As the title says I am really struggling right now with my job search. I have been looking for the past 2 months since my last job laid off multiple departments due to bad past investments they made. I see all the time about how people can't even get interviews, so I know I must be doing something right. But the problem is once I get to the interview stage I think I'm doing well, but then I get told they are not moving forward with me.
Here is an example of an interview I just did:

• Interviewed on Thursday after applying on Monday.
• Position is remote (which I have been for the last 5 years) but they have an office location in my city (which means I can be hybrid if they need me to be) which seems like and advantage.
• The position asks for 3-4 years of experience. I have 7.
• Interviewer has to push the meeting by 30 minutes, I oblige and say that is fine.
• Interviewer and I have a good conversation, she asks about my experience.
• I'm concise and go over my 7 years of work within 2 minutes.
• She asks what my favorite accomplishment was.
• I mention the latest accomplishment on my resume which relates to the job (Brought in over 30,000 new customers in 2024 using exactly what I would be doing in the job).
• She asks for my salary expectations. The pay rate is 75k to 125k. Because I live in a cheaper part of the country I ask for 80k (which is MORE than competitive for my experience and the position).
• She asks if I have any questions about the job, I ask her questions like where she sees the company being in 10 years (she says they will continue to grow and expand into offices all over the United States).
• I then ask her what a typical workday would look like and how the job is structured (would this be territory based, industry based, etc.). she gives a detailed response.
• She then thanks me for the interview and says I will hear next steps either the next day (Friday) or Monday next week. The interview lasted 20 minutes instead of the normal 30.

I then get an email today saying they will not be moving forward with me and that they are moving forward with other candidates.
I just don't understand what the issue is. I HAVE to be saying something in the interview that is getting me disqualified as this is probably the 6th interview I have had where they eliminate me after the first round. This is for positions that are on-site, hybrid, or remote. It doesn't seem to matter as I still can't get past the first round interview.
I'm thinking of hiring a practice coach, but even then it seems like I'll be missing out on something.
Any recommendations on how a good interview is supposed to go and how I should answer?

I’ll frequently see this take as a response to sex scenes in movies or tv shows. “If I wanted to watch people having sex I’d watch porn”. I don’t have any proof to back up this view so I’m open to having it changed but it just seems unhealthy to compartmentalize it like that. First, movies and tv shows can’t really show anything graphic. Maybe breasts or even genitals but nothing compared to porn which explicitly shows penetrative sex. Being able to experience arousal from just the suggestion of sex or scenes that would be called “soft core” if they were just a porn scene seems healthier than always going to depictions of explicit sex in porn to get off. You may answer that they can just watch soft core scenes but if you look at porn statistics that sites like pornhub puts out, the vast vast majority of consumers are watching “hardcore” porn.
Second I think it adds to this taboo attitude surrounding sex. Like there’s something bad about it so it needs to quarantined.
Last movies and shows have many more examples of the characters they are depicting having sex, being much more fleshed out and human. In porn the actors are simply there for sex. But many times (not always) in movies and tv shows the characters you are watching having sex, that’s only a small part to their character, where you’re much more likely to see many facets of their life. At their job, how they interact with their friends and family or enemies. I believe this is healthier because it doesn’t associate those actors with the sole purpose of being sex objects, like I believe watching porn can do with its actors.
Edit: I'd like to add, I don't think porn is inherently unhealthy to view either. I think like all things moderation is key. This is about the attitude of wanting to experience arousal from media exclusively from porn.

Safe people are humble.
We can never feel safe in a relationship with someone who does not value our personhood, our hearts and minds, and what we contribute to the world. [Safe people] both have a positive sense of their self-worth and also value what others have to bring to a relationship or project.
Safe people are those whom you know you can disagree with without fear of their response.
They are more interested in hearing what you actually think and how you truly feel than hearing an echo of their perspective.
Safe people have the ability to balance objectivity with an appreciation of the emotions of others.
They are able to empathize deeply with the pain and concerns of those they do life with and consider how their actions may impact others. At the same time, they do not allow their emotions or feelings to dictate their actions. Even during times of intense emotion, they know how to access their intellect and rationality.
Safe people understand that life has its ebbs and flows, and can empathize with a change in your life situation without undue anger or resentment.
For example, if you go through a period of withdrawal as a result of an intense season of grief, safe people are able to place your possible emotional distance in context and be there for you even when you don’t have the strength to be there for them.
Safe people aren’t impulsive.
They recognize that none of us are perfect and that if we are to have long-term positive relationships, we will have (healthy) conflict. They are willing and able to work through (healthy) conflict and are able to do so because they do not allow their emotions to distract them from their ultimate values and goals, such as sustaining healthy relationships.
Safe people choose their close relationships carefully.
If we want to be a safe person, we must also inhabit these traits ourselves.
-*Eric Brown, excerpted and adapted from How to Choose Safe People

A common task I'm faced with is looking at a team of half a dozen peole who all have seemingly random group memberships and figuring out which groups a new member of the team should be added to. This lets you drill down to shared groups for an array of AD users and identify which peron(s) is missing.

Function Compare-ADMemberof { <# .SYNOPSIS Compare user group memberships, separate users with commas. Requires AD module from ADUC. .DESCRIPTION Compare user group memberships, separate users with commas. Lists groups missing members. Requires AD module from ADUC. .EXAMPLE $manager = Get-ADUser TimApple123 Get-ADUser -filter "manager -eq '$($manager.distinguishedname)'" Compare-ADMemberof Compares memberships of all users managed by 'TimApple123' #> [alias('Compare-ADUserGroups')] [cmdletbinding()] param( [Parameter(Mandatory, ValueFromPipeline, Position = 0)] [string[]]$Identity, [Parameter(Position = 1)] [switch]$IncludeEqual, [Parameter(Position = 2)] [string]$DisplayProperty = 'SamAccountName', [Parameter()] [string]$Server, [parameter()] [string]$Delimiter = ',' ) begin { $adParam = @{ Property = 'memberof', $DisplayProperty Sort-Object -Property $DisplayProperty -Unique -Descending } if ($Server) { $adParam['Server'] = $Server } if ($Credential) { $adParam['Credential'] = $Credential } $lookup = [System.Collections.Generic.List[Microsoft.ActiveDirectory.Management.ADObject]]::new() } Process { foreach ($a_Identity in $Identity) { $null = $lookup.Add((Get-ADUser -Identity $a_Identity @adParam)) } } end { $results = foreach ($a_lookup in $lookup) { $a_lookup.MemberOf ForEach-Object { [PSCustomObject]@{ ADObject = $a_lookup $DisplayProperty = $a_lookup.$DisplayProperty Group = $_ -replace '^CN=,OU=.+' DistinguishedName = $a_lookup.DistinguishedName } } } $group = $results Group-Object -Property Group Sort-Object Count -Descending if (-not $IncludeEqual) { $group = $group Where-Object { $_.count -ne $lookup.count } } foreach ($a_group in $group) { [PSCustomObject]@{ Group = $a_group.Name Members = $a_group.Group.$DisplayProperty -join ', ' Missing = $lookup.where({ $_.distinguishedname -notin $a_group.Group.DistinguishedName }).$DisplayProperty -join "$Delimiter " } } } } 

