Can aetna cover my abortion if i have a referral
justfuckmyshitup
2014.12.17 08:35 BlackStallion54 justfuckmyshitup
This subreddit is dedicated to jacked up haircuts from all walks of life.
2016.08.16 13:04 Skincare Addiction - Not a Dermatology Clinic!
This sub is a relaxed community to discuss skincare products and routines. Do NOT ask us to diagnose your acne/skin condition or advise on how to treat it. This is not a dermatology clinic!
2008.11.29 16:09 abortion
If you're pregnant and don't want to be, we can help you get an abortion. This is a pro-abortion, stigma-free space to ask questions, get information, and share your experiences.
2024.05.13 23:58 musical-amara Rip and Tear: A Decade of Doom
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.
submitted by musical-amara to Doom [link] [comments]
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.
2024.05.13 23:56 Competitive-Storm331 any tips for a neurodivergent who needs to save money?
Any tips for a very neurodivergent adult who needs to save?
I make $17 h 40 hr week. I grew up in a house where if my mom wanted it, she bought it. I didn't realize until I was an adult that she was actually living beyond her means to try to impress her friends... and now I have the same miserable habit/ addiction to shopping.
Shopping provides me with dopamine which fuels my ADHD so it's something I find myself passing off as a "necessity" when in actuality it isn't. I tend to convince myself I need it and it's a good "investment ". A new doormat or outfit from the TikTok shop is definitely not an investment of any kind.
I am not currently on my meds but even when I was, all of this was still a problem. So medication is not the fix, I'm looking for lifestyle changes or thought process changes to help better myself and my bf.
I'm not terrible with money but I never allow myself to accrue a substantial amount of savings. It's always only enough to barely cover a small emergency.
Being neurodivergent, I suffer with short term endeavors that end up costing money: hobbies, projects, reinventing myself, etc. I'm also, as my bf would say "a victim of 'spending money to make money'". I usually have these interests or skills that I know I'm really good or could be good at and I'll one day decide I can be successful at and I'll spend money to try to start a side hustle but then spend more than I make because I usually lose interest or someone discourages me and I become disheartened.
I'm looking for genuine constructive criticism, advice, tips, and or tricks. No generic comments like "do better" "stop spending" "work more so you can spend more" because those are.counter productive.
TL;DR I have severe ADHD and work a normal job making normal money, but my brain doesn't want a normal life where I have to save for a year just to have a few nice things. My ADHD makes me highly impulsive. I'm not on meds currently but when I was it was still the same. Im a victim of letting myself think I can spend money to make money with "get rich quick" mentality. I need advice from people who actually want to help.
submitted by Competitive-Storm331 to personalfinance [link] [comments]
I make $17 h 40 hr week. I grew up in a house where if my mom wanted it, she bought it. I didn't realize until I was an adult that she was actually living beyond her means to try to impress her friends... and now I have the same miserable habit/ addiction to shopping.
Shopping provides me with dopamine which fuels my ADHD so it's something I find myself passing off as a "necessity" when in actuality it isn't. I tend to convince myself I need it and it's a good "investment ". A new doormat or outfit from the TikTok shop is definitely not an investment of any kind.
I am not currently on my meds but even when I was, all of this was still a problem. So medication is not the fix, I'm looking for lifestyle changes or thought process changes to help better myself and my bf.
I'm not terrible with money but I never allow myself to accrue a substantial amount of savings. It's always only enough to barely cover a small emergency.
Being neurodivergent, I suffer with short term endeavors that end up costing money: hobbies, projects, reinventing myself, etc. I'm also, as my bf would say "a victim of 'spending money to make money'". I usually have these interests or skills that I know I'm really good or could be good at and I'll one day decide I can be successful at and I'll spend money to try to start a side hustle but then spend more than I make because I usually lose interest or someone discourages me and I become disheartened.
I'm looking for genuine constructive criticism, advice, tips, and or tricks. No generic comments like "do better" "stop spending" "work more so you can spend more" because those are.counter productive.
TL;DR I have severe ADHD and work a normal job making normal money, but my brain doesn't want a normal life where I have to save for a year just to have a few nice things. My ADHD makes me highly impulsive. I'm not on meds currently but when I was it was still the same. Im a victim of letting myself think I can spend money to make money with "get rich quick" mentality. I need advice from people who actually want to help.
2024.05.13 23:56 hxz006 Been sick for 14 months, family becoming unsupportive, probably offing myself next month
I (24M) was having a really good time February 2023. I passed got my Bachelor's degree, made plans to study Master's abroad, found a really good job there, enjoyed my hobbies and had fun with friends. Then I had a surgery (septoplasty and cysts removed) in March and my whole life collapsed. Started to feel sick and couldn't sleep. Simple daily activities became super difficult because of fatigue, balance issues and headaches. As I had depression and anxiety in the past, my doctor assumed all is psychosomatic and I was prescribed antidepressants and later antipscyhotics. I also went to therapy. They didn't make me feel better even a little bit, so I started investigating what could be wrong. Some doctors were supportive but couldn't figure out what's wrong, some tried to gaslight me that I'm fully healthy and just imagining it. Meanwhile, I developed GI and skin issues and regularly had a temperature for a few days. Despite these, I managed to work part-time and even passed some exams at the uni, but it felt like torture. Not because I didn't find it interesting, but bacause I was constantly feeling like shit.
Got tested for Lyme disease in November, positive. As doctors covered by my insurance had no clue and tried to gaslight me again that it's just a false positive, I went to an expensive specialist and was prescribed antibiotics and supplements. I went on unpaid leave from my work and took a break for this semester from uni. She told me that I will likely feel better by 4-6 months. The thing is, I don't. Now she says some patiens need a longer time to recover, it can be even years.
At the beginning, my parents were kind and supportive, but now they don't understand why I haven't recovered yet. They (mainly my mother) denies that I'm sick and my symptoms are real, doesn't seem to understand the concept of chronic illness and blames me for it: she constantly says things like it must be bacause I don't do enough exercise, stay inside too much and think negatively. Now, she is basically forcing me go back abroad and thinks that forcing myself to be as active as if I would be healthy will somehow cure me. She believes that being able to walk and read means nothing is wrong with me.
I can't deal with this. I have like 20 symtoms, 2 or 3 of them would already be really uncomfortable, but all of them together are debilitating. I can't imagine how I will work every week and study for exams with this much pain and fatigue. If I had a child dealing with a chronic illness, I would tell them it's okay if they are taking a break and having rest until they get better, and definitely wouldn't blame and shame them.
Facing a chronic illness with an uncertain outcome at a young age is depressing enough, but I feel that losing support from my family is the last straw. I will manage to get enough prescription drugs to off myself next month. I will rather do it than suffer alone in pain for nobody knows how long.
submitted by hxz006 to SuicideWatch [link] [comments]
Got tested for Lyme disease in November, positive. As doctors covered by my insurance had no clue and tried to gaslight me again that it's just a false positive, I went to an expensive specialist and was prescribed antibiotics and supplements. I went on unpaid leave from my work and took a break for this semester from uni. She told me that I will likely feel better by 4-6 months. The thing is, I don't. Now she says some patiens need a longer time to recover, it can be even years.
At the beginning, my parents were kind and supportive, but now they don't understand why I haven't recovered yet. They (mainly my mother) denies that I'm sick and my symptoms are real, doesn't seem to understand the concept of chronic illness and blames me for it: she constantly says things like it must be bacause I don't do enough exercise, stay inside too much and think negatively. Now, she is basically forcing me go back abroad and thinks that forcing myself to be as active as if I would be healthy will somehow cure me. She believes that being able to walk and read means nothing is wrong with me.
I can't deal with this. I have like 20 symtoms, 2 or 3 of them would already be really uncomfortable, but all of them together are debilitating. I can't imagine how I will work every week and study for exams with this much pain and fatigue. If I had a child dealing with a chronic illness, I would tell them it's okay if they are taking a break and having rest until they get better, and definitely wouldn't blame and shame them.
Facing a chronic illness with an uncertain outcome at a young age is depressing enough, but I feel that losing support from my family is the last straw. I will manage to get enough prescription drugs to off myself next month. I will rather do it than suffer alone in pain for nobody knows how long.
2024.05.13 23:52 PhilosophicIdiocracy [MN] Do I escalate, again?
I have been working at my current employer for 15 months. After the first calendar year, things have gone severely downhill. Even before that, they verbally tore down a project because they were not wanting to accept change. I stopped working on the project because I just wasn’t interested in being embarrassed in front of everyone. Manager didn’t encourage and didn’t shut it down.
I misstepped once. I take ownership for that. I didn’t know the managers were routing to me because they didn’t like working with her. she got jealous. Complained up the chain that she needs visibility on everything. I maliciously complianced her until she was overwhelmed and told me to remove her.
Even before the first year, they hung me out to dry repeatedly in front of managers. Everyone knows how they operate though and told me to take it in stride.
Our manager left. The seat has been open ever since almost approaching half a year later. (Red flag amirite?)
This coworker is my new supervisor but yet we report to the next leave together; so they can’t push me out. I see what our manager did now.
This coworker tried to push me out not even a week after our manager left. I documented. Escalated. They had their ass handed to them because they were doing me dirty by setting unclear unattainable goals. I forced them to restart the process and have intentionally been performing better to not give them an inch.
