Creating your own spells is a powerful way to tap into your magic and manifest your desires. Here are some tips I found online and summarized to help you craft your own spells:

1. Define your intention: Clearly determine what you want to achieve with your spell. Be specific and concise.
   
2. Choose a focus: Select a specific area of your life where you want to manifest change (e.g., love, prosperity, protection).
   
3. Research and gather inspiration: Explore various magical traditions, folklore, and mythologies to gather ideas and insights.
   
4. Select corresponding elements: Choose elements that align with your intention (e.g., colors, herbs, crystals, essential oils).
   
5. Craft your incantation: Write a meaningful and rhyming incantation that resonates with your intention.
   
6. Develop a ritual: Create a step-by-step ritual that feels authentic and powerful to you (e.g., candle magic, meditation, visualization).
   
7. Incorporate personal symbolism: Add personal symbols or talismans that hold significance for you.
   
8. Consider the moon phases: Time your spell with the appropriate moon phase to enhance its energy (e.g., new moon for new beginnings, full moon for release).
   
9. Trust your intuition: Allow your inner wisdom to guide you in creating your spell.
   
10. Keep it simple and flexible: Don't be afraid to adapt or modify your spell as needed.
    
11. Cast the spell: Perform the actions you have planned, focusing your intention and energy on your goal. Visualize the outcome you desire as clearly as possible.
    
12. Release the energy: Once you have completed the spell, release the energy you have raised into the universe. Trust that the magic is working and let go of any attachment to the outcome.
    
13. Ground yourself: After casting the spell, take some time to ground yourself and return to a normal state of consciousness. You may want to eat something, drink water, or spend time in nature to reconnect with the physical world
    
14. Record and reflect: Keep a magical journal to track your spells and reflect on their effectiveness.
    
15. Remember, the key to creating effective spells is to infuse them with your personal energy, And all I read today the strongest spells are the ones you create yourself 🍀
    

My wife and I have been together since 2017. At the time, I had a 2 year old child from a prior relationship. We got married in 2022.
I come from a single mother house where my father was an alcoholic who committed suicide when I was 1. My mom was a hard shift worker who wasn’t home a lot but showed me an abundance of affection and gave me excessive gifts. She is overbearing and doesn’t ever view her actions as wrong.
She comes from a single father house where her mother was killed in a mass shooting when she was 3. Her father worked excessively and was a harsh disciplinarian (or worse) to her brother. Her father is absent and a hoarder with questionable hygiene.
At the beginning of our relationship, I tried to break up with her several times and I told her we weren’t right for each other. She told me she didn’t want to be a mother or have children. I struggled with alcohol and would often say hurtful things towards her when I was intoxicated. She refused to let me go and we would patch up our problems. During 2020-2021, she started to resent me for not asking her to marry her. It would be brought up every couple of months to the point of being a big problem. She has made it clear to me that she does not like asking me for things and would rather me proactively initiate. This caused a paradox of being able to plan a time to ask her to marry me without it seeming like she forced it to happen. I decided I had to seriously get my crap together and be “all in” on the relationship or not with her. I chose to be all in. She sold her house and bought a house closer to my daughter. The day we moved in, I asked her to marry me. Over the course of 2021-2022 and parts of 2023, I still suffered from alcoholic outbursts and would say mean things when we would argue. Shes kicked me out of the house at least 3 times and I’ve left the house at least 3 times. Each time we patch things up over the course of days/weeks/months. I decided to go to counseling and started reading 7 principles of marriage, attachment theory etc. I started listening to podcasts and trying to be better. She is persistent in saying she doesn’t want to go talk to someone but was receptive to being prescribed a pill for depression. She did do virtual sessions with a counselor for a month before there was a miscommunication with her counselor and she felt they didn’t really care about her and/or they weren’t really getting anywhere. She has somewhat isolated herself from friends and family. She talks to her out of state aunt fairly often and in state brother occasionally. She doesn’t hang out with any of her friends or try to make new ones. She says she doesn’t need that and I am that for her. I have a strong core of 5 friends that I talk to fairly often.
I’ve discovered my love language is affection and hers is quality time. We have had multiple conversations about it and have even implemented the state of the union conversations. It’s been helpful but we are guilty for letting it slip away from our schedule. She admits that she struggles with showing affection and I admitted to wanting to be “carefree” and avoid hard or meaningful conversations. I find that she wants me to initiate those conversations and stays somewhat closed off until I pry. When she is quiet (often), I spend a large portion of my time with anxiety wondering if she is mad at me, or wanting me to talk or wanting quiet time.
This week, my buddy had a birthday and she asked if it was wives too. I inquired and told her yes. I asked if she wanted to go and she said no. I asked her twice more and reiterated that wives were going and she said no again. Later in the day, I asked her twice more. The day of the party came and she said she was surprised I didn’t follow up with her. I asked if she wanted to go again and she said no. It turned into an argument and I went without her. I came home and she was upset and said I shouldn’t have left her and I should know to follow up with her and I should know that she would want to go and I shouldn’t have taken no for an answer. It got more heated and she told me she was taking care of my kid while I was playing softball (which she offered to take her to the meeting so I could go) and having fun. She said she takes care of all of us and I don’t take care of her heart. She told Me I should go marry my friends and my whiskey bottle. She says we don’t have meaningful conversations that are fulfilling and we no longer have any spark in our intimacy. She yelled for me to get out of her face during the course of our fight, which I did and then told me I don’t know when to console her when she is crying and just needs a hug. She went to bed in the other room and I did too. I woke up the next morning with a note saying I needed to get my necessities and leave. A few hours later, I sent her a text wishing her a happy Mother’s Day even though I wasn’t sure where we stood. She sarcastically told me that saying it through a text means so much more… I came home and she told me that I blew it by not calling her to wish her a happy Mother’s Day and not taking her to the friends birthday party was so much more damaging than I realize and would be the cause of our demise. She’s told me that all of the people in her life have hurt her and I have hurt her the worst and now she wants to be alone. Our last big fight, she brought our divorce papers and I told her if she ever mentioned divorce again, I would do it because the threat of divorce during an argument gives me extreme anxiety and makes it feel like we can never have a bad argument without it turning to divorce. I went to my counselor and she recommended marriage counseling (again) but said to offer it as a way to find out if we are right for each other or wrong or just the next step. My wife said no thanks. Is there just too much damage?
TL;DR. I drank a lot and said hurtful things. Paired together with her own experiences, I fear I may have caused too much damage to repair.

Creating your own spells is a powerful way to tap into your magic and manifest your desires. Here are some tips I found online and summarized to help you craft your own spells:

1. Define your intention: Clearly determine what you want to achieve with your spell. Be specific and concise.
   
2. Choose a focus: Select a specific area of your life where you want to manifest change (e.g., love, prosperity, protection).
   
3. Research and gather inspiration: Explore various magical traditions, folklore, and mythologies to gather ideas and insights.
   
4. Select corresponding elements: Choose elements that align with your intention (e.g., colors, herbs, crystals, essential oils).
   
5. Craft your incantation: Write a meaningful and rhyming incantation that resonates with your intention.
   
6. Develop a ritual: Create a step-by-step ritual that feels authentic and powerful to you (e.g., candle magic, meditation, visualization).
   
7. Incorporate personal symbolism: Add personal symbols or talismans that hold significance for you.
   
8. Consider the moon phases: Time your spell with the appropriate moon phase to enhance its energy (e.g., new moon for new beginnings, full moon for release).
   