You may have heard of the tools Nightshade and Glaze, but in case you haven’t, they’re tools that work defensively and offensively to protect your work from being scraped off the internet to train AI models. Both are made by the University of Chicago.
Glaze is a system designed to protect human artists by disrupting style mimicry. At a high level, Glaze works by understanding the AI models that are training on human art, and using machine learning algorithms, computing a set of minimal changes to artworks, such that it appears unchanged to human eyes, but appears to AI models like a dramatically different art style.
Nightshade works similarly as Glaze, but instead of a defense against style mimicry, it is designed as an offense tool to distort feature representations inside generative AI image models. Like Glaze, Nightshade is computed as a multi-objective optimization that minimizes visible changes to the original image. While human eyes see a shaded image that is largely unchanged from the original, the AI model sees a dramatically different composition in the image. For example, human eyes might see a shaded image of a cow in a green field largely unchanged, but an AI model might see a large leather purse lying in the grass.
Trained on a sufficient number of shaded images that include a cow, a model will become increasingly convinced cows have nice brown leathery handles and smooth side pockets with a zipper, and perhaps a lovely brand logo.
These models work most effectively the more people use them. Here’s some links to download or read more:
Glaze
Nightshade

this may have something to do with the fact that my entire mindset of the world and people changed when i took magic mushrooms last year. i won’t get in to that but i’ll just say ever since then i’ve been seeing our species and the universe in a different light.
i’m honestly not sure how to explain exactly what i mean, but i guess ever since then i view other people in a more objective sense. it feels like i am looking at people in a way that someone or something not a part of the human race would see a human.
i could try to be more specific if no one gets what i’m saying, but right now it’s one of those times where i can’t think of any actual examples or instances in my life to compare my thoughts to. i love the way my brain works (😐)

Hi! I guess this is more of a resume question for YouTubers that went back into the job market or juggle both traditional job and content creation on the side.
For the past 2 years, I've been self-employed as a content creator and I'm seeking guidance on optimizing my resume for associate roles in digital marketing, marketing, content specialist, SEO, social media, web/UX, and related fields. Over the past two years, I've focused on video content creation, experiencing some success, particularly within my own personal brand on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. While it began as a hobby, I'm now earning from it which I'm pretty proud of! My previous jobs were not in marketing.
However, I'm also seeking a more traditional/stable job to supplement my income and continue video creation in my free time. I would enjoy the freedom of content creation full time, but I'll hopefully cross that bridge when I get there. I'm curious if my content creation experience aligns with current demands in digital marketing. Although hesitant to delve into specifics, I'm open to discussing my role as a self-employed content creator with potential employers if necessary. For example, I am wondering if my job title "digital media specialist" and video content creation job responsibilities would make sense to potential employers. My content is not controversial or anything, but my content is super niche.
What does/did your resume include? Did you omit anything? Were your content creation skills a big talking point, and if so, how do you think it helped you land your job? Any insights or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Hello, I made a list of everything that is wrong with me and it's driving me crazy. what can you tell about this ? am i weird ? or toxic or something ?

• I really envy certain character traits in people
• I have the need to appropriate everything before someone appropriates something at me
• I hate being belittled by someone or identified with something, it triggers me, I don't know why
• I hate when people disagree with me, and I hate when people oppose to my way of thinking
• I hate people who are too touchy and take everything seriously
• I hate people who want to be the center of attention too much, because it makes me want to steal the spotlight and I don't like that feeling
• I hate when someone other than me gets complimented a lot more
• I compliment my friends only because they won't perceive me as jealous
• I change my image of myself very often, I never see myself the same for a long time
• I tend to love someone very much at the start of a relationship, then become disgusted with them overnight for no reason
• I like talking about myself too much, when others talk about themselves, it bores me or even annoys me
• I tend to hate the people I love suddenly, for something I don't like, often it's when they want to touch my image, or when they don't go my way
• I don't like people who are manipulated and who don't see it
• I don't like people who aren't as intelligent as me, it annoys me
• I don't like it when people neglect me to do something else more important for them
• I don't like seeing people succeed, and it gives me a certain satisfaction to see them fail
• I love myself so much, as I hate myself so much
• I have trouble managing my anger sometimes, I tend to hit objects or things around me when I lose control
• I never manage to completely finish a project, or anything, I always have big ideas, I start to realize them, and I never finish because it bores me
• I am obsessed with certain things, for example I watch the same series or lets play over and over again for days, weeks or even months, or I have weird reflexes which consist of stalking the same person over and over again several times during the day following the same sequence of social networks
• I need things to happen in my life to feel alive
• I have trouble wanting to spend time alone with myself, it makes me anxious just thinking about it
• I can't really accept criticism
• I care a lot about my image
• I think too often about the consequences of each act, to the point of falling into paranoia and inventing very negative outcomes
• I am too pessimistic, I imagine the worst scenarios in any situation, to the point of falling into paranoia again
• I often interpret the actions or words of others in the wrong way
• I often look for the negative

i need your opinions about this, please im so tired, and i know that maybe i have an inferiority complex or something, but im not mean, i swear, i just have all this shit in my head all the time, and im tired, it stress me out