They laid off. Applied pressure. Laid off. Applied pressure. Rinse and repeat.
Compliments. Then insults. Then compliments. Then criticism - not constructive criticism.
Recently, they went after me in email essentially blaming me without blaming me for a perceived change outside of my control when the perceived change was their err of understanding. The way they came at me felt so unprofessional. “I only sent this because you said XYZ was ready. They told me it wasn’t.” I responded “it is ready. Refer to this email that confirms. I also have this other party confirming as well.”
They then realized they misread the email.
I don’t care if you misunderstand something. I don’t care if you got something wrong.
I care about how you react to the situation. They came at me ready to lay the dominos for me to be fired, claws ready to harm. I had to CMA (cover my ass) for a perceived mistake that wasn’t a mistake. It took them awhile to understand they were misreading something. When they talk to me in emails, they have horseblinders on. You can tell. It takes other people to repeat what I’m saying for them to understand.
We have a very convoluted hiring practice. It makes no sense. There’s too much reliance on other people to get any real work done.
Even though the task (XYZ) was done; there was a second portion that needed to be completed. They told me in the past to always check in with them before doing this portion so they can track it. I emailed them if I can send the second portion over. They again completely misunderstood the email. I have to re-explain our hiring practices to them. They were the ones that told me the hiring practice they want. I’ve been following that and it’s never changed. I asked if I can complete XYZ, an external function. They asked about an internal function, again, misunderstanding. It’s like I tell you the grass is green and they just say “huh?”
It reminds me of my grandparents when they had on-set dementia where they had to have stuff repeated. I’m not saying twice. It’s been happening a lot more recently. They’re completely checked out in their emails and have literally no idea what’s going on. They get frustrated that they feel like they have to Baby sit me but they were the ones that told me how they want my behavior to occur and they are my day-day supervisor.
I already escalated once. It was my bad chess-move saying to them that I told our leader we’re getting on the right path. They immediately started to dig and dig at me.
My performance review is coming up. I’m wondering if I should highlight this instance to our leader and say that the coworker came at me unwarranted because they perceived that I made a mistake; immediately. Yet, when I proved I didn’t… they’re ghost.
I know they’re waiting for me to mess up cause they’ve already tried to push me out twice but I caught them both times.
I’m leaving at the end of the year. I just have five more months. Part of the time, I want to tell them “lay off me; I’m leaving in five months.” But I know that will count as a notice and I’m out of a job. I can’t afford that.
Market is shit. I’ve been applying.
We have a 2nd round of layoffs in August. I’m kind of hoping I’m in the layoffs to get some severance and a small break.
How can I stick it out? Is it worth it to bring up? Do I just let it roll off? I would be escalating a 2nd time which may involve me also losing my job as well.
What do I do?
submitted by PhilosophicIdiocracy to AskHR [link] [comments]
I misstepped once. I take ownership for that. I didn’t know the managers were routing to me because they didn’t like working with her. she got jealous. Complained up the chain that she needs visibility on everything. I maliciously complianced her until she was overwhelmed and told me to remove her.
Even before the first year, they hung me out to dry repeatedly in front of managers. Everyone knows how they operate though and told me to take it in stride.
Our manager left. The seat has been open ever since almost approaching half a year later. (Red flag amirite?)
This coworker is my new supervisor but yet we report to the next leave together; so they can’t push me out. I see what our manager did now.
This coworker tried to push me out not even a week after our manager left. I documented. Escalated. They had their ass handed to them because they were doing me dirty by setting unclear unattainable goals. I forced them to restart the process and have intentionally been performing better to not give them an inch.
They laid off. Applied pressure. Laid off. Applied pressure. Rinse and repeat.
Compliments. Then insults. Then compliments. Then criticism - not constructive criticism.
Recently, they went after me in email essentially blaming me without blaming me for a perceived change outside of my control when the perceived change was their err of understanding. The way they came at me felt so unprofessional. “I only sent this because you said XYZ was ready. They told me it wasn’t.” I responded “it is ready. Refer to this email that confirms. I also have this other party confirming as well.”
They then realized they misread the email.
I don’t care if you misunderstand something. I don’t care if you got something wrong.
I care about how you react to the situation. They came at me ready to lay the dominos for me to be fired, claws ready to harm. I had to CMA (cover my ass) for a perceived mistake that wasn’t a mistake. It took them awhile to understand they were misreading something. When they talk to me in emails, they have horseblinders on. You can tell. It takes other people to repeat what I’m saying for them to understand.
We have a very convoluted hiring practice. It makes no sense. There’s too much reliance on other people to get any real work done.
Even though the task (XYZ) was done; there was a second portion that needed to be completed. They told me in the past to always check in with them before doing this portion so they can track it. I emailed them if I can send the second portion over. They again completely misunderstood the email. I have to re-explain our hiring practices to them. They were the ones that told me the hiring practice they want. I’ve been following that and it’s never changed. I asked if I can complete XYZ, an external function. They asked about an internal function, again, misunderstanding. It’s like I tell you the grass is green and they just say “huh?”
It reminds me of my grandparents when they had on-set dementia where they had to have stuff repeated. I’m not saying twice. It’s been happening a lot more recently. They’re completely checked out in their emails and have literally no idea what’s going on. They get frustrated that they feel like they have to Baby sit me but they were the ones that told me how they want my behavior to occur and they are my day-day supervisor.
I already escalated once. It was my bad chess-move saying to them that I told our leader we’re getting on the right path. They immediately started to dig and dig at me.
My performance review is coming up. I’m wondering if I should highlight this instance to our leader and say that the coworker came at me unwarranted because they perceived that I made a mistake; immediately. Yet, when I proved I didn’t… they’re ghost.
I know they’re waiting for me to mess up cause they’ve already tried to push me out twice but I caught them both times.
I’m leaving at the end of the year. I just have five more months. Part of the time, I want to tell them “lay off me; I’m leaving in five months.” But I know that will count as a notice and I’m out of a job. I can’t afford that.
Market is shit. I’ve been applying.
We have a 2nd round of layoffs in August. I’m kind of hoping I’m in the layoffs to get some severance and a small break.
How can I stick it out? Is it worth it to bring up? Do I just let it roll off? I would be escalating a 2nd time which may involve me also losing my job as well.
What do I do?
2024.05.13 23:51 helpanonplease Dell Latitude 3420 Will Only Charge at Certain Angle
Hi. I have a Dell Latitude 3420 for 18 months. The charger, for approximately a month now, will not charge the laptop, unless the charger is placed/held at a specific angle (normally at a tight strained angle), it is getting worse as time goes on. There is no visible damage.
It is not a charger issue as the charger charges other Dell laptops. My wifi will also sometimes randomly switch off and will not come back on unless I restart the laptop, but I do not know if this is related. This is not my main priority at the moment. The problem persists with other Dell chargers.
I called warranty and they said it would require an out of warranty repair, needing a whole motherboard replacement, this would be approx. 260 pounds, but a repair shop I contacted said the issue is a simple fix and will only require a replacement charger port for approx. 30 pounds plus labour. I am based in UK if this makes a difference.
Is the other place scamming me? Will this actually likely fix the issue, or will it break again in like 2 weeks, and if the other place is genuine/it only requires a port changeout, why would Dell state a. the issue is too severe to be covered by warranty and b. that the whole motherboard needs to be replaced for close to what the laptop cost if it is such an easy to fix issue (I am certain it must be a common issue as well as I had the same issue happen to a HP laptop about 10 years ago).
Can anyone advise?
submitted by helpanonplease to techsupport [link] [comments]
It is not a charger issue as the charger charges other Dell laptops. My wifi will also sometimes randomly switch off and will not come back on unless I restart the laptop, but I do not know if this is related. This is not my main priority at the moment. The problem persists with other Dell chargers.
I called warranty and they said it would require an out of warranty repair, needing a whole motherboard replacement, this would be approx. 260 pounds, but a repair shop I contacted said the issue is a simple fix and will only require a replacement charger port for approx. 30 pounds plus labour. I am based in UK if this makes a difference.
Is the other place scamming me? Will this actually likely fix the issue, or will it break again in like 2 weeks, and if the other place is genuine/it only requires a port changeout, why would Dell state a. the issue is too severe to be covered by warranty and b. that the whole motherboard needs to be replaced for close to what the laptop cost if it is such an easy to fix issue (I am certain it must be a common issue as well as I had the same issue happen to a HP laptop about 10 years ago).
Can anyone advise?
2024.05.13 23:48 Old_Intactivist Citizens were randomly hanged and shot: The eyewitness testimony of Alice Campbell and others
Introduction to Chapter 8 ("Heralded by Columns of Smoke: Pee Dee River to Fayetteville, North Carolina"):
"Once across the Pee Dee River, General Sherman's army marched in the direction of Fayetteville.
"Resistance from Confederate cavalry under Generals Hampton, Butler and Wheeler was steady and continuous. Wheeler attacked at Rockingham on March 7, and Hampton surprised and captured Kilpatrick's camp on March 10. But Sherman's army marched steadily on.
"General Joseph E. Johnston, with headquarters at Fayetteville, was following General Lee's first instruction, 'Concentrate all available forces.' He moved his headquarters to Raleigh and directed the assembling of his army to Smithfield.