9. Trust your intuition: Allow your inner wisdom to guide you in creating your spell.
   
10. Keep it simple and flexible: Don't be afraid to adapt or modify your spell as needed.
    
11. Cast the spell: Perform the actions you have planned, focusing your intention and energy on your goal. Visualize the outcome you desire as clearly as possible.
    
12. Release the energy: Once you have completed the spell, release the energy you have raised into the universe. Trust that the magic is working and let go of any attachment to the outcome.
    
13. Ground yourself: After casting the spell, take some time to ground yourself and return to a normal state of consciousness. You may want to eat something, drink water, or spend time in nature to reconnect with the physical world
    
14. Record and reflect: Keep a magical journal to track your spells and reflect on their effectiveness.
    
15. Remember, the key to creating effective spells is to infuse them with your personal energy, And all I read today the strongest spells are the ones you create yourself 🍀
    

Creating your own spells is a powerful way to tap into your magic and manifest your desires. Here are some tips I found online and summarized to help you craft your own spells:

1. Define your intention: Clearly determine what you want to achieve with your spell. Be specific and concise.
   
2. Choose a focus: Select a specific area of your life where you want to manifest change (e.g., love, prosperity, protection).
   
3. Research and gather inspiration: Explore various magical traditions, folklore, and mythologies to gather ideas and insights.
   
4. Select corresponding elements: Choose elements that align with your intention (e.g., colors, herbs, crystals, essential oils).
   
5. Craft your incantation: Write a meaningful and rhyming incantation that resonates with your intention.
   
6. Develop a ritual: Create a step-by-step ritual that feels authentic and powerful to you (e.g., candle magic, meditation, visualization).
   
7. Incorporate personal symbolism: Add personal symbols or talismans that hold significance for you.
   
8. Consider the moon phases: Time your spell with the appropriate moon phase to enhance its energy (e.g., new moon for new beginnings, full moon for release).
   
9. Trust your intuition: Allow your inner wisdom to guide you in creating your spell.
   
10. Keep it simple and flexible: Don't be afraid to adapt or modify your spell as needed.
    
11. Cast the spell: Perform the actions you have planned, focusing your intention and energy on your goal. Visualize the outcome you desire as clearly as possible.
    
12. Release the energy: Once you have completed the spell, release the energy you have raised into the universe. Trust that the magic is working and let go of any attachment to the outcome.
    
13. Ground yourself: After casting the spell, take some time to ground yourself and return to a normal state of consciousness. You may want to eat something, drink water, or spend time in nature to reconnect with the physical world
    
14. Record and reflect: Keep a magical journal to track your spells and reflect on their effectiveness.
    
15. Remember, the key to creating effective spells is to infuse them with your personal energy, And all I read today the strongest spells are the ones you create yourself 🍀
    

Creating your own spells is a powerful way to tap into your magic and manifest your desires. Here are some tips I found online and summarized to help you craft your own spells:

1. Define your intention: Clearly determine what you want to achieve with your spell. Be specific and concise.
   
2. Choose a focus: Select a specific area of your life where you want to manifest change (e.g., love, prosperity, protection).
   
3. Research and gather inspiration: Explore various magical traditions, folklore, and mythologies to gather ideas and insights.
   
4. Select corresponding elements: Choose elements that align with your intention (e.g., colors, herbs, crystals, essential oils).
   
5. Craft your incantation: Write a meaningful and rhyming incantation that resonates with your intention.
   
6. Develop a ritual: Create a step-by-step ritual that feels authentic and powerful to you (e.g., candle magic, meditation, visualization).
   
7. Incorporate personal symbolism: Add personal symbols or talismans that hold significance for you.
   
8. Consider the moon phases: Time your spell with the appropriate moon phase to enhance its energy (e.g., new moon for new beginnings, full moon for release).
   
9. Trust your intuition: Allow your inner wisdom to guide you in creating your spell.
   
10. Keep it simple and flexible: Don't be afraid to adapt or modify your spell as needed.
    
11. Cast the spell: Perform the actions you have planned, focusing your intention and energy on your goal. Visualize the outcome you desire as clearly as possible.
    
12. Release the energy: Once you have completed the spell, release the energy you have raised into the universe. Trust that the magic is working and let go of any attachment to the outcome.
    
13. Ground yourself: After casting the spell, take some time to ground yourself and return to a normal state of consciousness. You may want to eat something, drink water, or spend time in nature to reconnect with the physical world
    
14. Record and reflect: Keep a magical journal to track your spells and reflect on their effectiveness.
    
15. Remember, the key to creating effective spells is to infuse them with your personal energy, And all I read today the strongest spells are the ones you create yourself 🍀
    

Feel free to add yours

We will be playing a modified Tomb of Annihilation campaign on [Roll20], the modifications include minor or major changes to locations, characters, motivations and storylines but will not alter the rules of 5e or stray too far from what is generally known about the Forgotten realms. I will also add new locations and will adjust existing things around player characters.
The most important aspect of the game is the fact your characters will be "origin' characters akin to those found in Baldur's Gate 3, essentially they are concepts deeply tied to the campaign. The goal is to have every character feel like the main character.
At its core ToA is a hexcrawl meaning there will be survival aspects and a lot of travelling through mostly uncharted wilderness with random encounters, a majority of which will have been determined randomly. You might get lost and end up not talking to anyone else for a few days, you most likely will have a guide though and a few npcs following along.
Despite this I prefer D&D when it has "soul", I don't have fun playing 5e like a plain boardgame so expect roleplay and even combat should be tied to some narrative, actions should be described in detail. Most of the time in a session will be spend in-character and hopefully immersed.
I will make sure the random encounters always have something unique about them like a strange new creature, a small story or a connection to a player, I'll reroll any that repeat to often and curate them as a whole.
I like my players to be mindful of everyone present at the table, being in the spotlight shouldn't be a struggle and you should always try to involve someone else when doing things, even if it's just asking questions about another character's culture at camp. You know when to shut up and when to speak up. Answer the last question with "Cheese"
The game will never be completely divorced from the central plot in favor of a player character but my goal is to have your personal story be in-line with the main one, for example by having the bbeg be your childhood rival.
This game will contain all sorts of violence and darker things but I do not intend on running a game centered around those aspects, if anything it'll be the opposite as I believe player characters should be special and although not all of them can succeed they have a chance at making great things happen. No ERP.
I've DMed and played for about 4 years now, I've run and played this module several times which I why I'm confident enough to make changes and additions to it.
To apply fill in the following form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScwMSzcKeMxrIKZKq9dZopK_hzH75l4ol49xO820lmXOtf4UA/viewform?usp=sf_link
If I like your application I'll contact you on discord for a short call after which I'll know whether or not you'll be a good fit, you'll be able to ask any questions you might have during this call, having questions ready is always a +.