Okay so my OC, Akari Takami, has a telekensis like quirk. Whatever object she chooses to telekenetically manipulate she can feel as if it is for example, an extra limb.
For example, in the future I'm planning on her manipulating fire. When she does so she can literally feel the sensation of it burning upon her even though it isn't.
Here's an extract of her using her quirk on one of Hawks/Keigos feathers. This is during the very early days (the day after her discovery of it) of her quirk training:
Akari pulled her hair into a low ponytail as Ichika mapped out the first exercise. It was simple, Keigo would make one of his feathers float, she would try and manipulate it to her will for as long as she could.
She focused on the feather and, after a few seconds she began to feel the intense softness. She focused on the connection. From what she had gathered the deeper she could get it, the more she could manoeuvre it and the longer she could keep it up for, so she aimed to deepen it.
Everything else became a muffle but the feather, one second the outside world was nothing but a haze and the next it was as if it had never existed at all. She felt disconnected from everyone and everything besides the feather.
The shock and discomfort she felt about feeling way enough for her to pull away. When she fully came back to her senses it felt like whiplash, however, the discomfort that gave her came secondary to Ichikas’ disapproving gaze.
“Again.” She ordered.
Akari hesitated and then upon her command the world slowly drowned out until it was just her and the feather.
She moved it up, she moved it down, she moved it around.
She could vaguely sense the satisfaction she felt however she could not fully grasp it. Coming back and disconnecting from the feather took longer this time around.
‘That's just something I need to work on.’ She thought.
“Again.” Ichika ordered and she did just that.

I felt sick around 4 weeks before, suffered from a nasty flu for about two weeks on the third week i had recovered. My stepdad asked me to create a website for his company. interestingly, i did it a ease. I find it very interesting. now i am back to the usual routine.
DRDCEWMEC- i have found out new ways of recording the CBT techiniques on to my fitnes pal so that i am not only recording the diet and excercise but also making notes for the CBT.
As for today i woke up inthe morning aorund 11am. I realise the situation at my rented house. the outside environment is very difficult for me to sleep. I thinking moving outside of here and moving to a larger also quieter apartment would deemed to be neccessary for me in the near coming future. So from now on my routine has changed to sleep at 12am so that i am wake up around 8 to 9 am then i will start my day. today i woke up 11am then i had two coffee i took the usual supplements following the CBT strategies.
CBT; 1. meditation 2.diary 3. supplements including omega three, multivitamin and vitamin d3 4. sleep music 5. sleep tea 6. sleep perfume 7. cold room 8. lavender shower gel and shampoo (from 1 to 6 are active and 7 and 8 are passive). another classification is that the diary belong the the D and the other 7 are the CBT which belong to the C.
After i took the supplement i went to the gym. I realised i had no groceries left so i took the supplements with two cups of coffes and one mug of milk and i developed very bad diarroeah around 4-5 times. very good for losing the weight that is the good side.
later on the day i completed my food diary and then read sunzi, 33 strategies of the war and 36 military strategies of chinese warfare. One thing i learned most today is the ending strategy. Most ppl when they declared a war with others, they did not end with good terms and they will resume back to the original enenemies for no reason. Robert greene state that if you know/ analysis the situation, most often this is because of either of conflicting interest or the way of human behaviou human nature. very often there is nothing we can do about it. e.g. if this business or coroperation is against this someone's interest then obvious both you and him cannot come into terms. on the other hand let's say if he who can longer come into terms or taking advantage of you then he would hate you if you do not delater the ending strategy. From the famous quote the kindeness does not necessarily breed kindess in return in this world by Robert greene. The pp who do not understand this principal would struggle greatly.
Application: recently my roomate had trouble with me using the shared bathroom with him. he is claiming that he find it too difficult to share with me because he would like it to be more available with him . we had two shared bathroom one upstairs right next to me and one downstairs. I orignially agreed with him that it is ok for me to go downstairs if it is not too urgent but if it is then obviously i had to rushed to the one closer to me. Despit having repeated conversation i have devided to use the ending strategies.
There are a lot of ppl in this world who do not understand the society. they sort of live the world of their own in the example of my roommate he only considers for himself that if the bathroom near him is more available to him then it would be conveient and beneficial but he forgets to consider that what might seems convinient for him would also be conviniet for the others. this brings the key to advancing social skills, being a ppl person simplys means considerate more about others not only yourself. From the famous saying fit yourself into other ppl's boots. interestly, there are a lot of ppl in this world who does not understand this despite many years of repeptive failure experiences. in this situation because i had conversation over and over, i would not need to talk to him again. simply because if he does not get this principal then no matter how many times i expalinning to him it wouldn't make any difference. so what's the point really? so now it's the time to use the ending strategy. this is 1. the issue with the interest 2. the nature of the room who does not understand the common principles in life despite many times of repetitive explaining. the best practice now is to leave it there.
another learinig point of this strategy is the learn how to end the failure. in the past i had also experience failures and like many ppl i had learn to dealt with my failure 1. being hopelss and despair - thinking this is the end of the world and now there's nothing i can do 2. having negative thoughts and action about the society - blaming, accusing, being extremly defensive about yourself think everything happened is the fault of society 3. find nothing positive about the past failure experience and fallen into constant cycle of regreat.
what Robert said in his book as 1. Do not treat failure as failure but as a lesson to sucess so you need to know that both failures and success is in a constant cycles of repetition that is a common norm. what you need to do is to deeply analyse your failure and learn something useful out of it. this is also expalined in Rober kiosaki book do not just let life pushes you around instead learn something out of it which makes you stronger and smarter everyday 2. instead of being negative all times you should start learning some postitives out of it. this is greatly illustratd by the chinese philosophy so Ying and Yang. No matter how bad something gets as long as you are still alive there must be a corresponding positives. in other words if something is really happening terrible to your life then after you analysed it very carefully then there must also be at least one correponding huge positive. e.g. for my i graduated from pharmacy shcool becuase of my condition i cannot become pharmacist in the past i always thought of how other ppl in this society always descriminat me but on the other hands i have also learned the fundamental rules and algothrim of the society which is a key thing to master in order to thrive in this society. at the same time i als found my passion in tech, web desigh and cyber and going to pursue a carrere in this field. imagine if i never experienced these failures then how could i possibly learn and self develop and figure out my true passion. 3. feel extremely excited about failures since i just told you failures in life is inevitable and yuo know that failures taught us how to succed failures taught us how to thrive and strive better in life and in this society, failure has taught me how to fucntion better and accpeted better in this society, failure has taught me the importance of finding your target, do not be afraid, action and immeditate execution and the importance of long lasting perseverance. then now why are you afraid and why you are running away?