"Eighty-four years earlier, in January of 1781, North Carolina had suffered another march by an invading army. Lord Cornwallis and his army followed almost the same route on their way to Wilmington. This army had come three thousand miles to put down 'a rebellion'; and to pursue retreating 'rebels' through a wild and thinly scattered country. His army had passed through Cross Creek, which was now called Fayetteville.
"'Sherman, with his hordes of depraved and lawless men, came upon us like swarms of bees, bringing sorrow and desolation in their pathway. For days we had been expecting them, and our loved boys in grey had been passing through in squads, looking ragged and hungry. We gave them food and clothing, especially shoes and socks, for many of them were bare-footed. The enemy seemed to be pouring in by every road that led to our doomed little town. Our Cavalry were contending every step, firing and falling back, covering the retreat of our gallant little band, Hardee's forces, with General Wade Hampton, Butler, and others -- the scene in our town baffled description, all was consternation and dismay. In less time than I can write this, Sherman's army was in possession of our once peaceful, quiet homes. Every yard and every house was teeming with the bummers, who went into our homes -- no place was sacred; they even went into our trunks and bureau draws, stealing everything they could find; our entire premises were ransacked and plundered, so there was nothing left for us to eat, but perhaps a little meal and peas. Chickens, and in fact all poultry was shot down and taken off with all else. We all knew our silver, jewelry and all valuables would fall into their hands, so many women hid them in such places as they thought would never be found ....
''They went into homes that were beautiful, rolled elegant pianos into the yard with valuable furniture, china, cut glass, and everything that was dear to the heart, even old family portraits, and chopped them up with axes -- rolled barrels of flour and molasses into the parlors, and poured out their contents on beautiful velvet carpets, in many cases set fire to lovely homes and burned them to the ground, and even took some of our old citizens and hanged them until life was nearly extinct, to force them to tell where their money was hidden; when alas! they had none to hide. They burned our factories, and we had a number of them, also many large warehouses, filled with homespun, and dwellings, banks, stores and other buildings, so that the nights were made hideous with dense smoke and firelight in every direction. The crowning point to this terrible nightmare of destruction was the burning and battering down of our beautiful and grandly magnificent Arsenal, which was our pride, and the showplace of our town.
''On our vacant lot behind our home .... were a number of Confederate prisoners who had been captured by Sherman's army, and placed there under guard. They numbered about one hundred, I think. They were hatless and shoeless and ragged ....'
"One of General Howard's young officers chose to stay in the home of Sally Hawthorne whose father and uncle owned two large cotton mills in Fayetteville. General Howard appropriated one of her uncle's houses and his men camped in the surrounding fields and grounds."For five days, Sally, her mother who 'refused to leave her room,' her father, and a houseful of young brothers and sisters and servants were under strict orders from the officers of invasion.
"'Never will I forget,' said the little girl, Sally, whose story follows."
--------------------------------------------
"'Those last days were busy ones for General Sherman and his staff. The beautiful arsenal was destroyed and, as it happened, several private residences also caught fire and burned down, no help being given to save them, and the helpless owners rescued little, thankful to escape with their lives. Also the office of the town paper was blown up, as the editor was an especially obnoxious person in the eyes of the invading army, having waged a bitter fight against the North, and as his office was in the centre of the business part of town, more buildings were burned. (2) Then came the last day of the occupation; the troops were gathering and horses and supplies were being moved. All horses found there were taken along and many in the surrounding country were rounded up. Then there were the warehouses of cotton and rosin. The cotton was brought out, the barrels of rosin piled on them, and all set afire in the street. If houses caught, they burned, and that was all; many did. So a pall of black smoke hung over everything and the people were in a sad state of excitement and nervous exhaustion. As many houses were without a man to help or advise, the men of the family having been killed or being still in the army, the women and children were alone with the servants. The servants, with very few exceptions, proved true to their trust; they had been left to take care of the mistress and children in the master's absence, and though much excited, and sometimes frightened, they looked after the household faithfully. Of course there were some foolish and giddy young men and women who followed the army as it moved on from place to place, but they were the exception, not the rule ....'
"'No spot seemed safe from Sherman's bummers, but homes in the country or suburbs usually suffered more keenly than those in a town or city. The experiences of an unidentified woman who lived near Fayetteville were shared by many neighbors who were visited by the men from Sherman's army."
---------------------------------------------
<< Fayetteville, N.C., March 22, 1865 >>
".... Sherman has gone and terrible has been the storm that has swept over us with his coming and going. They deliberately shot two of our citizens -- murdered them in cold blood -- one of them a Mr. Murphy, a wounded soldier, Confederate States Army. They hung up three others and one lady, merely letting them down just in time to save life, in order to make them tell where their valuables were concealed; and they whipped -- stripped and cowhided --several good and well known citizens for the same purpose.
"There was no place, no chamber, trunk, drawer, desk, garret, closet or cellar that was private to their unholy eyes. Their rude hands spared nothing but our lives, and those they would have taken but they knew that therein they would accomplish the death of a few helpless women and children -- they would not in the least degree break or bend the spirit of our people. Squad after squad unceasingly came and went and tramped through the halls and rooms of our house day and night during the entire stay of the army.'
"At our house they killed every chicken, goose, turkey, cow, calf and every living thing, even to our pet dog. They carried off our wagons, carriage and horses, and broke up our buggy, wheelbarrow, garden implements, axes, hatchets, hammers, saws, and burned the fences. Our smokehouse and pantry, that a few days ago were well stored with bacon, lard, flour, dried fruit, meal, pickles, preserves, etc., now contain nothing whatever except a few pounds of meal and flour and five pounds of bacon. They took from old men, women and children alike, every garment of wearing apparel save what we had on, not even sparing the napkins of infants! Blankets, sheets, quilts, &c., such as it did not suit them to take away they tore to pieces before our eyes. After destroying everything we had, and taking from us every morsel of food (save the pittance I have mentioned), one of these barbarians had to add insult to injury by asking me 'what you (I) would live upon now?' I replied, 'Upon patriotism; I will exist upon the love of my country as long as life will last, and then I will die as firm in that love as the everlasting hills.
''Oh,' says he, ' but we shall soon subjugate the rebellion, and you will then have no country to love.
''Never!' I interrupted, 'never! you and your blood-handed countrymen may make the whole of this beautiful land one vast graveyard but its people will never be subjugated. Every man, woman and child of us will sleep quietly in honourable graves, but we will never live dishonourable lives .....'"
"When Sherman Came: Southern Women and the 'Great March'" by Katharine M. Jones (1964). Chapter 8: "Heralded by Columns of Smoke: Pee Dee River to Fayetteville, North Carolina." New York: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc. Pages 273-286.
submitted by Old_Intactivist to TheConfederateView [link] [comments]
"Once across the Pee Dee River, General Sherman's army marched in the direction of Fayetteville.
"Resistance from Confederate cavalry under Generals Hampton, Butler and Wheeler was steady and continuous. Wheeler attacked at Rockingham on March 7, and Hampton surprised and captured Kilpatrick's camp on March 10. But Sherman's army marched steadily on.
"General Joseph E. Johnston, with headquarters at Fayetteville, was following General Lee's first instruction, 'Concentrate all available forces.' He moved his headquarters to Raleigh and directed the assembling of his army to Smithfield.
"Eighty-four years earlier, in January of 1781, North Carolina had suffered another march by an invading army. Lord Cornwallis and his army followed almost the same route on their way to Wilmington. This army had come three thousand miles to put down 'a rebellion'; and to pursue retreating 'rebels' through a wild and thinly scattered country. His army had passed through Cross Creek, which was now called Fayetteville.
"On March 11, General Sherman and his army entered this town. 'We have swept the country well,' he reported. 'The men and animals are in fine condition.'"
"Miss Alice Campbell was President of the Fayetteville Knitting Society when Colonel A. H. Hickenlooper, of Sherman's army, chose her home for his five-day sojourn. Bummers also visited her."''They went into homes that were beautiful, rolled elegant pianos into the yard with valuable furniture, china, cut glass, and everything that was dear to the heart, even old family portraits, and chopped them up with axes -- rolled barrels of flour and molasses into the parlors, and poured out their contents on beautiful velvet carpets, in many cases set fire to lovely homes and burned them to the ground, and even took some of our old citizens and hanged them until life was nearly extinct, to force them to tell where their money was hidden; when alas! they had none to hide. They burned our factories, and we had a number of them, also many large warehouses, filled with homespun, and dwellings, banks, stores and other buildings, so that the nights were made hideous with dense smoke and firelight in every direction. The crowning point to this terrible nightmare of destruction was the burning and battering down of our beautiful and grandly magnificent Arsenal, which was our pride, and the showplace of our town.
''On our vacant lot behind our home .... were a number of Confederate prisoners who had been captured by Sherman's army, and placed there under guard. They numbered about one hundred, I think. They were hatless and shoeless and ragged ....'
"'Never will I forget,' said the little girl, Sally, whose story follows."
