Miyazaki then by Japanese anime in general. The relationship between Aang and Katara was developed with great care and was allowed to build very slowly, as opposed to simply shipping them. Likewise other characters very gradually developed as individuals and in their relationships, at times stumbling as they did so, and making mistakes, before finding their way back to the right path.
All of this is in stark contrast to George Lucas, whose character development is often very rushed at best, and at times some might say almost non-existent. So essentially, even though Lucas has said that Filoni has been “like a son” to him, and I believe referred to Filoni as his “padawan”, I would argue that Filoni is ultimately as much a student of Miyazaki as he is of Lucas.
Again, you might ask, “What does all this mean for Star Wars?” It means a great many things. It means that Dave Filoni has taken Miyazaki’s lessons to heart, and can handle things like romance, as well as other kinds of relationships, quite well most of the time. Like Miyazaki he can play with romance, tease the audience with it at times even, leave the romance unrequited, and yet still have it feel satisfying. A prime example of this is the love triangle that Ahsoka was involved in with the young Separatist Senator, Lux Bonteri, and Steela Gerrera. As wary as I am of romance and as much as I despise shipping, love triangles I normally despise even more, but this one seemed to actually work. It never took over the main story, and even though Ahsoka’s feelings were ultimately not reciprocated, she still learned from the experience, and grew and developed further as a character because of it. The other characters involved in this triangle also grew and developed from their involvement, though unfortunately not all of them made it. All in all it was a good bit of storytelling and gave the audience something to consider.
When a relationship in one of Filoni’s stories does bloom into a full blown romance he also generally handles it quite well. For one Filoni is sparing with actual romance, so that when it does occur, it can be that much more appreciated. And rather than rushing or shipping it, Filoni normally takes his time to build it up. An example of this is the relationship between Kanan and Hera. Some might argue that this is perhaps the best developed romance in all of Star Wars, at least in Canon. Built up over four seasons, at times it wasn’t certain whether it was a romance or a friendship, or perhaps even a professional partnership. Perhaps even the characters themselves were not certain, though it was hinted all throughout the narrative that something was going on. To this day I don’t believe anyone can say definitively when it became an actual romance, and I believe Filoni did this intentionally because he wanted to be subtle, rather than making things too obvious and having the romance take over the narrative, as it usually does. When it finally did become obvious as to what was happening, it felt very much earned, in a way that is seldom accomplished in other works of fiction, including Star Wars.
The relationship between Ezra and Sabine was also fairly well written, for the most part anyway, at least in Star Wars Rebels. Ezra was almost immediately smitten with Sabine, but being a young teenage boy, it was understandable that he would feel that way about an attractive girl. Over time he learned to see her more respectfully, as a colleague and even as part of his adopted family, not just as a pretty face. Sabine for her part found Ezra annoying at first (c’mon, what teenage boy isn’t?), but as he matured and she found out more about him she came to understand and respect him more, and see him as a friend and almost a brother, with there being potential for something more.
There were times when the relationship could have been better written, like in the episode “Blood Sisters”, where Ezra was written to be a bit too immature to make Sabine look wiser. But overall, the bond between them developed fairly well; both saved one another at various times, and took risks and made sacrifices for each other’s sake. Both reassured and comforted the other when they needed it, and it was endearing to hear their banter when they became more familiar and trusting of each other.
So why then was I so disappointed in how they were portrayed in the Ahsoka show? The thing is, after how well their relationship was built up in Rebels, as I’ve already mentioned it was strange to see how lackluster and uninspired their reunion was.