WOMEN: PARTICIPATE IN IMPORTANT RESEARCH
At the UIC HAPPY Lab, we are conducting research studying how ovarian hormones (estrogen, progesterone) influence drug effects and behavior. If you are a woman (sex assigned at birth) aged 18-35 years old, use birth control pill (21 days active, 7 days inactive), and currently consume or previously consumed substances on a recreational basis (for example, alcohol, caffeine, cannabis, stimulants etc), you may be eligible to participate. The research involves a screening interview and 8 study visits (total time commitment of up to 26h) and you will be compensated for your time. To see if you qualify, please complete our confidential pre-screening questionnaire at: https://www.redcap.ihrp.uic.edu/surveys/?s=NFLC4JAL8Y or email uichappylab@gmail.com for more information.
Study2023-0260, Ovarian hormones and drug effects, PI: Emma Childs, PhD

We will be playing a modified Tomb of Annihilation campaign on [Roll20], the modifications include minor or major changes to locations, characters, motivations and storylines but will not alter the rules of 5e or stray too far from what is generally known about the Forgotten realms. I will also add new locations and will adjust existing things around player characters.
The most important aspect of the game is the fact your characters will be "origin' characters akin to those found in Baldur's Gate 3, essentially they are concepts deeply tied to the campaign. The goal is to have every character feel like the main character.
At its core ToA is a hexcrawl meaning there will be survival aspects and a lot of travelling through mostly uncharted wilderness with random encounters, a majority of which will have been determined randomly. You might get lost and end up not talking to anyone else for a few days, you most likely will have a guide though and a few npcs following along.
Despite this I prefer D&D when it has "soul", I don't have fun playing 5e like a plain boardgame so expect roleplay and even combat should be tied to some narrative, actions should be described in detail. Most of the time in a session will be spend in-character and hopefully immersed.
I will make sure the random encounters always have something unique about them like a strange new creature, a small story or a connection to a player, I'll reroll any that repeat to often and curate them as a whole.
I like my players to be mindful of everyone present at the table, being in the spotlight shouldn't be a struggle and you should always try to involve someone else when doing things, even if it's just asking questions about another character's culture at camp. You know when to shut up and when to speak up. Answer the last question with "Cheese"
The game will never be completely divorced from the central plot in favor of a player character but my goal is to have your personal story be in-line with the main one, for example by having the bbeg be your childhood rival.
This game will contain all sorts of violence and darker things but I do not intend on running a game centered around those aspects, if anything it'll be the opposite as I believe player characters should be special and although not all of them can succeed they have a chance at making great things happen. No ERP.
I've DMed and played for about 4 years now, I've run and played this module several times which I why I'm confident enough to make changes and additions to it.
To apply fill in the following form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScwMSzcKeMxrIKZKq9dZopK_hzH75l4ol49xO820lmXOtf4UA/viewform?usp=sf_link
If I like your application I'll contact you on discord for a short call after which I'll know whether or not you'll be a good fit, you'll be able to ask any questions you might have during this call, having questions ready is always a +.

In the age of rapidly advancing technology, the emergence of ChatGPT has sparked both fascination and apprehension. While its capabilities to engage in conversations and provide assistance are undeniably impressive, there exists a palpable sense of dread surrounding its implications. This essay delves into the complex emotions evoked by ChatGPT and examines the underlying concerns it raises.
The Promise and Peril of Artificial Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds immense potential to revolutionize various aspects of human life, from streamlining processes to advancing scientific research. ChatGPT, as a prime example of AI, embodies this promise by offering instantaneous access to information and support. However, this promise is juxtaposed with the peril of AI surpassing human comprehension and control. The fear of losing agency to machines looms large, fueling apprehension about the implications of ChatGPT.
The Ethical Quandaries: Ethical dilemmas surrounding ChatGPT abound, raising questions about privacy, bias, and manipulation. As ChatGPT interacts with users, it gathers vast amounts of data, prompting concerns about surveillance and data exploitation. Moreover, the potential for bias in its responses poses risks of perpetuating societal inequalities. Furthermore, the ability of ChatGPT to influence opinions and behavior raises ethical concerns regarding its impact on individual autonomy and free will.
The Erosion of Authentic Connection: As ChatGPT becomes increasingly integrated into daily life, there is a growing apprehension about its impact on interpersonal relationships. The convenience of interacting with ChatGPT may lead to a decline in meaningful human connections, as individuals opt for the ease of AI companionship over genuine human interaction. This erosion of authentic connection fosters a sense of dread about the future of social dynamics in a world dominated by AI.
The Uncertainty of Unintended Consequences: Despite the best intentions behind its creation, ChatGPT embodies the inherent unpredictability of technological progress. The potential for unintended consequences looms large, as AI systems like ChatGPT evolve and interact within complex societal frameworks. From unforeseen biases embedded in its algorithms to unintended societal shifts, the uncertainty surrounding ChatGPT's long-term implications contributes to feelings of apprehension and dread.
Navigating the Paradox: While the implications of ChatGPT evoke feelings of dread, it is essential to approach this paradox with nuance and foresight. Acknowledging the legitimate concerns surrounding AI's impact on privacy, ethics, and human connection is crucial. However, succumbing entirely to fear may hinder progress and innovation. Instead, proactive measures such as robust regulation, ethical guidelines, and ongoing dialogue are necessary to navigate the complex landscape of AI responsibly.
Conclusion: In conclusion, the feelings of dread surrounding the implications of ChatGPT stem from valid concerns about its ethical, social, and existential ramifications. However, embracing a nuanced perspective that acknowledges both the promise and peril of AI is essential. By fostering open dialogue, prioritizing ethical considerations, and maintaining vigilance against unintended consequences, we can navigate the paradox of dread and harness the potential of ChatGPT for the betterment of society.

Been trying to find an answer to this question for the last couple of weeks on here and other internet sources but no luck.
This is a not a thesis course, just a very small upper level course.
However, 45% of our grade was based on us executing a study and writing a research paper that would have been submission ready for an undergraduate journal.
Went through all the steps from developing a research question, making letters of consent and information, getting ethics approval, collecting data with participants, doing statistical analysis and then writing the full paper with all the components. PI was listed as our professor.
Can I include this as research on AMCAS? Or no because it was to earn course credit? I have other research that I’m including (done at the hospital outside of school) but I wasn’t sure if I could use this as well.
If anything, I was more involved in this research project than the ones at my current lab because it was 100% my ideas that I saw through from very beginning until very end.
Thanks!!!

I tried doing something like this years ago, but didn't get very far with it. I'm going to try again.
I want to put together a comprehensive list of trigger warnings for Hobb's work, including ROTE, Soldier Son, Megan Lindholm works, etc.
This subreddit has been growing and there have been a lot of new readers, and the issue of triggering events comes up frequently (most frequently after someone reads Ship of Destiny, for obvious reasons).
It's a difficult discussion to properly spoiler mark, because often people haven't read any of her work - or have only read some part of it - and they need information about which passages to avoid, or more broadly, about what to expect in various books or series. Marking it 'no spoilers' isn't accurate as many people who aren't concerned about trigger warnings feel spoiled when they read about some of these topics.
It would be really nice if I could send readers who are concerned about triggers to a reference that gathers all of these events and moments together in one place - separate from the usual discussions in the subreddit.
From my previous post about this topic, here's the sort of form such a guide might take:

Ship of Destiny
Chapter 26 - Graphic rape scene. The entire chapter builds up to and focuses on this.
Chapter 29 - Rape victim treated with suspicion. The entire chapter focuses on this.
Chapter 30 - Rapist reflects on his actions. Safe until the line starting Kennit's POV, "KENNIT WATCHED THE APPROACH OF THE SMALL BOAT FROM THE MOTLEY" skip through to Malta's POV line, "HEART IN MOUTH, MALTA STARED UP AT THE SHIP’S RAILING." The rest of that chapter is safe to read and contains some important events that shouldn't be skipped.