--------------------------------------------
"'Those last days were busy ones for General Sherman and his staff. The beautiful arsenal was destroyed and, as it happened, several private residences also caught fire and burned down, no help being given to save them, and the helpless owners rescued little, thankful to escape with their lives. Also the office of the town paper was blown up, as the editor was an especially obnoxious person in the eyes of the invading army, having waged a bitter fight against the North, and as his office was in the centre of the business part of town, more buildings were burned. (2) Then came the last day of the occupation; the troops were gathering and horses and supplies were being moved. All horses found there were taken along and many in the surrounding country were rounded up. Then there were the warehouses of cotton and rosin. The cotton was brought out, the barrels of rosin piled on them, and all set afire in the street. If houses caught, they burned, and that was all; many did. So a pall of black smoke hung over everything and the people were in a sad state of excitement and nervous exhaustion. As many houses were without a man to help or advise, the men of the family having been killed or being still in the army, the women and children were alone with the servants. The servants, with very few exceptions, proved true to their trust; they had been left to take care of the mistress and children in the master's absence, and though much excited, and sometimes frightened, they looked after the household faithfully. Of course there were some foolish and giddy young men and women who followed the army as it moved on from place to place, but they were the exception, not the rule ....'
---------------------------------------------
<< Fayetteville, N.C., March 22, 1865 >>
".... Sherman has gone and terrible has been the storm that has swept over us with his coming and going. They deliberately shot two of our citizens -- murdered them in cold blood -- one of them a Mr. Murphy, a wounded soldier, Confederate States Army. They hung up three others and one lady, merely letting them down just in time to save life, in order to make them tell where their valuables were concealed; and they whipped -- stripped and cowhided --several good and well known citizens for the same purpose.
"There was no place, no chamber, trunk, drawer, desk, garret, closet or cellar that was private to their unholy eyes. Their rude hands spared nothing but our lives, and those they would have taken but they knew that therein they would accomplish the death of a few helpless women and children -- they would not in the least degree break or bend the spirit of our people. Squad after squad unceasingly came and went and tramped through the halls and rooms of our house day and night during the entire stay of the army.'
"At our house they killed every chicken, goose, turkey, cow, calf and every living thing, even to our pet dog. They carried off our wagons, carriage and horses, and broke up our buggy, wheelbarrow, garden implements, axes, hatchets, hammers, saws, and burned the fences. Our smokehouse and pantry, that a few days ago were well stored with bacon, lard, flour, dried fruit, meal, pickles, preserves, etc., now contain nothing whatever except a few pounds of meal and flour and five pounds of bacon. They took from old men, women and children alike, every garment of wearing apparel save what we had on, not even sparing the napkins of infants! Blankets, sheets, quilts, &c., such as it did not suit them to take away they tore to pieces before our eyes. After destroying everything we had, and taking from us every morsel of food (save the pittance I have mentioned), one of these barbarians had to add insult to injury by asking me 'what you (I) would live upon now?' I replied, 'Upon patriotism; I will exist upon the love of my country as long as life will last, and then I will die as firm in that love as the everlasting hills.
''Oh,' says he, ' but we shall soon subjugate the rebellion, and you will then have no country to love.
''Never!' I interrupted, 'never! you and your blood-handed countrymen may make the whole of this beautiful land one vast graveyard but its people will never be subjugated. Every man, woman and child of us will sleep quietly in honourable graves, but we will never live dishonourable lives .....'"
2024.05.13 23:46 helpanonplease Dell Latitude 3420 Will Only Charge at Certain Angle
Hi. I have a Dell Latitude 3420 for 18 months. The charger, for approximately a month now, will not charge the laptop, unless the charger is placed/held at a specific angle (normally at a tight strained angle), it is getting worse as time goes on. There is no visible damage.
It is not a charger issue as the charger charges other Dell laptops. My wifi will also sometimes randomly switch off and will not come back on unless I restart the laptop, but I do not know if this is related. This is not my main priority at the moment. The problem persists with other Dell chargers.
I called warranty and they said it would require an out of warranty repair, needing a whole motherboard replacement, but a repair shop I contacted said the issue is a simple fix and will only require a replacement charger port for 1/10th of the price Dell said it would cost. I am based in UK if this makes a difference. Is the other place scamming me? Will this actually likely fix the issue, and if yes, why would Dell state a. the issue is too severe to be covered by warranty and b. that the whole motherboard needs to be replaced for what the laptop basically cost if it is such an easy to fix issue?
Can anyone advise?
submitted by helpanonplease to Dell [link] [comments]
It is not a charger issue as the charger charges other Dell laptops. My wifi will also sometimes randomly switch off and will not come back on unless I restart the laptop, but I do not know if this is related. This is not my main priority at the moment. The problem persists with other Dell chargers.
I called warranty and they said it would require an out of warranty repair, needing a whole motherboard replacement, but a repair shop I contacted said the issue is a simple fix and will only require a replacement charger port for 1/10th of the price Dell said it would cost. I am based in UK if this makes a difference. Is the other place scamming me? Will this actually likely fix the issue, and if yes, why would Dell state a. the issue is too severe to be covered by warranty and b. that the whole motherboard needs to be replaced for what the laptop basically cost if it is such an easy to fix issue?
Can anyone advise?
2024.05.13 23:45 Apprehensive-Fox1635 Recommendations
Looking for a new home insurance and possibly car insurance that won't screw you when you make a claim.
My husband and I previously used State Farm and they were fine until it was time to file a claim against our homeowners insurance. Completely ridiculous behavior from them. Had multiple inspectors come out and not bring the proper equipment to inspect a chimney for damage. All the paperwork was delayed by the broker that left the country for weeks at a time without anyone to cover her work or any notice to my husband. The list goes on and on.
I've heard good things about Chub and USAA. I have an old account with USAA and used them in my first marriage but never had to make a claim.
If anyone can throw some places out there it would be greatly appreciated.
submitted by Apprehensive-Fox1635 to Insurance [link] [comments]
My husband and I previously used State Farm and they were fine until it was time to file a claim against our homeowners insurance. Completely ridiculous behavior from them. Had multiple inspectors come out and not bring the proper equipment to inspect a chimney for damage. All the paperwork was delayed by the broker that left the country for weeks at a time without anyone to cover her work or any notice to my husband. The list goes on and on.
I've heard good things about Chub and USAA. I have an old account with USAA and used them in my first marriage but never had to make a claim.
If anyone can throw some places out there it would be greatly appreciated.
2024.05.13 23:45 not_dmr Advice for someone looking to get in from outside the industry
Yet another long noob career advice post, sorry in advance. Any help is graciously appreciated.
Context
I got my undergrad degree last year with a double-major in history and computer science. I’m now working full-time as a software engineer and it’s a pretty good gig, but I don’t think it’s the right career for me in the long run. I really miss using the critical thinking, investigative, and storytelling skills I used for the history part of my degree.
I think my ideal fit would be some flavor of using technology to do journalism and/or doing journalism about technology, as a way to blend both skill sets I’ve developed. I just need to figure out how to start bending my career path in that direction.
Deeper background (skip if desired)
I only started thinking about this path during my senior year so didn’t have time to develop a portfolio for the school newspaper or anything like that. I did publish one op-ed in the school paper junior year that had some bearing on this technical beat, but I also recognize the difference between opinion and journalism, so I’m not sure how much that’s worth.
For my senior thesis I wrote about the history of the commodification of personal data (basically a deeper look at how we developed an economy where your information is worth money to Facebook, Google, etc) which gets at that space of covering technology and society. I’m really proud of it and it got summa cum laude honors, but it’s not published anywhere.
I also got another history paper published in an undergrad history journal which isn’t super relevant but hopefully at least shows that I can write and go through an editing process.
It seems like the value journalism grad school is fairly divisive. That’s an option I’m considering for a couple years down the road, but would also appreciate any advice relevant to my situation that would help set me up for success there (both in admissions and then actually getting it done).
The ask
The advice I’ve seen very often on here is to build up clips, which makes sense. But how do I start that from zero? I don’t imagine I’ll have much luck pitching freelance stories without some portfolio to back them up, so it feels rather chicken-and-egg. I could start a blog or something like that, but it again feels like it might be tough to get sources to take me seriously without a real “name” backing me. Any advice or insight here?
Then there’s also the fact that with no journalism training I don’t really know what I’m doing, and I’m concerned that putting out bad work, even unintentionally, will put me in an even worse situation than having no work. How can I mitigate this concern?
Lastly, I’m also concerned about my pace of output. With my actual job and other commitments, I don’t think I’ll be able to put out more than one piece a month, if even that. These would hopefully be more substantial articles rather than short-form breaking news sort of stuff. How much would slow/sporadic output matter if I’m doing this as a side project?
Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!
submitted by not_dmr to Journalism [link] [comments]
Context
I got my undergrad degree last year with a double-major in history and computer science. I’m now working full-time as a software engineer and it’s a pretty good gig, but I don’t think it’s the right career for me in the long run. I really miss using the critical thinking, investigative, and storytelling skills I used for the history part of my degree.
I think my ideal fit would be some flavor of using technology to do journalism and/or doing journalism about technology, as a way to blend both skill sets I’ve developed. I just need to figure out how to start bending my career path in that direction.
Deeper background (skip if desired)
I only started thinking about this path during my senior year so didn’t have time to develop a portfolio for the school newspaper or anything like that. I did publish one op-ed in the school paper junior year that had some bearing on this technical beat, but I also recognize the difference between opinion and journalism, so I’m not sure how much that’s worth.