Within the Ahsoka show itself Sabine was shown to be almost obsessed with finding Ezra, living in what used to be his home, watching a recording of him over and over again, and calling out his name as she woke up in the middle of the night. She even risked bringing Thrawn back into the Galaxy, which ultimately happened, just so she could see Ezra again. After all that, when she finally does encounter him, her reaction seems fairly casual, as does his, as if they’ve been apart for no more than a week, rather than 10 years. Not too much happens between them afterwards either. Like I said Ezra does not appear all that curious about what happened with Sabine, how she found him, and how it was that she was now Force sensitive. Sabine likewise did not seem curious about what had happened with Ezra, and how he had gotten away from Thrawn. And with Ezra rescued and returned home, suddenly it didn’t seem as though Sabine was all that interested in him anymore, nor he all that concerned with her, though they were just as far apart as they had been at the start of the show. To be completely honest it made me wonder what the point of the whole show was. Were they just working to set up Thrawn’s return to the Galaxy? As some have said, Ezra felt like nothing more than a Macguffin in the show. Was Sabine and Ahsoka’s search for him just a plot device?
Considering how skillfully Dave Filoni had written his stories in the past, what happened in this latest project of his does not make much sense. Was he so concerned about “shipping” and so desperate to avoid it that he inadvertently “shipped” them in the other direction? Was there some sort of external pressure on him about how to write this story to have more of an appeal to “modern audiences”? Maybe some combination of those factors?
And here I’ll add that when I say “modern audiences” I don’t mean that in a contemptuous sense, though you may think I do. If there is any contempt on my part it is for those in charge of telling our stories, or those in charge of those telling our stories, who do not seem to grasp these basic truths. The truth is that audiences at their core don’t really change throughout the ages, only superficially so. Trends come and go but certain truths and ideals are eternal, and universal. How people relate to each other fundamentally does not change, whether they are friends, or more than friends. And deep down, I believe everyone (or nearly everyone at least) wants the same things. Nearly everyone at some point wants some kind of a connection with another human being, to know that they are not alone in the world, and to know that there is someone else who sees and understands things as they do. While this desire can certainly lead to abuse, and absolutely has, it is still innate to us and is not inherently wrong. Finding ways of connecting and relating to other people is one of the great challenges of life, but many would argue it is the most worthwhile of challenges. It may be the whole point of life if you think about it. As complex as it may be, many would argue it is what makes life worth living, and likewise makes for the best stories. Just as it may be the whole point of life many would say that is what most stories are about at their core: people trying to relate to one another.
Sadly, just as in real life, most stories unfortunately don’t quite get it, and the Ahsoka show in my opinion was an example of this, made all the sadder by the fact that Dave Filoni had done quite well with these characters up to that point. We may never know for certain what exactly went wrong and why, or if it can ever be “fixed” at this point, but I can’t help but feel curious. Maybe in the future Filoni will find a way to make it make sense, but I’m not sure how. And to be completely honest I don’t feel quite as enthusiastic to find out as I used to.
Also for the record I would like to add here that there are other factors that put me off from the show, such as Sabine’s Force sensitivity, that came about without much build up. But in this article I specifically wanted to focus on shipping because there seems to be so much misunderstanding around it.
I hope that I was able to clarify some, if not most of this misunderstanding, so that people could better appreciate what shipping is, where it comes from, as well as what it isn’t. Many people today are understandably sick of shipping characters, myself included. But I hope people realize that in overcompensating for something, we often come back around into the very thing that we are overcompensating for. Or sometimes, into something even worse. This may apply to nearly every facet of life, by the way, not just shipping. Finding a happy medium in how we portray our fictional relationships may help us to better understand relationships in real life, as well as how to navigate them. Neither fictional nor actual relationships can ever be perfect but they can always be better. To this understanding then I hope that I was able to give my own modest contribution, and if nothing else I hope we can connect on that.

Like many other people, I've gotten a lot of "moderation errors" lately and it feels like the AI is overcorrecting since most of what I've been trying to generate is literally meant to be "music that doesn't exist" in terms of weird genre combinations, etc. Actually, so far 90% of my "moderation errors" have happened when trying to get it to combine styles that don't really go together...
Since Udio already detects similar artists (oversensitively...?) and can even trigger an "artist replaced" thing if a name is used in the prompt, maybe there could be an option to see what the AI thinks a track sounds closest to? It'd be a great way to find cool music!