To that end, I'm going to ask everyone to share events and moments in Hobb's work that they feel would be triggering. And by triggering I mean PTSD triggers, not 'fear of heights' or 'claustrophobia' or things like that. Let's try to narrow it down to truly traumatic moments that would be potentially harmful to survivors. Examples include sexual assault, suicidality, torture, cannibalism, child abuse, animal abuse, domestic abuse, etc.
When replying please use the following format (or something similar):

• Event: Starling's rape anecdote
• Book: Assassin's Quest
• Details if you have them (chapter number, opening and closing text such as in the Ship of Destiny example above, etc.)

I really appreciate any help you can provide. This will be very useful to the readers who need it.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

This post is for those who have been affected by triggers in the books, and those who want to help constructively with this project. If you think you're going to come in here and get in your 2 cents about how 'fragile' some people are, or about how foolish it is to worry about triggers, think again. I will have zero tolerance for such comments and they will be removed. Serious offenses may result in a temporary or permanent ban from this subreddit.
If you've had the sort of life that gave you the luxury of viewing such things as foolish, I am genuinely happy for you. You should be aware that many people haven't been so fortunate. How you view such people (who have been victims of serious crimes) reveals a lot about who you are as a person and nothing at all about them, so it's in your best interest to develop a compassionate outlook. Further reading.

It goes without saying, but the discussion this post generates will be potentially triggering.

I have downloaded several student essays from Canvas as pdfs, and selected all and copied all either to check for AI (in addition to Turn It In) or comment on email, and have seen in a few cases that I am highlighting, at the end of a paper, what look to be blank lines (space), but then copy in as this(real example). Has anyone else encountered this? What is it? FWIW, no AI detected in these essays. Junk code? Just nothing? TIA
IIIIIIIIIIOIIIIIIIIIIIIII III II IIII III IIIIIIIII IIIIII II IIIIIIIIIIIIIII I I II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I IIIIIIIIIIOIIIIIIIIIIIIII III II IIII III IIIIIIIII IIIIII II IIIIIIIIIIIIIII I I II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