For my senior thesis I wrote about the history of the commodification of personal data (basically a deeper look at how we developed an economy where your information is worth money to Facebook, Google, etc) which gets at that space of covering technology and society. I’m really proud of it and it got summa cum laude honors, but it’s not published anywhere.
I also got another history paper published in an undergrad history journal which isn’t super relevant but hopefully at least shows that I can write and go through an editing process.
It seems like the value journalism grad school is fairly divisive. That’s an option I’m considering for a couple years down the road, but would also appreciate any advice relevant to my situation that would help set me up for success there (both in admissions and then actually getting it done).
The ask
The advice I’ve seen very often on here is to build up clips, which makes sense. But how do I start that from zero? I don’t imagine I’ll have much luck pitching freelance stories without some portfolio to back them up, so it feels rather chicken-and-egg. I could start a blog or something like that, but it again feels like it might be tough to get sources to take me seriously without a real “name” backing me. Any advice or insight here?
Then there’s also the fact that with no journalism training I don’t really know what I’m doing, and I’m concerned that putting out bad work, even unintentionally, will put me in an even worse situation than having no work. How can I mitigate this concern?
Lastly, I’m also concerned about my pace of output. With my actual job and other commitments, I don’t think I’ll be able to put out more than one piece a month, if even that. These would hopefully be more substantial articles rather than short-form breaking news sort of stuff. How much would slow/sporadic output matter if I’m doing this as a side project?
Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!
2024.05.13 23:43 Apprehensive_Pie_786 Having your partner advocate for you during birth?
I have seen a few different articles and videos online that suggest I should talk to my partner about what I want out of our birthing experience and how he can advocate for me if I become unable to advocate for myself.
I am almost 38 weeks and we have talked about the obvious stuff - not wanting an epidural unless the labor is extremely prolonged or not progressing, having as natural a birth as possible, partner following the baby when he is taken out of the room, and no visitors.
What other scenarios have you experienced where you wish your partner had advocated for you at a time when you couldn’t? Or you wish he knew what you wanted for questions the nurses asked? We just want to cover all our bases before baby makes his big debut, but honestly don’t know what to expect.
Any recommendations or experiences would be great!
submitted by Apprehensive_Pie_786 to pregnant [link] [comments]
I am almost 38 weeks and we have talked about the obvious stuff - not wanting an epidural unless the labor is extremely prolonged or not progressing, having as natural a birth as possible, partner following the baby when he is taken out of the room, and no visitors.
What other scenarios have you experienced where you wish your partner had advocated for you at a time when you couldn’t? Or you wish he knew what you wanted for questions the nurses asked? We just want to cover all our bases before baby makes his big debut, but honestly don’t know what to expect.
Any recommendations or experiences would be great!
2024.05.13 23:42 New-Ambition9897 Pathological liar friend..
I had this male friend for 2 years now and I enjoy the fun we have but the lying is concerning me. At first I thought it was just because I was new and he wanted to impress me but I’m no one to impress or at least I try my best to make ppl feel that way. I want all my friendships to be authentic and genuine, it’s towards the point I feel like we can’t have a regular conversation without him lying unprovoked. He lies about little things & some bizarre shit like one time we were just talking and he goes “my body hurts” so I asked why & he proceeded to say “I got jumped by Italians bc I didn’t pay them”… 😐. Every time he lies I don’t engage or indulge much to show him that I know he’s lying but that doesn’t seem to stop him. In fact he goes on and it’s kind of embarrassing bc why are you just lying? When I first met him he lied about having multiple cars and crashing them(idk if crashing was a lie) but his recent lie was that he crashed otw to an event and ignored my calls only to answer hours later in his bed saying “My body hurts, I was at the hospital but I left… anyways what you doing tomorrow?”. ??? He’s told me more that I suspect are lies bc the stories just don’t add up but they are more severe (death) so I won’t go into them. I really like him as a friend bc he’s helpful and we have fun but the lying is crazy and idk what to do. He tells me how his own girlfriend and family think he’s a liar and I told him I thought so too jokingly but I didn’t go into detail bc when you confront liars all they’re going to do is try to cover their ass with more lies. What would you do in this situation?
submitted by New-Ambition9897 to Advice [link] [comments]
2024.05.13 23:42 Competitive-Storm331 Any tips for a very neurodivergent adult who needs to save?
I make $17 h 40 hr week. I grew up in a house where if my mom wanted it, she bought it. I didn't realize until I was an adult that she was actually living beyond her means to try to impress her friends... and now I have the same miserable habit/ addiction to shopping.
Shopping provides me with dopamine which fuels my ADHD so it's something I find myself passing off as a "necessity" when in actuality it isn't. I tend to convince myself I need it and it's a good "investment ". A new doormat or outfit from the TikTok shop is definitely not an investment of any kind.
I am not currently on my meds but even when I was, all of this was still a problem. So medication is not the fix, I'm looking for lifestyle changes or thought process changes to help better myself and my bf.
I'm not terrible with money but I never allow myself to accrue a substantial amount of savings. It's always only enough to barely cover a small emergency.
Being neurodivergent, I suffer with short term endeavors that end up costing money: hobbies, projects, reinventing myself, etc. I'm also, as my bf would say "a victim of 'spending money to make money'". I usually have these interests or skills that I know I'm really good or could be good at and I'll one day decide I can be successful at and I'll spend money to try to start a side hustle but then spend more than I make because I usually lose interest or someone discourages me and I become disheartened.
I'm looking for genuine constructive criticism, advice, tips, and or tricks. No generic comments like "do better" "stop spending" "work more so you can spend more" because those are.counter productive.
TL;DR I have severe ADHD and work a normal job making normal money, but my brain doesn't want a normal life where I have to save for a year just to have a few nice things. My ADHD makes me highly impulsive. I'm not on meds currently but when I was it was still the same. Im a victim of letting myself think I can spend money to make money with "get rich quick" mentality. I need advice from people who actually want to help.
submitted by Competitive-Storm331 to FinancialPlanning [link] [comments]
Shopping provides me with dopamine which fuels my ADHD so it's something I find myself passing off as a "necessity" when in actuality it isn't. I tend to convince myself I need it and it's a good "investment ". A new doormat or outfit from the TikTok shop is definitely not an investment of any kind.
I am not currently on my meds but even when I was, all of this was still a problem. So medication is not the fix, I'm looking for lifestyle changes or thought process changes to help better myself and my bf.
I'm not terrible with money but I never allow myself to accrue a substantial amount of savings. It's always only enough to barely cover a small emergency.
Being neurodivergent, I suffer with short term endeavors that end up costing money: hobbies, projects, reinventing myself, etc. I'm also, as my bf would say "a victim of 'spending money to make money'". I usually have these interests or skills that I know I'm really good or could be good at and I'll one day decide I can be successful at and I'll spend money to try to start a side hustle but then spend more than I make because I usually lose interest or someone discourages me and I become disheartened.
I'm looking for genuine constructive criticism, advice, tips, and or tricks. No generic comments like "do better" "stop spending" "work more so you can spend more" because those are.counter productive.
TL;DR I have severe ADHD and work a normal job making normal money, but my brain doesn't want a normal life where I have to save for a year just to have a few nice things. My ADHD makes me highly impulsive. I'm not on meds currently but when I was it was still the same. Im a victim of letting myself think I can spend money to make money with "get rich quick" mentality. I need advice from people who actually want to help.
2024.05.13 23:40 w00dglue Am I overreacting?
I returned to work from maternity leave in January 2024. I'm pumping at work. There are two dedicated pumping rooms, which is great. One is on the first floor; the other is on the second floor. I was using the first floor room because it has a big counter and a sink so I can wash my hands and pump parts right there.
I went to use the first floor room one day, and our building maintenance crew was doing construction nearby. They had clearly used the sink to wash their tools and paint brushes/rollers. There was a layer of white covering the sink and counters. I did not feel comfortable pumping there, so I emailed our HR team that the room was dirty and was being used by maintenance for some reason. I got an email back just informing me there was a second room (which was the first time I learned about it). Great.
So I start using the second floor room. I work in a large, metro area courthouse. Several women had babies this past year, and I know I'm not the only one pumping at work. Well, a few weeks go by and I realize the trash is starting to pile up and the floor clearly needs vacuumed. I emailed our HR team and politely asked if we could have the night cleaning crews start cleaning them. They responded that they would let the know.
Two weeks go by. The second floor room had not been touched. I emailed HR again asking if we could have them cleaned. They said they would let them know.
I come in after the weekend and decide to go down to the first floor room since it has the sink. I go to use it and there are two signs posted - one on the door and one on the cabinets in the room above the sink - that says "THIS ROOM IS FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE. Please keep it clean"
I'm pretty ticked off. Those signs were not there before I asked to have them cleaned. To me, it seems to imply that my employer is doing me a favor by providing me a room, when it's actually a requirement as part of a federal law. It just seemed passive aggressive to me and like they think that we trashed the room when really it was a mix of maintenance cleaning dirty tools and paint supplies in the sinks and then months of trash just piling up.
I'm annoyed and upset and am trying to sleep on it while I figure out if/how to address it. Do I email HR and ask them about the sign? Do I l match the pettiness and laminate a copy of the federal pump act and post it next to it? Do I ask them to clarify on how they want us to keep the rooms clean and ask for cleaning supplies?