Okay so my OC, Akari Takami, has a telekensis like quirk. Whatever object she chooses to telekenetically manipulate she can feel as if it is for example, an extra limb.
For example, in the future I'm planning on her manipulating fire. When she does so she can literally feel the sensation of it burning upon her even though it isn't.
Here's an extract of her using her quirk on one of Hawks/Keigos feathers. This is during the very early days (the day after her discovery of it) of her quirk training:
Akari pulled her hair into a low ponytail as Ichika mapped out the first exercise. It was simple, Keigo would make one of his feathers float, she would try and manipulate it to her will for as long as she could.
She focused on the feather and, after a few seconds she began to feel the intense softness. She focused on the connection. From what she had gathered the deeper she could get it, the more she could manoeuvre it and the longer she could keep it up for, so she aimed to deepen it.
Everything else became a muffle but the feather, one second the outside world was nothing but a haze and the next it was as if it had never existed at all. She felt disconnected from everyone and everything besides the feather.
The shock and discomfort she felt about feeling way enough for her to pull away. When she fully came back to her senses it felt like whiplash, however, the discomfort that gave her came secondary to Ichikas’ disapproving gaze.
“Again.” She ordered.
Akari hesitated and then upon her command the world slowly drowned out until it was just her and the feather.
She moved it up, she moved it down, she moved it around.
She could vaguely sense the satisfaction she felt however she could not fully grasp it. Coming back and disconnecting from the feather took longer this time around.
‘That's just something I need to work on.’ She thought.
“Again.” Ichika ordered and she did just that.

I’m applying for composition contests. Sometimes I’m asked by “anonymous” contests to provide composer biographies, compositional activities, et cetera.
One contest specifically required a list of “awards, degrees, ect.” I can guarantee that if degrees and exclusive summer music camps have any bearing on the winner of the competition, I won’t win.
I’m sure that there are plenty of spoiled trust fund babies whose parents paid for the best teachers and sent them to the WASPiest music schools while paying for all their tuition and expenses.
Shouldn’t composition contests be about the music? Why is it necessary for me to provide this unnecessary information?
If these contests were truly fair and anonymous, none of this information should matter. Shouldn’t the competition be about judging the quality of the music?
If competitions discriminate based on degrees, they unfairly advantage artists who came from privilege and silence the voices of the diverse artists who did not. Maybe straight white male trust fund baby No. #41 who lives in Long Island and who’s grandparents are in the social register has that expensive Juilliard degree his parents paid for and a picture perfect resume. Is he the only one who deserves accolades and awards? Is he the only composer who deserves to be heard?
If a composition contest is truly anonymous or fairly judged, there’s no reason I should have to provide any of this information. The only thing that should matter is the quality of the music that was submitted to the contest.
That being said, if I were to try an exercise in futility because I’m a desperate composer and submit these PDFs anyways, how long should they be and what sort of information should they include? Are there any examples online of a good composer bio or list of compositional activities?

Hi!
I've attached my resume (with redacted info): resume link
I'm self-employed and seeking guidance on optimizing my experience for associate roles in digital marketing, marketing, content specialist, SEO, social media, web/UX, and related fields. Over the past two years, I've focused on video content creation, experiencing some success, particularly within my own personal brand on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. While it began as a hobby, I'm now earning from it which I'm pretty proud of! My previous jobs were not in marketing.
However, I'm also seeking a more traditional job to supplement my income and continue video creation in my free time. I'm curious if my content creation experience aligns with current demands in digital marketing. Although hesitant to delve into specifics, I'm open to discussing my role as a self-employed content creator with potential employers if necessary. For example, I am wondering if my job title "digital media specialist" and job responsibilities would make sense to potential employers. It's not controversial or anything, but my content is super niche. Any insights or advice would be greatly appreciated!