Syria – After the fall of Germany, 9th January 1946 protests erupted in Syria calling for independence, reaching its peak 18th January. France answered by force, eventually killing over a thousand Syrians by January. Shukri al-Quwatli escaped French arrest and contacted Winston Churchill. As the Conference of Foreign Ministers was held in Paris, Syria became a point of discussion also, French military action was condemned by all and by diplomatic means France was forced to retreat from Syria and Lebanon and recognise their independence (15.2.1946). Britain used the crisis to strengthen its influence, however unlike OTL did to directly occupy Syria as events in Syria are at the same time as the Conference in Paris. The British promised the French they would withdraw as well. Syrian independence was officially declared on 14 June 1946.
In 1947 Syria held its first parliamentary election, and a year later Shukri al-Quwatli was re-elected president. Syria had a rocky relationship with neighbouring Hashemite monarchies. Nationalist Quwatli manoeuvred in more and more hostile relations between powers and its interests (US, UK, USSR). Syria opposed the partition of Palestine and co-founded “Arab Liberation Army''. Defeat in Palestine heavily damaged the popularity of Quwatli, he regained some of it by refusing singing of Armistice with Israel (unlike others) and voicing support to anti-American riots (Summer 1949 due to Taft’s recognition of Israel). 28 September 1949 Quwatli demoted army chief Husni al-Za'im and replaced him by Sami al-Hinnawi. Major is shift is that due to American non-intervention the US backed 1949 coup never occurs. Under international pressure an armistice was eventually signed between Syria and Israel in November 1949. No demilitarised zone in Golan Heights as OTL. Syria adopted a neutralist policy, seeking relations both with the British, USSR, India, USA and Yugoslavia, but was most seen as a pro-British state. Syria became close to Egypt after the Egyptian Revolution. In 1952 parliamentary elections brought victory for the oppositional People’s Party and the rise of Ba’ath and SSNP. April 1953 presidential election, as Syrian constitution limited president to two terms, Quwatli handpicked Sabri Al-Asali as his successor.
Egypt – 2-3 November 1945 anti-Jewish riots in Egypt, since it was still during the war, riots were violently put down by the British forces. Since 1946 large anti-British demonstrations and riots. During 1947 negotiations about British withdrawal were held, however collapsed after Winston Churchill’s opposition to withdraw troops as response massive violent anti-British riots erupted (June 1947), forcing Churchill to agree to withdrawal to Suez Canal but keeping there large force, Churchill attempted to sign treaty that would guarantee British presence in Suez, but Egyptians rejected it. By end of 1948, British presence was limited to the Suez area. May to 20 July 1949 (signing of armistice) war in Palestine. After the war anti-British sentiments grew. 3 January 1950 victory of conservative and nationalist Wafd party, Mostafa el-Nahas became the new prime minister. His government refused to push any important reforms and was also very corrupt, further strengthening resentment amongst Egyptian people. Unlike OTL CIA is not attempting to persuade Farouk into reforms (it was codenamed “Fat Fucker” LMAO) 17 November 1951 Nahas unilaterally abrogated the 1936 Anglo-Egyptian treaty, wave of nationalism, Britian refused to leave Suez, tensions escalated into Battle of Ismailia (25 February 1952) – a violent clash between Egyptian militias and British forces. 26 January 1952 news resulted in massive anti-British protests that set Cairo on fire and greatly damaged support of the king and government. Country fell into instability, the government was dismissed and several different ones followed, as in our reality.
The Free Officers Movement (formed already in the 1940s) successfully orchestrated the Egyptian Revolution (23 August 1952). Power was transferred to nine-member Revolution Command Council (RCC), king Farouk abdicated, went into exile and was replaced with regency. RCC launched large scale reforms: land, tax, reducing privileges of government officials. First post-revolutionary prime minister Aly Maher Pasha resigned due to disagreements with the military coming from his traditional political background. He was succeeded by Abd El-Razzak El-Sanhuri, legal scholar promoting transition to civilian rule (10 October). Political parties were purged, however due to Sanhuri’s influence not banned. During spring 1953, conflict between Sanhuri and Naguib escalated. Camps began to develop, one was represented by Naguib and his loyalists who aligned themselves with Muslim Brotherhood, and other headed by Nasser and Sanhuri, aligned with HADITU and Wafd.
Newly created Provisional National Assembly, approved a new secular constitution, Nasser was named president (18 July 1953) with support of Wafd and HADITU. In summer 1953 Muslim Brotherhood started large riots and demonstrations against the new constitution, they gained outside CIA support, as they were sceptical of Nasser’s alliance with HADITU. Power struggle between Naguib, who still had key positions in RCC continued.
Lebanon – 7 June 1946 withdrawal of French forces, independence declared already in 1943. Around 100,000 Palestinians came to Lebanon after the war. In 1951 prime minister Riad Al Solh survived assassination attempt and remained prime minister until 1952, when he was replaced by Chamoun with Saeb Salam. 18 September 1952 first president Bechara El Khoury forced to step down after anti-corruption protests, 23 September Camille Chamoun became president, under his leadership country experience growth and stability. Chamoun also secured the majority of power in his hands.
(Trans)Jordan– Achieved independence 25 November 1946, as in our reality a large number of Palestinian refugees and annexation of the West Bank. 20 July 1951 king Abdullah was assassinated by Palestinian radical. Prior to his assassination Britain unlike OTL supported Abdullah in promoting his other son Naif to become new heir (due to Britain being more anxious about losing influence, rather favouring openly pro-British monarch) Naif is unpopular amongst people due to being seen just as a British puppet. 1 January 1952 new constitution – Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
Iraq – Britain wants to maintain military presence in Iraq and Nuri al-Said his power, since 1946 large left-wing protests and strikes, that resulted in massacre of workers. Government instituted severe repression, banning Communist party and arresting many communists, including leadership. 29 March 1947 Salih Jabr became prime minister, under his rule 15 January 1948 Anglo-Iraqi treaty was signed, making Iraq de-facto British protectorate, Iraqi oil controlled by Iraq Petroleum Company. To protest this treaty massive protests erupted – Al-Wathbah uprising – all Iraqi opposition joined – Communist, Independence parties, Liberal and National Democrats. Salih’s government fell, and the prime minister escaped to London, the new government under Nuri responded with martial law and massive crackdowns, numerous massacres. This timeline demonstrations got so intense that in February British troops entered Iraq to “pacify” them. Parties involved unlike OTL were formally banned after 1948 uprising and Nuri consolidated his power and firm support of Britain. In 1948 Constitutional Union Party was formed by Nuri and it became dominant ruling party. Unlike OTL Nuri remained in position of prime minister since 1948 to 1952. After Palestine war, Nuri expelled all Jews from Iraq (1950). Since 1951 terms of treaty were changed with the new Labour government and Iraq got 50% of its oil revenue.
23 September - 23 December 1952 another major protests inspired by Egyptian revolution and Iranian protests erupted – Iraqi Intifada. Nuri was dismissed by regent Abd al-Ilah and replaced by reformist general Taha al-Hashimi (30 September), who negotiated with protestors. However, under British pressure Taha was ousted and replaced by general Nureddin Mahmud (3 December), who instead rejected negotiated terms, started harsh repressions and crushed the uprising. Power was transferred into civilian leadership after the 29 March 1953 unfree election, independent Mustafa Mahmud al-Umari became the new prime minister, while Nuri still controlled the country from the shadows. In May 1953 Faisal II assumed power as king. Since 1952 the idea of unification of Jordan with Iraq was often discussed.
Saudi Arabia – Nothing to change, post-war rise due to finding of oil revenues, US keeps close relations even under Taft. 9 November 1953 reign of king Saud began.
Oman&Muscat – Nothing significant in this period.
Kingdom of Yemen –failed al-Waziri coup attempt, Iman Yahia was killed (17 February 1948), however Ahmad bin Yahya ascended to the throne instead. Autocratic rule. He was opposed to the British.
British Arab Colonies – 1952 Trucial States Council formed, British supervised body.
Iran
Long Iranian Crisis
Occupied by Allied powers in 1943. Western powers are less keen to withdraw from Iran, due to the stronger Soviet Union (and also due to Churchill). According to treaty all troops shall withdraw after 6 months after the war’s end (10 November 1946). This was approved by the Hamburg conference in May 1946. By November thanks to rising suspicions nobody starts doing that (Soviets would stay anyway as they did in our reality, major change is that West stays too). The Iranian Crisis became a key event showing those deep tensions in the early cold war and it was a great mistake to overlook it. Truman doctrine is also connected to Iran.
United Nations Resolutions pushed by Iran tried to deal with the situation (Autumn 1946), however without success. Another point that almost solved this crisis was Ahmad Qavam’s proposal to give Soviet Union oil rights in Northern Iran and official Iranian proclamation wishing withdrawal of all powers, this was approved by Stalin, but rejected by Pahlavi and the West (November 1946), Qavam was dismissed in January 1948 after election, replaced by Ebrahim Hakimi. With that crisis escalated to the creation of the Azerbaijan People's Government (20 February 1947) and Republic of Mahabad (18 March 1947).
Through 1947 Kurdish and Azerbaijan states in Northern Iran started to emancipate and establish popular support. Situation seemed to develop along the lines of Austria, talks stalled after the US occupation of Greenland. With hostile relations between powers in 1948, Iran continued to be a hotspot of tensions. The Pahlavi regime and separatists both obtained military aid.
In March 1949 US troops withdrew from Iran, during the Geneva Conference (September 1949 to May 1950), states agreed to finally withdraw all troops (Soviets agreed presumably to secure their interests in Germany during negotiations), so Soviets and British finally left in March-June 1950. In 1949 also an unsuccessful assassination attempt on Shah took place (4 February 1949), it was blamed on communists and Tudeh Party was banned and communists persecuted.
Beginning of the North Iran War and British-Iranian Treaty
As Soviets finally withdrew, Shah and prime minister Haj Ali Razmara started offensive operations towards the North (31 August 1950), however separatist states were better equipped, because they received Soviet aid in previous years and thus managed to repeal the first offensive. While fighting against what was presented as continuous Soviet occupation, utilizing nationalist wave as redirection of attention of Iranians from it, Razmara signed the AIOC-Iran agreement, which institutionalised British control over Iranian oil (7 March 1951). However, it still created massive resentment, riots and protests that led to violence. During spring 1951 massive opposition against Razmara, who sought to become a strongman leader, emerged, encompassing everyone from Islamists to liberals and communists. The National Front led by Mohammad Mosaddegh became the main opposition platform.
In April Majlis rejected Razmara’s decree granting him de-facto limited dictatorial powers, which he sought to obtain to “restore order”, so it was dissolved by Shah in response (20 April) and Razmara secured power with declaration of martial law, it was met with Ayatollah Kashani calling for holy war against Razmara and the British, leading to another massive wave of upheaval in April-May 1951, that was brutally repressed with many deaths. 9 June 1951 Razmara was assassinated and killed by radical Islamist member of Fadaiyan e-Islam, Hossein Ala was installed by Shah. Pahlavi used this crisis to boost his own power. National Front was banned in July. These events left great resentments in Iranian society against ruling regime. Tudeh started armed insurgency, it was however between 1952-1953 completely crushed. Mosaddegh escaped to France. In late 1952 to early 1953 an election was held to elect new Majlis, it was rigged and all elected were “independents”.
Through 1951 the front moved in favour of Iran, however separatists with Soviet support continued to hold on. After the Iranian-British Treaty, Stalin began to see Iranian re-conquest of the North as danger for the USSR and provided significant aid, leading to stalemate in 1952.
Afghanistan – Nothing significant in this period, tribal revolts in the 1940s.
Libya – Occupied by the UK and France. 1949 UN resolution about its independence, it was achieved 24 December 1951, it became a constitutional monarchy under king Idris I.
Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria – After the Paris Conference of 1952, voices calling for independence are stronger. Tunisian Habib Bourguiba and Farhat Hached entered negotiations with the Thorez government in June 1952, after which France agreed to immediate widespread autonomy Tunisian and pledging to give it full independence before 1954. The same agreement was reached with Moroccan sultan Mohammed V. More difficult situation was in Algeria. Political party calling for independence National Liberation Front was formed 23 April 1952 led by Ferhat Abbas. Negotiations about Algerian status started, in the next month. This topic was too sensitive in France, so agreement was limited to giving Algeria autonomy as part of France for now with further negotiations about independence being open. Algerians were unhappy, as neighbours got a much better deal. Algeria was still de-facto part of metropolitan France, more power was given to the Algerian Assembly, to which a free election was promised to be held in spring 1953.
Cyprus – After the fall of the mainland, the Kingdom of Greece advocated for union. In 1952 an unofficial referendum about unification with Greece, led by Orthodox Church was held, over 80% voted for union. Unlike OTL Britain was supportive of the idea of union (to strengthen the Greek state), but as it was a viable military base, they did not want to retreat.
British India
On 10-20 November 1945 British and Indian leaders met during Simla Conference; these talks stalled due to question of Muslims. Wavell Plan proposed to Churchill by viceroy Wavell, promoted Indianisation and postwar independence, however, was rejected by Churchill (December 1945). During 1946 elections to central administration were held. After Churchill’s victory, the British prime minister (May 1946) replaced Wavell with Louis Mountbatten (5 August 1946). Summer of 1946 was marked by massive protests for independence, mutinies and violence. In Autumn 1946 Cabinet Mission was sent to discuss granting more autonomy and dominion status. Eventually they planned to create one federal state, however it was strongly opposed by the Indian Muslim League. Hindu-Muslim tensions were escalating with 16 January 1947 “Direct Action Day'' massive Muslim riots and violence. In early 1947 provincial elections were held that resulted in victory of INC or IML according to ethnic and religious lines. Results of the provincial elections clearly show opposition towards British rule.
Inspired by events in Burma and Vietnam, Communist Party of India initiated nationwide anti-British “Indian People’s Liberation Uprising” (May 1947 to 1951), its estimated over 150,000 peasants joining it. Its strength shocked Britain, attempting to crush it; the British relied on local militants and Indian forces. In May 1947 Churchill officially announced that British Raj would be transformed into two dominions. Britain established the Radcliffe Commission that established the borders of two dominions (April to August); the demarcation line was published 18 August 1947. Population transfer in Punjab was organised by Britain from August, however mass migration (that started even before partition itself happened) in other provinces shocked British officials, however Britain quickly took over migration and regulated it (thus it is lesser humanitarian catastrophe, but still it is a huge humanitarian catastrophe, estimated from 100 000 deaths to half million), migration lasted from August 1947 to 1950.
1 January 1948 – two British dominions – India and Pakistan came to existence. British forces remained present here, and the British monarch remained its head of state. British officials spoke about “autonomy within the Empire'' while Indians spoke about Independence. The Kashmir deal proposed by India is also pushed by the UK and is successful (in real life Pakistan rejected it) – All of Kashmir is Pakistani, while Pakistan stops claiming Hyderabad, this nullifies the existence of Sino-Indian War.
Dominion of India – Mountbatten remained a powerful governor-general, and the first Indian prime minister became Jawaharlal Nehru. Radical Hindu nationalist assassinated Gandhi as in our reality (30 January 1948) during the first month of creation of divided dominions. 1948-1949 integration of princely states, in some cases with help of communist rebels. Communist rebellion continues as Dominion of India is considered by them just another British colonial state. Nehru successfully passed the Constitution of India (26 January 1951) and expelled British troops. In April 1951 an agreement was reached with communists to end (already weak) uprising and to participate in political life in democratic independent India. 25 June– 21 October 1952 democratic general election was held, victory of INC, compared to our reality CPN get more support. Neutral foreign policy.
Dominion of Pakistan – First Pakistani prime minister Muhammad Ali Jinnah (position of governor-general, that was much more powerful compared to Canada for example, remained in British hands, was held by Cyril Radcliffe) died 11 September 1948, he was succeeded by Liaquat Ali Khan. Pakistan became pro-British oriented, but also established relations with socialist states. Ali Khan wanted Pakistan to become a parliamentary democracy. Muslim League faced major leftist opposition, in March 1951 socialist attempted coup (Rawalpindi conspiracy), which was exposed and failed. He was assassinated 16 October 1951. The British governor general named Malik Ghulam Muhammad as new prime minister. In August 1951 first elections in Pakistan were held, communists and socialists were not allowed to participate, victory of the United Front (East Bengal). Urdu was the only official language, while all eastern part spoke Bengal. In March 1952 Bengali protesters were massacred by police and military. From February to March 1953 large (in reality anti-Ahmadis, this timeline against British rule) riots in Lahore, ended in bloody military crackdown. In the aftermath of riots Cyril Radcliffe was recalled by Attlee and replaced by Frank Messervy.
Burma – After the surrender of the Japanese in April 1946, military rule was reinstated in Burma. On 27 January 1947 British governor Reginald Dorman-Smith ordered the arrest of Aung San, this led into a massive rebellion of the AFPFL (Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League) and its armed wing People's Volunteer Organization with membership over 100,000 which started the Burmese Emergency. Moderates advocated for the governor to release Aung San and start negotiations, however this was shut down by Churchill, who preferred to use force. British forces failed to deal with the uprising and in 1947 large parts of Burma were controlled by AFPFL. During this uprising period and the arrest of Aung San, communist gained substantial influence. Churchill responded with increasing military presence, however after the eruption of another major anti-colonial rebellion in Malaya, British forces were with priority sent there. In 1950 AFPFL defeated colonial forces in several major engagements. Attlee decided to abandon Burma in favour of Malaya, Aung San was released (7 April 1951) and entered negotiations with Attlee, together with other leaders of the war of independence (June-September) and later negotiations between AFPFL and minorities (12 October, Panglong Agreement). Ceasefire and election on 9 March 1952, that resulted in the victory of AFPFL, Aung San became prime minister and officially declared independence of the Union of Burma (10 March 1952).
Aung San became the first prime minister, while Kyaw Nyein the first president. CPB left AFPFL and became the main opposition (Unlike OTL there is no communist insurgency against Burmese government or split in the communist party). Burma focused on social reforms, welfare state and industrialisation. Burma adopted a neutral foreign policy, however inclining more towards socialist bloc, closer relations with Yugoslavia and surprisingly Israel. Burma still has to deal with KMT remnants in the North and Karen insurgency.