I should also note that our HR person is notorious for being incredibly rude, unprofessional, and quite possibly the most impersonal person to ever work in HR; so I'm not expecting her to respond in a professional manner if I do bring this up.
Anyways, am I overreacting to this? I just feel like being a working mom is already hard enough without having to feel like I'm a burden on my employer for being provided a clean place to be able to pump to feed my baby.
submitted by w00dglue to workingmoms [link] [comments]
I went to use the first floor room one day, and our building maintenance crew was doing construction nearby. They had clearly used the sink to wash their tools and paint brushes/rollers. There was a layer of white covering the sink and counters. I did not feel comfortable pumping there, so I emailed our HR team that the room was dirty and was being used by maintenance for some reason. I got an email back just informing me there was a second room (which was the first time I learned about it). Great.
So I start using the second floor room. I work in a large, metro area courthouse. Several women had babies this past year, and I know I'm not the only one pumping at work. Well, a few weeks go by and I realize the trash is starting to pile up and the floor clearly needs vacuumed. I emailed our HR team and politely asked if we could have the night cleaning crews start cleaning them. They responded that they would let the know.
Two weeks go by. The second floor room had not been touched. I emailed HR again asking if we could have them cleaned. They said they would let them know.
I come in after the weekend and decide to go down to the first floor room since it has the sink. I go to use it and there are two signs posted - one on the door and one on the cabinets in the room above the sink - that says "THIS ROOM IS FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE. Please keep it clean"
I'm pretty ticked off. Those signs were not there before I asked to have them cleaned. To me, it seems to imply that my employer is doing me a favor by providing me a room, when it's actually a requirement as part of a federal law. It just seemed passive aggressive to me and like they think that we trashed the room when really it was a mix of maintenance cleaning dirty tools and paint supplies in the sinks and then months of trash just piling up.
I'm annoyed and upset and am trying to sleep on it while I figure out if/how to address it. Do I email HR and ask them about the sign? Do I l match the pettiness and laminate a copy of the federal pump act and post it next to it? Do I ask them to clarify on how they want us to keep the rooms clean and ask for cleaning supplies?
I should also note that our HR person is notorious for being incredibly rude, unprofessional, and quite possibly the most impersonal person to ever work in HR; so I'm not expecting her to respond in a professional manner if I do bring this up.
Anyways, am I overreacting to this? I just feel like being a working mom is already hard enough without having to feel like I'm a burden on my employer for being provided a clean place to be able to pump to feed my baby.
2024.05.13 23:39 Eyesalwaysopened Used Car Report: Buying Around The Neighborhood
Hi all, hey all.
I’m back. With my report that I promised.
And lol, was it a shit storm, and honestly? I’m extremely disappointed. It’s not that I didn’t expect it, but I wasn’t expecting it to be this bad.
So a quick rundown;
The used car market is a hit/miss game. That’s part of the fun, and for many, I’ll still recommend a used car. Better to own then to have your car towed away by the repo guys, or need to limit your driving by experience because it’s a lease.
However; the used car market at the moment is overpriced and full of junk.
From my experience checking cars this weekend in the neighborhood/around the surrounding neighborhoods, it’s clear people are passing off shit cars for the price of good ones.
It’s also clear that people were skipping maintaining their cars during the Covid years and are now selling ticking time-bombs.
All in, I checked about 13 cars and out of them, 4 were in pretty good shape but were overpriced. My favorite was a 2006 Honda Accord in great shape, and a wonderful interior inside and out. However, with 350k miles and needing new tires, asking $7000 was ridiculous. This would have been a $1000 car pre-Covid. I was picking some up, alongside some Hyundai Sonatas for $500-$600 pre-Covid to fix for my students. Same cars are demanding $5000+. Absolutely insane.
To keep this already long post from becoming a novel, I’ll give you all a quick rundown on the worse offenders and what to look out for.
(2002 Subaru Forester-Asking $6000)
Low mileage-75,720
Asked the typical questions: Are you the first owner? (No, second owner. Had it for 4 years.)
How much do you driven it? That’s really low!
(You know, it was my daughter’s car, she got a new one, I’m selling it for her. She only drove it to school and home. LIU Post To Woodside. Like 4 times a week for the years she’s owned it.)
Okay cool, so like 30k miles give or take in 4 years. Do you happen to know the mileage you brought the car at? (No, I forgot! Sorry!)
It’s okay, can I have the VIN? I just want to pull up the report and we can work on a price. (Why do you need it? It’s like the social of the car. It’s a great car, no accidents and I need it gone. Why so many questions?)
I need to know the car records and history. Mileage is low, and that’s unusual for this year and make. I’ll be quick and I’ll give you a free copy, no charge.
-at this point, the seller is still hesitant but eventually let me get it. The car mileage was indeed rolled back. When they purchased it, it was at 218k miles. There were also 3 reported accidents. Twice with the original owner and once with them. This was almost a dead giveaway since I could see work was done on the back of the car because the body was slightly misaligned. Wouldn’t you now it, rear end damage reporting in an injury. At this point, seller said I was wasting their time and left angrily saying I was lying.
The lesson to take here is to look at the body of the car. If the car body seems misaligned or the paint seems off, ask about any accidents or body work done.
If the year is older but the mileage seems low, make sure to see if the car had the mileage rolled back.
If the buyer is hesitant about allowing you the have the VIN, this is a huge red flag. This will allow you much more information about the car and its a must if you’re buying.
My next favorite is the $10k cars I see lining Astoria, Woodside, Sunnyside and beyond. I’ve been seeing them floating for years and always avoided them. I tended to avoid the “street dealers.” Wannabe car dealers without a shop, operating out of street parking they occupy endlessly.
I asked to check 3 cars and before I went, I asked to see the titles. I asked if they had clean titles. I was told yes. They were not. All 3 were savaged titles. 2 had mismatched mileage. No point in checking more.
Here, the lesson to learn is if you see different cars with similar signs and prices, it’s a “street dealer” and they’re selling most auction cars, mostly from PA. Avoid, you’ll mostly find lemons and you’ll regret it.
Lastly, let me cover a good car, and one I did end up picking up.
(2010 Honda CR-V -Asking $7500)
Mileage sitting at 220k.
Interior was clean, other than a worn drivers seat. Cloth seating, but easily cleaned with a good steam cleaner.
Extremely well maintained exterior, with a minor bump on the bumper. Looks like they hit a fire hydrant backing up at some point. So common you’ll quickly figure what it looks like haha.
Check engine light on. I appreciate the seller telling me about it immediately. No clue why. Within a few seconds I figured out why: faulty oxygen sensor. Easy fix, and not a big issue.
Tires have life on them and no major rust on the underbody. Amazing for a car up here. Ask about it; car came from Texas. That would explain it.
Only problem here was the price. I know if this guys brings it in to a dealer, he’s getting $2-4k tops, if he’s lucky. Selling privately will get you more money, but I need a fair price.
I explain this to him, point out the cost of the repair at a mechanic, and the value of the car. Offer him $3200 cash; we settle at $3300 and a beer. I’ll take it.
My student walked away with a new car, I’ll fix the sensor myself later this week and everyone leaves happy.
Now, deals like this will happen. But not often. You’ll have to hit the pavement and find them.
However, remember the tips I included here.
Remember not to overpay for a used car.
Do your research and don’t get caught holding a lemon.
Calling your insurance company before any purchase to understand the cost.
Do not get pressured by the seller.
Be respectful as a buyer and walk away if neither side can agree. It happens.
And all the best shopping! Please post any questions here! I’ll try my best to answer them!
I’m a college professor, not a mechanic, but I was lucky enough to spend my weekends in the garbage learning as a teenager. I didn’t have a dad around, and didn’t want to be helpless to my own kids in the future, not knowing how to help them with their cars.
submitted by Eyesalwaysopened to astoria [link] [comments]
I’m back. With my report that I promised.
And lol, was it a shit storm, and honestly? I’m extremely disappointed. It’s not that I didn’t expect it, but I wasn’t expecting it to be this bad.
So a quick rundown;
The used car market is a hit/miss game. That’s part of the fun, and for many, I’ll still recommend a used car. Better to own then to have your car towed away by the repo guys, or need to limit your driving by experience because it’s a lease.
However; the used car market at the moment is overpriced and full of junk.
From my experience checking cars this weekend in the neighborhood/around the surrounding neighborhoods, it’s clear people are passing off shit cars for the price of good ones.
It’s also clear that people were skipping maintaining their cars during the Covid years and are now selling ticking time-bombs.
All in, I checked about 13 cars and out of them, 4 were in pretty good shape but were overpriced. My favorite was a 2006 Honda Accord in great shape, and a wonderful interior inside and out. However, with 350k miles and needing new tires, asking $7000 was ridiculous. This would have been a $1000 car pre-Covid. I was picking some up, alongside some Hyundai Sonatas for $500-$600 pre-Covid to fix for my students. Same cars are demanding $5000+. Absolutely insane.
To keep this already long post from becoming a novel, I’ll give you all a quick rundown on the worse offenders and what to look out for.
(2002 Subaru Forester-Asking $6000)
Low mileage-75,720
Asked the typical questions: Are you the first owner? (No, second owner. Had it for 4 years.)
How much do you driven it? That’s really low!