In the annals of gaming history, few titles command the reverence and adoration as the legendary Doom franchise. Born from the minds of John Romero, John Carmack, Adrian Carmack, and Tom Hall, Doom would go on to lay the foundations for just about every modern video game that exists. It was a true tour de force, a success story few could scarce ever imagine.
Released in 1993, Doom was an immediate smash hit, thanks in no small part to its shareware format, which allowed users to experience the first few levels of Knee Deep In the Dead, and then order the full game via the phone number included. Players could then share the floppy disk with their friends, and so on, and so on. It was a truly revolutionary system, and within a single year, Doom had sold over 2 million copies.
The history of the Doom franchise is one of innovation, ultra violence, and controversy (1999's Columbine High School Massacre), and that reputation is one that continued with 2016's DOOM. DOOM was officially revealed at Quakecon 2014, ten years after Doom 3. Players had long resigned to Doom being considered a dead franchise. A reboot had been in the works for a number of years prior, but never got released, having been quietly cancelled by id in 2010. The future was bleak, but the 30 second long teaser ignited a spark that had been burning dimmer every passing year.
Then came E3 2015.
The hype was unreal. The trailer had everything that fans could possibly want. Gore, intense violence, insane run n gun gameplay, a rip-roaring soundtrack and the MFING CHAINSAW. But fans had been let down before. Would it really hold up its promises?
Yes. Yes, it would.
PART I: Presentation
When DOOM burst onto the scene in 2016, it did so with a visual and auditory spectacle that left players awestruck. From the moment the game boots up, players are made aware that this is not your average shooter. You are greeted with a deep, commanding voice. "Rip and tear, until it is DONE."
Immediately, players are greeted with a scene of carnage and the Doom Slayer chained to a table, which, of course, he instantly breaks free from. A zombie attempts to relieve the Slayer of his life but is beaten to the punch with a prompt skull smashing. After putting the other zombies to rest, he interacts with the panel in the corner, is greeted by one Dr. Samuel Hayden, who attempts to justify the outbreak, and decides he would rather kill shit than listen to excuses and destroys the monitor.
That is the introduction to this game. It never wastes the player's time. We aren't here to listen to long droning monologues or watch MGS style cutscenes. id Software knew their audience, and knew what that audience wanted, and they deliver in spades. This introduction sets the tone for the entire experience: relentless action, unapologetic violence, and a protagonist who is as unstoppable as he is uncompromising. The Doom Slayer's disdain for exposition and his single-minded focus on annihilating demons resonate with players who crave a pure, unadulterated gaming experience.
By eschewing lengthy cutscenes and exposition-heavy dialogue in favor of fast-paced gameplay and visceral action, id Software delivers a game that respects the player's time and delivers exactly what they came for: non-stop demon-slaying action. In an era where many games are criticized for padding their runtime with unnecessary filler, DOOM stands out as a shining example of how to create a focused and engaging experience that keeps players coming back for more.
Rather than bombarding players with lengthy exposition or intrusive cutscenes, DOOM opts for a more environmental storytelling approach. Throughout the game, players can discover audio logs, read text-based terminals, and observe environmental details that provide context and background to the events unfolding around them.
The story of DOOM revolves around the Doom Slayer's mission to stop a demonic invasion unleashed by the Union Aerospace Corporation (UAC) on their Martian facility. As players progress through the game, they uncover details about the UAC's experiments with Hell energy, the origins of the demonic invasion, and the Doom Slayer's own mysterious past.
While the story may not be front and center in DOOM, it nonetheless adds depth and richness to the game world, enhancing the overall experience for players who choose to engage with it. And for those who prefer to focus solely on the action, the story remains secondary, allowing them to enjoy the game on their own terms.
That's all well and good, but what about the actual gameplay? Simply put, it is exhilarating. From the moment you are given control of the Slayer, players are thrust into a frenzy of blood and violence, and it never lets up. At its core, DOOM is a first-person shooter that harkens back to the genre's roots while injecting it with a healthy dose of modern flair. The gameplay is fast-paced, frenetic, and utterly unapologetic in its brutality. You're not just a player – you're the Doom Slayer, a force of nature hell-bent on eradicating every last demon in your path.
Central to the gameplay experience is the game's combat loop, which revolves around a delicate balance of aggression and strategy. In DOOM, there's no hiding behind cover or waiting for your health to regenerate – you're constantly on the move, strafing, dodging, and leaping across the battlefield as you unleash a torrent of bullets, rockets, and plasma upon your enemies.
Weapons include the iconic shotgun, heavy assault rifle, plasma rifle, rocket launcher, and the devastating BFG 9000, among others. Each weapon offers different firing modes, such as single shot, burst fire, and continuous beam, providing players with tactical options in combat. A key aspect of combat is the Glory Kill system, which allows players to perform brutal finishing moves on staggered enemies. Glory Kills not only provide health and ammo but also contribute to the flow of combat by encouraging aggressive play. It is incredibly satisfying to watch the Slayer rip an imp in half or stomp their head into the pavement, and doing so rewards you with a large return of health.
The Chainsaw mechanic is another integral part of combat, allowing players to instantly kill most enemies and gain a large amount of ammo in return. However, Chainsaw fuel is limited and must be managed carefully. Like Glory Kills, watching the chainsaw tear demons apart is incredibly satisfying. Certain demons require more fuel but provide the player with more ammo in return. Balancing which demons you chainsaw and which ones you choose to Glory Kill is an important part of combat.
Exploration is key to progression and is rewarding to those players who choose to do. Hidden throughout the levels of the game are Argent Cells, Praetor Tokens, and Rune Trials. Each of these provide upgrades to your health/shield/ammo, suit, and passive abilities respectively. Also hidden throughout the game are levers that lead you to classic levels from Doom 1 and Doom 2, which then unlock the full level of its respective game, playable from the main menu. You can also find toy models of the Doom Slayer, which unlock various character models to view. On some of these models, the Doom Slayer will perform a unique action when picking it up, such as fist bumping the classic Doomguy. It's a nice and cute little touch added by the developers that does a little to add character to the Slayer, who is a silent protagonist.
id Software masterfully blends modern game design with a deep reverence for the classics, paying homage to the series' storied history while introducing new elements that propel the franchise forward. Central to this approach is the game's character design, which strikes a delicate balance between nostalgia and innovation. At its core is the iconic protagonist, the Doom Slayer, whose design pays homage to the original Doom Marine while incorporating modern updates that make him feel both familiar and fresh. With his battle-worn armor, imposing stature, and silent demeanor, the Doom Slayer is the embodiment of raw power and unrelenting rage.
The game's roster of enemies is a veritable who's who of classic Doom foes, reimagined for the modern era. From the lowly possessed soldiers to the hulking Cyberdemon, each enemy is lovingly crafted to capture the essence of its 1990s counterpart while introducing new mechanics and behaviors that keep players on their toes. Whether you're facing off against the agile Revenants, the relentless Hell Knights, or the grotesque Cacodemons, every encounter is a nostalgic trip down memory lane, punctuated by the satisfying sound of demon flesh being torn asunder.
But the main story is not where it ends. DOOM has an arcade mode, where players can run through the levels again, this time trying for high scores and medals while collecting 1 Ups. It's important to move fast and have accurate aim; the more kills you chain together, the bigger your score is. Getting hit reduces your score. At the end of the level, your score is tallied against others on a leaderboard. It's a great way to incentivize players to keep playing, in order to get a better and better score.
There is also multiplayer, where players compete in various game modes such as classic deathmatch, warpath and free for all. Players can become demons by collecting runes on the battlefield and this gives them a distinct advantage; demons are larger, stronger and more resilient. Players are bizarrely restricted to only two weapons and a loadout in multiplayer, which blew my mind. Loadouts. In a DOOM game. The demons are also massively unbalanced and if one team manages to get a particularly powerful demon such as a baron of hell, then it's a guaranteed win. All in all, the multiplayer just isn't great. You are better off replaying the story or arcade mode, or even SnapMap.
SnapMap is id Software's proprietary level editor, and it puts every other editor on the market to shame. SnapMap is an incredible, intuitive, easy to learn system allowing players to create their own multiplayer, co-op and single player maps. There is an extensive tutorial system that teaches users the basics, and goes up in depth, covering how to use AI triggers, switches, combinations, object layering, actions, recalls, audio cues, etc. Never have I ever seen such an in-depth interface on a console game before. While it is only surface level in the grand scheme of things, SnapMap is a great introduction to teaching users how game development works, and I urge everyone to try it out at least once.
Part II: The Music
In DOOM, the music isn't just a background accompaniment – it's a driving force that propels players forward, electrifying every moment of the gameplay experience. Composed by the incredibly talented Mick Gordon, the soundtrack of DOOM is a relentless onslaught of metal and electronica that perfectly complements the game's fast-paced action and visceral combat. From the moment you boot up the game, you're greeted by the iconic strains of the main theme, a haunting melody that sets the tone for the epic journey that lies ahead. As you traverse the game's environments, the music shifts seamlessly between atmospheric ambience and pulse-pounding metal.
But it's not just the composition of the music that makes it so memorable – it's also the way it's integrated into the gameplay itself. Mick Gordon's dynamic scoring system ensures that the music evolves in real-time based on the player's actions, ramping up in intensity during combat encounters and dialing back during quieter moments of exploration. This creates a sense of momentum and flow that enhances the overall pacing of the game
One of the standout features of the soundtrack is its use of unconventional instrumentation and sound design. Mick Gordon's signature sound combines distorted guitars, pounding drums, and industrial noise to create a sonic palette that is as brutal and unforgiving as the game itself. From the deep, guttural growls of the synth bass to the ear-shredding shrieks of the guitar solos, every element of the music is designed to evoke a sense of chaos and destruction, mirroring the relentless carnage unfolding onscreen.
Of course, no discussion of the music in DOOM would be complete without mentioning the iconic tracks that have become synonymous with the game. From the adrenaline-fueled "Rip & Tear" to the bone-crushing "BFG Division," each track is a masterpiece of composition and production, perfectly capturing the essence of the DOOM experience and elevating it to new heights. Mick Gordon's composition for the DOOM soundtrack is a tour de force in heavy metal and industrial electronica, meticulously crafted to evoke the essence of the game's frenetic gameplay.
The backbone of the soundtrack is the distorted guitar, which provides the driving force behind many of the tracks. Gordon's use of extended-range guitars and custom-tuned instruments gives the music its signature low-end punch, while his aggressive playing style adds a raw, visceral energy to the sound. In addition to guitars, Gordon incorporates a wide range of electronic and synthetic elements into his compositions, including synthesizers, drum machines, and sampled sounds. These elements are used to create atmospheric textures, rhythmic patterns, and dynamic effects.
One of the most innovative aspects of Gordon's sound design is his use of audio manipulation techniques, such as granular synthesis and spectral processing. These techniques allow him to deconstruct and manipulate audio in real-time, creating complex textures and effects.
Perhaps the most revolutionary aspect of Mick Gordon's composition for DOOM is his dynamic scoring system, which adjusts the music in real-time based on the player's actions. This system, known as "MIDI-controlled dynamic music," allows the music to seamlessly transition between different layers and variations depending on the intensity of the gameplay. Gordon achieves this dynamic effect by dividing each track into multiple stems or layers, each representing a different element of the music (e.g., drums, guitars, synths). These stems are then triggered and mixed in real-time using MIDI data generated by the game engine, allowing the music to adapt and evolve dynamically as the player progresses through the game.
Part III: Building a Legacy
All too often in this industry, legacy franchises are either left in the dust to be forgotten, or brought back to a limp fanfare, only to be thrust back into the shadows of the past. This happens for a myriad of reasons, and I believe the biggest one is that they don't respect their legacy, and they don't respect the players who engage with them.
At its core, DOOM is a game that understands what players want: fast-paced action, engaging gameplay, and a sense of empowerment. By focusing on these core principles, id Software created an experience that resonated with players old and new, capturing the spirit of the original games while pushing the series forward. Central to this approach is the game's unwavering commitment to respecting the player. From its minimalist storytelling and streamlined level design to its intuitive controls and dynamic difficulty system, DOOM prioritizes the player's experience above all else, ensuring that every moment of the game is engaging, immersive, and satisfying.
One of the most notable ways that DOOM respects the player is through its approach to difficulty. Rather than imposing artificial barriers or punishing players for their mistakes, the game encourages experimentation and mastery through its responsive gameplay mechanics and adaptive enemy AI. Players are given the freedom to approach encounters in their own way, whether it's through brute force, cunning strategy, or a combination of both.
Another key aspect of DOOM's player-centric design is its emphasis on accessibility. From its difficulty settings and intuitive user interface to its robust accessibility features, such as colorblind modes and customizable controls, the game ensures that players of all skill levels and abilities can enjoy the experience without feeling excluded or overwhelmed.
But perhaps the most important way that DOOM respects the player is through its commitment to fun. At its core, DOOM is a game that prioritizes the player's enjoyment above all else, delivering a seamless and exhilarating experience that keeps players coming back for more. Whether you're blasting demons with a shotgun, exploring hidden secrets, or rocking out to Mick Gordon's pulse-pounding soundtrack, DOOM is a game that never stops prioritizing YOU.
DOOM's legacy is one of respect – respect for the player, respect for the franchise, and respect for the medium of video games as a whole. By prioritizing fun, accessibility, and player agency, id Software created an experience that not only honors the legacy of the original games but also sets a new standard for what a modern first-person shooter can be. And for that, we owe them a debt of gratitude.