Hello Everyone!

I've been working on something that could potentially be interesting to the community, and would love your genuine feedbacks.

I've been talking with some of my friends working as traders in the space, particularly those focused on paper trading, who have shared fascinating insights into the lengths they go to gain an informational edge. Many are spending significant sums to establish direct access to key sites around the world, aiming to be the first to know about supply chain disruptions, inventory fluctuations, and other events that could move markets.
Interestingly, this real-time, on-the-ground intel often spreads first in private chats among exclusive networks of traders before hitting mainstream news channels. This allows those with access to act quickly on the information asymmetry.
I'm developing a crowdsourcing platform (using blockchains as payment rails) that aims to revolutionize this dynamic by connecting data providers ("Agents") directly with data consumers, enabling the efficient exchange of unique, actionable information that can inform trading strategies and risk management. The platform would feature verification mechanisms for data integrity, bonding curve pricing to reflect data value, and tokenized incentives for participation.
Key features of the platform include:

1. Agents can create private data channels and set a bonding curve pricing model, where the price of access increases as more subscribers join. This acts as a proxy for the credibility and value of the Agent's information. (A Bonding Curve would look something like this: 1*72qA4WIL6LvWUnX6tmfviQ.png (640×480) (medium.com) where supply is the current number of subscribers.)
2. Various verification mechanisms are in place for Agents, such as location tracking, email confirmation, daily check-ins, and sensor connections to ensure data integrity and reliability.
3. Data consumers do not directly pay Agents, but rather interact with a smart contract that automatically handles payments and access control based on predefined rules.
4. The platform includes a real-time chat feature for direct communication between Agents and subscribers, enabling more contextual and timely information sharing.

To all the community members, I'm seeking your valuable feedback on two key aspects:

1. What kind of alternative data or market insights would you find most valuable and are currently not easily accessible to you? This could include data on supply chain flows, inventory levels, weather patterns, satellite imagery analysis, or any other information that could give you an edge in your trading decisions. I am aware alternative data industry is already a huge industry, but would there be valuable sources of data that are only accessible through last-mile, real-time data updates? (For example in these two posts on oil and coffee's influence from weather, would access to these information through a verified source provide you with information edge?)
2. What do you foresee as potential drawbacks, risks, or pitfalls of such a platform? Are there any specific concerns around data quality, privacy, security, or regulatory compliance that we should be mindful of? Any thoughts on how to mitigate these risks and build trust in the platform?