(You know, it was my daughter’s car, she got a new one, I’m selling it for her. She only drove it to school and home. LIU Post To Woodside. Like 4 times a week for the years she’s owned it.)
Okay cool, so like 30k miles give or take in 4 years. Do you happen to know the mileage you brought the car at? (No, I forgot! Sorry!)
It’s okay, can I have the VIN? I just want to pull up the report and we can work on a price. (Why do you need it? It’s like the social of the car. It’s a great car, no accidents and I need it gone. Why so many questions?)
I need to know the car records and history. Mileage is low, and that’s unusual for this year and make. I’ll be quick and I’ll give you a free copy, no charge.
-at this point, the seller is still hesitant but eventually let me get it. The car mileage was indeed rolled back. When they purchased it, it was at 218k miles. There were also 3 reported accidents. Twice with the original owner and once with them. This was almost a dead giveaway since I could see work was done on the back of the car because the body was slightly misaligned. Wouldn’t you now it, rear end damage reporting in an injury. At this point, seller said I was wasting their time and left angrily saying I was lying.
The lesson to take here is to look at the body of the car. If the car body seems misaligned or the paint seems off, ask about any accidents or body work done.
If the year is older but the mileage seems low, make sure to see if the car had the mileage rolled back.
If the buyer is hesitant about allowing you the have the VIN, this is a huge red flag. This will allow you much more information about the car and its a must if you’re buying.
My next favorite is the $10k cars I see lining Astoria, Woodside, Sunnyside and beyond. I’ve been seeing them floating for years and always avoided them. I tended to avoid the “street dealers.” Wannabe car dealers without a shop, operating out of street parking they occupy endlessly.
I asked to check 3 cars and before I went, I asked to see the titles. I asked if they had clean titles. I was told yes. They were not. All 3 were savaged titles. 2 had mismatched mileage. No point in checking more.
Here, the lesson to learn is if you see different cars with similar signs and prices, it’s a “street dealer” and they’re selling most auction cars, mostly from PA. Avoid, you’ll mostly find lemons and you’ll regret it.
Lastly, let me cover a good car, and one I did end up picking up.
(2010 Honda CR-V -Asking $7500)
Mileage sitting at 220k.
Interior was clean, other than a worn drivers seat. Cloth seating, but easily cleaned with a good steam cleaner.
Extremely well maintained exterior, with a minor bump on the bumper. Looks like they hit a fire hydrant backing up at some point. So common you’ll quickly figure what it looks like haha.
Check engine light on. I appreciate the seller telling me about it immediately. No clue why. Within a few seconds I figured out why: faulty oxygen sensor. Easy fix, and not a big issue.
Tires have life on them and no major rust on the underbody. Amazing for a car up here. Ask about it; car came from Texas. That would explain it.
Only problem here was the price. I know if this guys brings it in to a dealer, he’s getting $2-4k tops, if he’s lucky. Selling privately will get you more money, but I need a fair price.
I explain this to him, point out the cost of the repair at a mechanic, and the value of the car. Offer him $3200 cash; we settle at $3300 and a beer. I’ll take it.
My student walked away with a new car, I’ll fix the sensor myself later this week and everyone leaves happy.
Now, deals like this will happen. But not often. You’ll have to hit the pavement and find them.
However, remember the tips I included here.
Remember not to overpay for a used car.
Do your research and don’t get caught holding a lemon.
Calling your insurance company before any purchase to understand the cost.
Do not get pressured by the seller.
Be respectful as a buyer and walk away if neither side can agree. It happens.
And all the best shopping! Please post any questions here! I’ll try my best to answer them!
I’m a college professor, not a mechanic, but I was lucky enough to spend my weekends in the garbage learning as a teenager. I didn’t have a dad around, and didn’t want to be helpless to my own kids in the future, not knowing how to help them with their cars.
2024.05.13 23:39 Hanszwimmer Covering my awrah as a men. Tips?
Assalam aleikum.
First of all, excuse me if I make any mistakes on this platform, this is my first time posting something.
While I was delving into Islam, I learned that we men must also cover our awrah. I wasn’t thaught this as a child, but now that I’m aware, I strictly adhere to it (as I should). What I’m struggling with now is that I can’t swim in public places. I’m aware that our sisters have it harder in this situation and I’m proud of them, may Allah reward them. However, I do miss being able to swim, as I miss out on some activities with my friends. I also notice that when exercising it would be more comfortable to have my awrah covered, but then without wearing a sweater or shirt. I’ve looked for alternatives but haven’t found anything that seems to work. Do you have any tips for me?
Let me clear it once more, I really know we don’t have it as hard as our sisters, but I was just curious about how you guys do this.
Thanks.
submitted by Hanszwimmer to MuslimLounge [link] [comments]
First of all, excuse me if I make any mistakes on this platform, this is my first time posting something.
While I was delving into Islam, I learned that we men must also cover our awrah. I wasn’t thaught this as a child, but now that I’m aware, I strictly adhere to it (as I should). What I’m struggling with now is that I can’t swim in public places. I’m aware that our sisters have it harder in this situation and I’m proud of them, may Allah reward them. However, I do miss being able to swim, as I miss out on some activities with my friends. I also notice that when exercising it would be more comfortable to have my awrah covered, but then without wearing a sweater or shirt. I’ve looked for alternatives but haven’t found anything that seems to work. Do you have any tips for me?
Let me clear it once more, I really know we don’t have it as hard as our sisters, but I was just curious about how you guys do this.
Thanks.
2024.05.13 23:38 ThaBiGGDoGG Kat Ocean Chat On Discord (I Already Removed Mine After She Stopped Talking)
April 2, 2024
katocean. — 04/02/2024 6:15 PM
I have a few contacts now via twitter.
[6:16 PM]
I just love people who are all about saying fuck the establishment. To a degree.
[6:16 PM]
Wow!
[6:17 PM]
I got one that is banned permanently. Then a throw away one. And then my main one im vocal on
katocean. — 04/02/2024 6:23 PM
Oh YOU ARE BLUE BALLS SECURITY?!?!
[6:23 PM]
Lmaooooo
[6:24 PM]
[6:25 PM]
Damn there alll out early today. Now Jess is live
[6:26 PM]
Absolutely!
katocean. — 04/02/2024 6:34 PM
Awee shucks, well its been a nice distraction
[6:34 PM]
Who do you think is your favorite streamer of the Squirrels to watch?
katocean. — 04/02/2024 6:45 PM
It was. A long but fun day
[6:47 PM]
But my stupid ex made me go out the night before and up till like 3AM. I was pissed.
[6:48 PM]
So I just rolled out of bed at like 1230-1 and uber down
[6:48 PM]
No make up or anything and threw comfys on and dipped
[6:48 PM]
Well thank you. I was a hot mess express
[6:49 PM]
5'7
katocean. — 04/02/2024 6:52 PM
katocean. — 04/02/2024 7:05 PM
Big plans for tonight?
[7:12 PM]
Watching the streamers! I just made it on Jess' poster! Shes putting all our names on her poster
katocean. — 04/02/2024 7:28 PM
STOPPPP
[7:29 PM]
Where was that???
[7:29 PM]
Aweee shucks stopppp
[7:32 PM]
Danks
[7:34 PM]
Did DOA say he was coming back?
katocean. — 04/02/2024 7:36 PM
Ahhh okay. Ill just stick on Jess' live for now
[7:40 PM]
Why??
[7:42 PM]
I try and not to be a rude person. I like engaging in conversations with people
katocean. — 04/02/2024 7:44 PM
Your boy just went live
[7:48 PM]
Ill head over cause jess is just writing names on her poster lol
[7:48 PM]
Shoot streets is live
[7:48 PM]
And yellin at the 5-0
[7:48 PM]
Gotta watch that
katocean. — 04/02/2024 7:59 PM
Wow
[7:59 PM]
UNDER CONTROL
katocean. — 04/02/2024 8:15 PM
Nah.
[8:15 PM]
I dont have much of an appetite
[8:16 PM]
But Chris' chipotle does look good but Im always disappointed when I get it. Plus Im saving every nickel and dime I have right now. So deff not ordering out or anything for a while.
[8:19 PM]
What do you know how to make besides pizza?!?!
[8:19 PM]
Lol
[8:21 PM]
Meatloaf
[8:21 PM]
Spaghetti good
[8:21 PM]
Chicken long as its well done lol
katocean. — 04/02/2024 8:22 PM
Hahaha im picky and get weird food adversions. I like everything fully cooked and well done
katocean. — 04/02/2024 8:47 PM
Ruhhh rooh!
[8:49 PM]
Its just starting to sleet / snow over here
[8:49 PM]
And my dog wont stop bothering me to go out. Im like ANNA PUP HUSH YOU DONT NEED TO POTTY EVERY HR
1
April 3, 2024
katocean. — 04/03/2024 7:38 AM
Sorry I fell asleep so early last night
[7:40 AM]
Thank you! Just woke up, its deff snowing but not much yet
[7:41 AM]
Yay for April! And snow! You never know what youre gonna get in the midwest
katocean. — 04/03/2024 7:47 AM
No I applied for an apartment yesterday so hoping to hear back today... applying for another one today. Thats about it. Im temp staying in Wisconsin at my moms. Trying to return to work next week
[7:47 AM]
How about you??