Hi!
I've attached my resume (with redacted info): resume link
I'm self-employed and seeking guidance on optimizing my experience for associate roles in digital marketing, marketing, content specialist, SEO, social media, web/UX, and related fields. Over the past two years, I've focused on video content creation, experiencing some success, particularly within my own personal brand on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. While it began as a hobby, I'm now earning from it which I'm pretty proud of! My previous jobs were not in marketing.
However, I'm also seeking a more traditional job to supplement my income and continue video creation in my free time. I'm curious if my content creation experience aligns with current demands in digital marketing. Although hesitant to delve into specifics, I'm open to discussing my role as a self-employed content creator with potential employers if necessary. For example, I am wondering if my job title "digital media specialist" and job responsibilities would make sense to potential employers. It's not controversial or anything, but my content is super niche. Any insights or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Well done strike team! They have been really fun to play and in my experience they play pretty well.
Though for any of my other crucible enjoyers, have the spawns felt a little whack to you guys? I have found in a couple of the different objective game modes or even just the slaying ones it will spawn me away from the teammates or closer to the enemies then my own teammates.
For example the enemies won a fight in the more middle area of the new pyramid map and I spawned on one side. My teammate spawned on the opposite side of the map and then the 3rd teammate didn’t spawn on either end he spawned off to one of the sides 😅 I was like “where is my team” as we all spawned in Narnia