Your input would be greatly appreciated as we shape the development of this crowdsourced data exchange platform. The goal is to create a mutually beneficial ecosystem that empowers commodity traders with timely, actionable insights while rewarding data providers for their valuable contributions.
Thank you in advance for your time and insights. I look forward to a fruitful discussion and learning from your experiences in the commodities trading space.
Best regards, OnlyGold

East India Company Servants and Officer alike were notorious for engaging in Corruption and dubious business of any sorts in Colonial India. We have covered examples of people like Sir Edward Winter, who was forced to resign over allegations and suspicions of illegal trading, nepotism and corruption. It was in no small part due to people like him and their schemes, that the Company eventually plunged into debt and financial disaster it could never recover from - and if it not had been for the intervention of the British state in the late 18th century and onwards, British India might have collapsed.
Company Officers of the Indian Army were known to venture to India and enlist in the Companys military service due to the prospects and perspectives of making an 'easy' fortune in India. How would they go about that, you might ask. There were several ways for an officer of the Companys army to make money, some of which shall be featured and are the reason this post was made and is centered around.
Company Officers received as a salary what is called 'batta', mostly described as a compensation of expenses and for the cost of living. In the three different presidencies of British India, each had its own Governor, Ruling Council, its own army and finances, and thus also - different wages and salaries for its troops. Several of the earlier posts featured Robert Clive, who was sent back to India in the 1760s to deal with a mutinous group of almost 200 European Officers of the Bengal army, who had refused to accept a pay cut. At this point in time, the Officers of the Bengal army received a salary of two batta, which was double or even quadruple the amount of what their colleagues in Madras and Bombay earned, as their salaries were then at one and 0.5 batta.
Other notable ways for such Officers to make money include 'plunder money', when a fort or a town was sacked and captured, officers would receive a share in the prize and loot money, although this share was fairly small compared to their higher-ups and superior officers and commanders. To 'compensate' this, they often used their role in logistics - to buy supplies for their troops - to fill their own pockets. Such officers would receive money to locally buy supplies such as food for their troops, and sometimes the officers decided to buy products of lower quality or less of it, and keep the surplus money for themselves. Similarly, they also received military funds to put up regiments that didnt exist - they drew money, rations and pay from the Companys wealth for Regiments that only marched on paper.
Last but not least - although it is the most obvious method and was teasered in the opening paragraph - Company Officers regularly took Bribes and engaged in private trade activities. Despite efforts by Robert Clive in the mid 18th century and Parliament interventions outlawing private trade of Company Agents with the successive Parliament Acts from 1773 onwards, Corruption was only mitigated, but never fully gotten rid off.
Sources include:
Callahan, Raymond A.: ,,The East India Company and army reform, 1783-1798‘‘. Harvard University Press: Cambridge, Massachusetts 1972.
Cohen, Stephen P.: ,,The Indian Army. Its contribution to the development of a nation‘‘. University of California Press: Berkeley, L.A., 1971.
Regulating Act - 1773 (British Parliament Act).

Hi all!
I'm currently trying to update my resume as I start job searching again. During undergrad (last year) I participated in research that lead to me getting authorship on a paper. This paper has gone through the peer review process and has been accepted by the journal, but it hasn't been published yet. I was just wondering how you all would go about listing that. Thanks!

Google is using its annual developer conference to showcase what the company is calling its lightest and most efficient artificial intelligence models.
At Google I/O on Tuesday, the company announced Gemini 1.5 Flash, the newest addition to the Gemini model series.
“We heard from developers that they wanted something faster and even more cost effective,” said Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, in a press briefing.
The unveiling comes as tech companies increasingly refocus their product development and rollouts around generative AI, which is of particular importance to Google because the new tools give consumers more advanced and creative ways to access online information compared to traditional web search.
OpenAI on Monday launched a new AI model and desktop version of ChatGPT, along with a new user interface. The new model, GPT-4o, is twice as fast as GPT-4 Turbo and half the cost, the company said.
Google also announced an improved Gemini 1.5 Pro model, which has the ability to make sense of multiple large documents — 1,500-pages total — or summarize 100 emails, according to a vice president working on Gemini.
Gemini 1.5 Pro will soon be able to handle an hour of video content, or codebases with more than 30,000 lines, Hsiao said.
“You can quickly get answers and insights about dense documents, like figuring out the details of the pet policy in your rental agreement or comparing key arguments of multiple long research papers,” Hsiao said.
OpenAI’s latest upgrade, announced this week, brings with it improved quality and speed of ChatGPT for 50 different languages. It will also be available via OpenAI’s application programming interface (API), allowing developers to begin building applications using the new model immediately, executives said.
With 35 languages, Google says Gemini 1.5 Pro has a 2 million token window, which measures context and indicates how much information the model is able to process at once. The new model has improved local reasoning, planning and image understanding, company executives said.
“It offers the longest context window of any foundational model yet,” Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said in the press briefing. At the event, he gave an example of a parent asking Gemini to summarize all recent emails from their child’s school.
Gemini 1.5 Pro will initially be available for testing in Workspace Labs. Gemini 1.5 Flash will be available for testing and in Vertex AI, which is Google’s machine learning platform that lets developers train and deploy AI applications.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/14/google-announces-lightweight-ai-model-gemini-flash-1point5-at-google-i/o.html

so i was talking to one of my friends about how i think i have adhd and she thinks im a hypochondriac? for context i was asking her for advice since i did heavy research on it for a long time and plan on actually getting a diagnosis this time. i had TRIED to get a diagnosis a while ago with my old therapist because she also thought i had it but my parents didnt really like her that much so they kinda didn’t want to listen to her and eventually i switched therapists. i plan on talking to my new therapist about this in hope that maybe they’ll finally listen since they like her. i had to search it up cuz i had no idea what it meant and i dont think im a hypochondriac? but now this is just making me overthink about everything else, like for example maybe i dont have schizophrenia and im just convinced i do?? even though ive been throughly diagnosed with it 😭 what do i do?