I am starting to suspect maybe my lens just doesn't fit the Z6. My lens is NIKKOR 200mm-500mm f5.6 and is made for DSLR cameras. Z6 II is mirrorless, I use the adapter to use the lens.
Got a good example today of the issue: https://imgur.com/mjYjd3d
Reindeer in nice light, fast shutter speed... f7.1, 1/6400, ISO 500. I put aperture up to MAYBE get bigger focus-area, but no..
Colors are watery and there isn't really any focus anywhere. I have full-setting on the lens, single-point focus, VR on.. I tried calibrating, other focus-points and different autofocus techniques (AF-s), but nothing works. Photos keep being blurry and I am getting close to give up. I have a FEW photos which has some small areas in focus, but it's very very limited and usually never where I pointed at.
What is happening and is it just the lens that is not compatible?
Edit: yes, with tripod on static object it can focus. But everything has to be completely still.

Yesterday, I found out that my sociopathic and abusive older sister (seven years older) is expecting her first child with my wonderful brother in law. Yes, he’s wonderful and my sister treats him very badly. He even asks me how I’ve managed to survive with her my entire life. I am going to be an aunt but I was devastated when I found out. It doesn’t help that she’s pranked me by telling me she’s pregnant on multiple occasions over the past several years. I went to my room and sobbed for a good two hours because I’m afraid that she’ll be as abusive to her child as she was to me or worse. Growing up, she was emotionally and physically (until I hit puberty and I could’ve outdone her) abusive towards me and manipulated me because I was an easy target due to being autistic. I can provide examples of what my sister did but this is not everything: * Stole money from my piggy bank on the regular * Pinched me whenever I didn’t do something she wanted * Told me I was fat/to lose weight as early as five years old * Called me stupid when I had trouble with math problems that were second nature to her such as the slope intercept formula * Was/is a shopaholic/spendthrift and has excessive amounts of clothes that she wears once or twice * Had around 30 kitties at one point last year and left all the care up to my BIL * Threw cans and other objects when angry, causing me to be afraid to go to sleep and earning her three calls to the police * Telling me that (insert name of another kid) would get to do something fun with her instead of me if I didn’t do something minor * Acted like a great big sister around her friends/other adults so that I couldn’t tell anyone how abusive she was * Was charming to her teachers/other authority figures, often learning what their coffee order was and otherwise “buttering them up” for good grades/other favors * More recent since I have turned 18 but has tried to pressure me to have sex with guys I go out with which is something I don’t want to do * Made me clean up her room, our mother even said that I was her “slave” * Often got into loud verbal/physical altercations with our mother that I heard at night, which made me afraid to fall asleep * Because of how angry my sister would get, my father often guarded my room, which for reasons I don’t know never had a lock, at night * Was previously married for a year to another nice guy and often verbally and physically accosted him

Hello. In the past 5 years I was physically ill and I was pretty much bedridden and unable to work. But recently I feel like I made enough recovery where I can get back to working again. I've also depleted my savings so I desperately need any job right now.
I was actually working in a different industry prior to getting sick but I don't think I can go back into that field for various reasons so I am looking to get back in the restaurant industry since I previously had years of experience working when I was young - cook (prep/line), dishwasher, server etc.
Currently I am only applying for entry level jobs such as dishwasher or prep cook jobs. I really do not care that I have to go back to minimum wage jobs. I've accepted that my life has completely changed and I'm willing to start over and I have no complaints.
Although most of my job applications get no response, I'm still getting interviews here and there.
But the problem is when I get to the interviews. They ask me about the gap in my work history, and I always tell them the truth - that I was sick for several years so I couldn't work but now I'm fully recovered. Then they always ask what was my illness, and I politely decline to tell them my medical history and explain again that I had health issues but now I have fully recovered and I'm able to work without assistance or accommodations. And every time, I always see the vibe immediately change and I can see they become disinterested and they start ending the interview. It almost feels like they get offended that I refuse to tell them why I was sick. But I don't want to reveal the health problem I had as I don't think that's relevant (also I think it could be illegal for them to ask that?). I think what's relevant is that I am not disabled and I am recovered and can work.
For example, today I just had a phone interview and the guy asked about the gap in my resume. I told him the usual, and right then and there he changed his tone and suddenly decided to end the interview, saying "Well, we're moving on, good luck" and just abruptly hung up. I was kinda surprised and upset because I thought it was rude. And now I realize all the in-person interviews probably would've ended like that too if it was a phone interview, they just couldn't abruptly cut it off because I was sitting in front of them.
Do I have to lie at this point? I don't want to lie because I am not a good liar. But now I'm starting to think that telling them I was in prison for 5 years might actually be better than saying I was sick for 5 years.
If anyone has any advice, I would greatly appreciate it. I just need to start working again.

Hello. In the past 5 years I was physically ill and I was pretty much bedridden and unable to work. But recently I feel like I made enough recovery where I can get back to working again. I've also depleted my savings so I desperately need any job right now.
I was actually working in a different industry prior to getting sick but I don't think I can go back into that field for various reasons so I am looking to get back in the restaurant industry since I previously had years of experience working when I was young - cook (prep/line), dishwasher, server, etc.
Currently I am only applying for entry level jobs such as dishwasher or prep cook jobs. I really do not care that I have to go back to minimum wage jobs. I've accepted that my life has completely changed and I'm willing to start over and I have no complaints.
Although most of my job applications get no response, I'm still getting interviews here and there.
But the problem is when I get to the interviews. They ask me about the gap in my work history, and I always tell them the truth - that I was sick for several years so I couldn't work but now I'm fully recovered. Then they always ask what was my illness, and I politely decline to tell them my medical history and explain again that I had health issues but now I have fully recovered and I'm able to work without assistance or accommodations. And every time, I always see the vibe immediately change and I can see they become disinterested and they start ending the interview. It almost feels like they get offended that I refuse to tell them why I was sick. But I don't want to reveal the health problem I had as I don't think that's relevant (also I think it could be illegal for them to ask that?). I think what's relevant is that I am not disabled and I am recovered and can work.
For example, today I just had a phone interview and the guy asked about the gap in my resume. I told him the usual, and right then and there he changed his tone and suddenly decided to end the interview, saying "Well, we're moving on, good luck" and just abruptly hung up. I was kinda surprised and upset because I thought it was rude. And now I realize all the in-person interviews probably would've ended like that too if it was a phone interview, they just couldn't abruptly cut it off because I was sitting in front of them.
Do I have to lie at this point? I don't want to lie because I am not a good liar. But now I'm starting to think that telling them I was in prison for 5 years might actually be better than saying I was sick for 5 years.
If anyone has any advice, I would greatly appreciate it. I just need to start working again.

So this is something I have thought for a while, and began building a hypothesis for it roughly three years ago. To summarize for those not interested in the details I believe the reasoning the tree of knowledge, and its counter parts within other religions were off limits to humans other than it is knowledge unwanted/unneeded; is that it was a trinity. The three parts that would make this up are religion,philosophy, and science. To clarify and specify I will give differing examples as to why I came to this conclusion.
The first thing that made me think of this was the interchangeable aspects, as well as the balancing of these three. Religious beliefs are what filled the ancient times, and allowed for the first steps of science to flourish. A good example is Egyptian building techniques they had were given to them by the God thoth. Due to its sacred attachments it was able to survive as a form of study scientist use to this day. Now turning towards the interconnectedness of philosophy with religion an example can be; in one of the earliest religious sites is dedicated to that of skulls and the nature of death. The religion itself doesn't have much knowledge other than the age old testament of why we die, but its still a profound question we ask ourselves to this day. You can take this same method of interconnectedness in reversal with the other two forms of knowledge being compared to the others. Now the contrasting factors are just as interesting. Such as the inability for a comprehensive understanding of miracles through the scientific lense. There are examples of this "mockery," being there as a core part of our being in all three forms of study as well. With that we will start with the examples within science.
We must first discuss the beginning of our existence as science describes, in an instantaneous expansion/expulsion of energy we gained space, time, and matter as a result. Now in order for any researcher to make a proper conclusion and or factual statement they must be able apply these three elements to their work. They must use a means of recording the information aka time. They must provide a place in which this experiment occured aka space finally; they must use the effects of physical objects, actions, and or numerical data to provide evidence. There are also examples of its interconnectedness to the other two despite oppositional standings. One such example is that; rituals such as bloodletting, ripping of hearts out, mummification, and potion making allowed for the transcendence of medicine, anatomy, and many more medical practices. Another example, but for philosophy is; when we used philosophy as a means to question the commonly believed scientific practices of multiple eras including the present. This allows/ed for the progression of ethics within the medical field, as well as create fields such as psychology. In essence science is the raw form of "mind," within our trinity; the physical representation of what can not be deciphered by the other two methods.
The next of the three we will delve into is that of philosophy. Philosophy has its connections within the other two methods of knowledge in a multitude if not the most ways out of the three. The following examples are just a few that I have chosen. One great example not yet discussed is; science, and its impact upon the understanding of the cosmos has made the philosophical question of "are we alone," and "what's my significance within it all." Another example but that of religious connectivity is the rise and fall of religions themselves. The best example is the change of pantheism into monotheism, the idea that; if there is a being of higher status, power, wisdom, intelligence etc. than others of its kind are the others truly within the same class or even the same kind of being. Philosophy in itself has trinities within their study as the other two do. One example is the Greek philosopher Pythagoras believed that the number 3 was the most significant number as it was that of perfection and represented harmony wisdom and understanding. In its representations philosophy can be Interpreted as the embodiment of " heart, " within the trinity; as it is what bridges the two methods with greatest disparity, and makes one think insightful as well as outwardly speak beyond the confines of scientific, and spiritual traditions.
The third representation of this " mocked ," trinity we have carved into the very code of our being is religion. Despite the contradictions religious, and scientific consensus there is over arching connections that can not be denied. One such example of their intertwining relationship is that of cosmic and mathematical studies. As mentioned before the Egyptians believed they gained their ability to use math from the God thoth, bit the belief isn't sufficient evidence for their true connection through math, and astrology. The mapping of celestial bodies were due to their relations with yhe divine such as their place of origin, the heavens, or even the physical embodiment of the gods themselves such of the planetary system and its connection with the Roman pantheon. Religion is also responsible for humanities and consequently sciences grasp of time and the recording of it. A great example is that ancient people would base their rituals around the natural rhythm of differing seasons, spacial phenomeno, and that of recording important cultural events. The impact of religion onto science is deep just as the other way around but their bridging partner philosophy; has very intimate connections as well. Though tons of examples are present for the twos intertwined relations a few examples are; that along of philosophers would use their religious beliefs to help shape, and nurture their philosophical ideals. It was also religion that began our want and urge to began asking ourselves what our origins are, what is our purpose as a species etc. Religion and its position within this " mockery ," could be best described as the soul of our markings. Though it is the most criticized part of knowledge for its lack of " evidence ," just like that of souls themselves. It still holds reverence and importance as without it we as humanity would've never asked ourselves those first important questions of internal insight as well as; did those physical rituals allowing for the progression into the many sciences' we have today.Throughout this I have quoted, and maintained this finding as a " mockery ," and there are many contradictions within the studies of the three themselves; this I will explain the reasoning behind in the following paragraph.
The term mockery as I use it; is the expression not of negative means such as we intend to offend anything such as a creator or ourselves as a species. In this sense the term is applied due to the very contradictions and disparities between the three. The three following tend to have arguments and disagreements within the studies; typically this discrepancy is the action cause by the want for truth. There are also fundamental contradictions as well such as; the process in which one conducts their actions in life, and the way in which one may perceive or be influenced within their daily ongoings. However; at the core without each of these three being accessible to humanity there would've been no virtual, or actual progression within our species. The reasoning it is a mockery rather than a true trinity is through the very definition of opposition the three have. A true trinity would be that of perfect balance however; due to all the differing factors said prior and the elements not seamlessly falling into one another there is an imbalance one that can sway what a humans progression through life may be.
In conclusion it's this authors opinion that we have a trinity one that is a mere mockery of what the truth we all are ferociously debating amongst ourselves is. until we are able to come to that one universal consensus we will be plagued with this mark of knowledge and its endless sea of questions.