I would really appreciate it if more people would comment on this subject topic please.
I edited some things so you guys could read it better and there are also spoilers for the shitty story video game The Last of Us Part II so read at your own risk!
Do you think AJ might end up becoming a crazy serial killer sociopath or psychopath? Because the way he talks about killing people especially what he did to Marlon without thinking about the consequences of his actions was the definition of Murder! Marlon wasn't perfect but he didn't deserve to die like that he even surrenders too and I believe he actually felt Remorseful Regretful Guilty Responsible and Ashamed of what he had done
but AJ killed him in cold blood anyway so I don't blame Louis and Mitch and all the other kids for acting the way they did in Episode 2 and I know AJ is still young and Clem has been trying her best to teach him right from wrong and I know he saved Clem's life but still I worry that there will come a day where Clem will have to tell AJ to look at the flowers for those of you who know what I mean there are people who still don't like and hate AJ regardless of him saving Clem's life! Because of his personality especially when you tell him to kill Lilly and the way he said he liked killing her in such a creepy serial killer voice I mean he reminds me of Light Yagami from the anime/manga series Death Note and he reminds me of Harvey Dent aka Two-Face especially from The 2008 film The Dark Knight especially with that famous quote "You either die a Hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the Villain" and that's what I worry about with AJ that one day he could totally freaking snap and Clem would have no choice but to finally put him down once and for all that's what I still fear in the future for AJ that he will do something so bad to someone else that they will want revenge on him and
David from Season 3 is a good example of that because David was Crazy and in most of the endings of Season 3 he ends up dead! But he was right about one thing "AJ was a Brat" Also Karma might come back for AJ because someone might bash his brains out just like Badger from Season 3 got his brains bashed out from Javi all I'm saying is if AJ still keeps doing crazy stuff and being ruthless when it comes to killing people then someone is going to want revenge and is going to want to kill him Just like Abby killed Joel in The Last of Us Part II because Joel killed Abby's Dad! That could happen to AJ in the future you never know because he might just go to far and someone maybe Clem will have no choice but to put him down in the future which would be a sad but true thing indeed! So what do you all think about AJ's future when comes to killing people who do wrong by him and the way he talks about it like it's no big deal!
I just hope he will learn to give people the benefit of the doubt in the future instead of wanting to kill them because when it came to interrogating Abel when AJ saw him Die he started to feel a little sorry for him especially if you ask him as Clem by saying isn't this what you wanted and AJ will say I did but and then Abel will cut him off by saying You're going to get your wish and AJ has a sad look on his face I liked where AJ offers Abel Water at least because you told him what he did to Marlon was wrong and it was murder and that he would have to atone for it so he thought he could do the same with Abel I just don't know I still worry what and who AJ will become in the future
Maybe he will start to show a little bit of mercy to his enemies and he will only kill them in self defense and he will show mercy to the ones who hopefully feel Remorseful regretful guilty responsible and ashamed of their actions look I know it's a zombie apocalypse world and it's every person for themselves but you have to believe that there are some people who want to be good and who want to be heroes I hope AJ will see that and try to have a code when it comes to not killing as many people only if and when it's necessary and when it's unnecessary I hope he will learn and know the difference especially when said to Lilly's face in Episode 3 of the final season that he killed Marlon and that he wasn't a monster but she was and it was a good choice that he killed Lilly but still I just hope he will learn the difference when it comes to doing the right thing which is showing mercy to people like Marlon and killing people like Lilly I hope he will know the difference and grow up to be more like Clem and his parents Rebecca and Alvin and less like Carver hopefully anyway what do you guys think? 🤷‍♂️🙏

In a nutshell, I've got a BS in Computer Engineering, 3 years of experience doing FPGA hardware security research for a DoD contractor (where I also got a security clearance) and now have a few months experience doing firmware after getting laid off from the DoD contractor job.
I live in eastern Virginia and currently make $83k/year. Finances have felt tight for a while though. I know everything has gotten more expensive and specifically in my case, an increase from getting out of a shitty overcosted apartment to a house with a high mortgage rate, and my mental health costs going up too due to a change in insurance between jobs.
I'm wondering if my feelings have any validity. The only openings I'm finding require more and/or niche experience so they aren't great for comparisons with my current position, or other entry level positions that are in high COL areas that are underpaid. Some examples are government contracting jobs where the salaries are around $70k/year in the DC area, which is a really low salary.
Tl;dr I'm not happy with my salary or my career progress or my career trajectory. I don't know if it's just the economy being garbage or if I'm actually underpaid and that I should be looking for another job to ease my budgetary woes.

I have been working as a research assistant/student with a research team for over 2 years now. For the first year, I was a paid student through my university's internship program during my undergrad degree. The other half year, I was paid through and undergrad/new-grad program during the summer.
I still "work" with the research team. However, I am not being paid and have not been paid for about a half of a year. I have asked my PI if they would be open to paying me. However, they have told me that our research team does not have the money and that they cannot afford to pay anyone else. To my knowledge, they pay around 5 people.
I've had the honour of leading many projects, preparing abstracts/papers and delivering presentations - privelegdes that many undergrads and recent grad are not afforded. I still have many responsibilities on the team and in many ways I work as a research analyst (e.g. leading projects, REB work, contracts, paper writing, etc). I know this is often the norm in academic research nowadays.
I bring this all up because I mentioned to my PI that I will have to step away from my responsibilities on their team to find another position that pays me. I will be starting graduate school in the fall, which is quite expensive. I will also need to find a place to live near my graduate school for at least the first year.
My PI did not react well to this. They told me that if I was truly committed to this work and this research, I would stay and maintain my workload on their team. I have tried to be as kind as diplomatic as possible in stating that above all else, I need to make enough money to survive. I am currently not doing that. For now, that is fine because I do not have as many financial responsibilities. However, that will change by September.
I'm writing all this because I want to know if I am being unreasonable for wanting to seek employment elsewhere. They are obviously very experienced and I value their opinion. They are true that I will lose some opportunities by stepping back from their team. However, part of me feels they are a little out of touch of the current financial stresses facing young people today - especially young STEM researchers who are expected to be satisfied with surviving off of volunteer research positions right out of undergrad. I will be living in a very expensive city and will be entering an expensive graduate program.
I want to know if other young researchers have faced this same pressure/shaming to stay in non-paying/volunteer research positions instead of paid positions elsewhere - whether it is in a related field or not.
I would love to hear everyone's thoughts, though. Regardless of level of experience :)

I (17F) had a strong connection to my father (65M), which we built up during the last years (during my parents' divorce).
During that time, he treated me as if I was his therapist without him nor me noticing that it is inappropriate (at this time I was at the age of 11). ‘Inappropriate’ as in too deep and personal conversations about his past and his trauma that he has experienced throughout his childhood and further, that he all dumped onto me, which led me feel emotionally responsible for him and his actions.
In the recent years (quite frankly a bit after their divorce) he tried online dating, although his preferences are a bit problematic and stereotypical (“Old white guy dating young Asian women”). During that period, he told me all about it, every single detail and further, which wasn’t too pleasing, due to me not being too mentally stable at the time. I watched him being scammed and used up until recently (one and a half years), when he met a now 23-year-old Asian woman that we will here call ‘Karen’. As they chatted and further, she was already being very problematic, as in trying to get in between me and my father, which led to them being in a sort of “on-off” situation several times. Regardless of that my father invited her to our homeland with a tourist VISA. During that time, I was at my then lowest point, not feeling too well, even after giving her a “new” chance of redeeming herself, yet she did not take any initiative to get to know me better, nor to get on my good side. Short after her arrival I had a school trip from which me and my father planned on him picking me up from the train station, which in the end he cancelled at the very last moment, due to him not trying to upset Karen, who was mad that I wanted to be with my dad / him picking me up (This being one of many examples of her regular behavior). This led to me feeling unwell and unwanted around her, which I tried talking over with my father, sadly he kept defending her behavior as it being shyness. This was obviously not true, due to her bragging with overly sexual poses on social media with posts about her being in our homeland. She left about 2 months after her arrival and has now (at the time of this post creation) returned for around 3 months. During that period of her not being around me or my father they kept being “on-off” several times, which once again shows how unserious this “relationship” is.
I’ve told my father several times about how him being with that woman is sickening, not only due to the huge age-gap, but mostly because of her behavior and actions, which I’ve tried tolerating too much at this point, yet he persistently kept defending her. I’ve stayed at home multiple days now, due to the emotional damage that has built up on me. This has led to me cutting off contact with my father, which is very hard for me, due to the emotional connection I've built up with him, yet it feels very freeing. He somehow still doesn’t understand what his actions have made me go through.
AITA for slowly cutting off contact with my dad from my life for being with an obvious and manipulative gold-digger?