[7:52 AM]
We both live such exciting lives right now
katocean. — 04/03/2024 7:55 AM
How? My life is so messed up right now. I cant wait to get back to normalcy soon. Back in my own place, working, my daily routine etc
[7:57 AM]
[7:57 AM]
katocean. — 04/03/2024 8:12 AM
Whose that?
katocean. — 04/03/2024 8:24 AM
Ewww
[8:24 AM]
Omg
[8:24 AM]
Lord
[8:24 AM]
Stop
[8:24 AM]
Wtf
[8:24 AM]
I look like a night crawler
[8:31 AM]
Gah idk what you're definition of beautiful is but that is NOT it
katocean. — 04/03/2024 8:33 AM
Wtfff lmao. That girl was NOT PLAYIN WITH YA
katocean. — 04/03/2024 8:53 AM
Boy you and your pizza I like plain cheese but a GOOD and mean has to be good, bacon, chicken, bbq hits every once in a while
katocean. — 04/03/2024 9:15 AM
Ewww
[9:15 AM]
No
[9:15 AM]
I dont even like hot dogs.
katocean. — 04/03/2024 9:24 AM
Apple duh
[9:24 AM]
You're probably an android weirdo
[9:24 AM]
K bye
[9:30 AM]
katocean. — 04/03/2024 9:58 AM
I dont really drink pop but If I do it has to be coke. I used to like pepsi then I went to Europe and they only had coke... so then bam I made the switch ever since
katocean. — 04/03/2024 11:07 AM
Mmm I guess horror. I prefer documentaries, war movies especially about WW2, Drama, biographical movies, etc
[11:08 AM]
I'm more of a serious person with a purpose
katocean. — 04/03/2024 2:22 PM
Im just annoyed AF
[2:23 PM]
The application process for these two places are driving me up the fucking wall
[2:23 PM]
Its easier to buy a fucking gun then it is to apply for an apartment
[2:23 PM]
And im just beyond livid right now
[2:23 PM]
All I want to do is cry
katocean. — 04/03/2024 3:05 PM
Do you have a million dollars you can send me? That would be helpful, okay Ill take 100k... i wont be greedy
[3:05 PM]
Thank you
[3:06 PM]
I want to go home so badly. I want nothing to do with my ex. I dont even want to see him but I want to be back in my "home" until I have somewhere of my own again
[3:06 PM]
I hate that all my stuff is still there, that im at my moms
katocean. — 04/03/2024 3:31 PM
You have a better mind set then me
katocean. — 04/03/2024 3:38 PM
Karma works too slow for me
[3:38 PM]
And never seems to happen
[3:40 PM]
Damn lol
[3:40 PM]
Or did YOU break it?!?! Lmao
katocean. — 04/03/2024 3:50 PM
Oh lord I dont want to get into politics. But I am NOT a Trumper. I will say that. I'm a pretty liberal activists and wouldnt be a social worker if I wasnt. But I will say, from a fiscal standpoint I am more conservative as I got older & on my own. And I do recognize that we do better as an economy usually when a republican is president. But thats all Im gonna say about that
[3:52 PM]
Oh god I know. I wish we didnt have to go through these two bafoons again. I want new fresh faces, younger faces with progressive ideas. But I pretty much hate both sides at this moment in time and govt in general
katocean. — 04/03/2024 3:57 PM
Agree
[3:58 PM]
Im about to be in therapy for the next hr so my lack of responses will be why
katocean. — 04/03/2024 6:04 PM
I know I just sped through his stream and caught up. Im worried they are keeping his phones and computer and fur coat. Cause the officer is like "for further investigation"
katocean. — 04/03/2024 6:26 PM
Just relaxing. Contemplating if Im going to eat dinner or not.
katocean. — 04/03/2024 6:44 PM
No way sir
[6:44 PM]
Im in a depression funk
[6:46 PM]
I can give you my instagram if you want
[6:46 PM]
But deff no selfies right now
katocean. — 04/03/2024 6:52 PM
You can find it idk how to link it
[6:52 PM]
Still have all my pictures with my ex tho
[6:52 PM]
Just havent felt like deleting yet
[6:53 PM]
Also please if you see him tagged dont message him or anything. Even if you think thats being helpful.
katocean. — 04/03/2024 7:06 PM
No bueno
katocean. — 04/03/2024 7:20 PM
No bueno = No good
katocean. — 04/03/2024 8:38 PM
Thank you
April 4, 2024
katocean. — 04/04/2024 9:12 AM
Morning, thank you. You as well
katocean. — 04/04/2024 11:54 AM
Go to St. Louis Scientology Squirrel right now
[11:54 AM]
Shes in the St louis org
[11:54 AM]
Under cover live
[11:54 AM]
Recording
[11:54 AM]
But keep it on the DL. We dont want to many people knowing
[11:55 AM]
On YY
[11:55 AM]
Yt**
[11:55 AM]
katocean. — 04/04/2024 12:06 PM
No but it was great. Cant wait for the full replay to be posted
katocean. — 04/04/2024 12:14 PM
My mom informed me she had the book back in the 70s and her & her first husband read it. And thought it was "interesting"... I'm like omg... I could have became a sciento! Thank god it was just a dabble into the book and nothing more
katocean. — 04/04/2024 12:22 PM
Oh god
[12:22 PM]
Probably one I hate
[12:22 PM]
Oh and to answer your question earlier... yes, I want to move to the PNW badly. Thats my dream
[12:22 PM]
[12:25 PM]
Pshhh i know why its your favorite picture... creepy old men lol
[12:25 PM]
But I did post it as a thirst trap sorta bahahaha
[12:25 PM]
I've lost nearly 80lbs this last year
[12:26 PM]
I always was skinny but the last 5-6 years I put sooo much weight on. I got up to 210 and now down to like 130
[12:27 PM]
Which is great. But id love for other parts of my life to fall in place so i can just be happy overall
[12:27 PM]
Do you try and work out? Or anything?
[12:27 PM]
Maybe LESS pizza XXXXX! Lol
[12:27 PM]
Jk
[12:28 PM]
Have you talked with your doctor on getting on like Wegovy or Ozempic? Do you have insurance?
[12:28 PM]
It was a life saver for me
[12:28 PM]
Yeah fool. I found ur fb too. XXXXX XXXXX
[12:28 PM]
[12:29 PM]
I gotta know who im randomly talking to
katocean. — 04/04/2024 12:29 PM
But you have nothing besides memes and rando pictures that i can see and emoji bits or whatever lmao
[12:30 PM]
Get yourself on like Tinder or Bumble or Ok Cupid or somethin!
[12:30 PM]
But you deff have to have pictures
[12:31 PM]
I dont know. Im not in any place to give dating advice. I cant even fathom doing that at all right now. Im just ready to be single and build myself back up.
[12:31 PM]
Sheesh
[12:31 PM]
Im sorry
katocean. — 04/04/2024 12:37 PM
What do you think the issue is? Like not placing blame on you or anything... but when you do a deep dive into yourself what issues or things do you think makes it hard for a women to want to pursue anything further with you?
katocean. — 04/04/2024 12:53 PM
The snap chat thing is a little creepy IMO
[12:53 PM]
So Im not surprised you arent getting much traction from that
[12:53 PM]
Yeah not having a car is a huge hinderance
katocean. — 04/04/2024 1:11 PM
No. My mom does alll the time. Shes actually watching it right now lmao. I find them cheesy AF. Ha. One of my ex's & cousin are extras in those show allll the time
katocean. — 04/04/2024 1:22 PM
Only medical show I can watch is Greys Anatomy. And its because Ive been watching it since I was 16... and just cant give it up. 19 almost 20 years now.
[1:22 PM]
And I was and like "oh god this would never happen IRL" lmao
[1:23 PM]
Its the story lines for me of the characters. Not necessarily the medical aspects and patients.
katocean. — 04/04/2024 1:31 PM
I dont watch the Good doctor. I watched like 2 episodes when it first came out and I couldnt get past his insane autistic melt downs
[1:31 PM]
Lmao Im an asshole
[1:32 PM]
Cute what?
[1:34 PM]
Lets see how fast Sciento dad blocks me
katocean. — 04/04/2024 1:41 PM
Oh fuck me
[1:42 PM]
Probably Kathy hopefully
[1:42 PM]
And not Kathleen lol
katocean. — 04/04/2024 2:07 PM
No
[2:07 PM]
Lol
katocean. — 04/04/2024 2:31 PM
Lol!
[2:31 PM]
Me and Scientology twitter back at it right now
[2:31 PM]
[2:31 PM]
I love the attempting gaslighting
[2:33 PM]
Hahaha i love toying with these little fuckers
katocean. — 04/04/2024 2:48 PM
katocean. — 04/04/2024 3:18 PM
No thank you
[3:18 PM]
Maybe 5-10 years ago
katocean. — 04/04/2024 7:19 PM
Hey I took a really long afternoon nap just woke up
[7:20 PM]
Lol
katocean. — 04/04/2024 7:28 PM
Probably like a deep purple
katocean. — 04/04/2024 7:38 PM
Yeah pretty close
katocean. — 04/04/2024 9:30 PM
No
[9:30 PM]
Lol
[9:30 PM]
Sorry
April 5, 2024
katocean. — 04/05/2024 8:31 AM
Sleeping, Ive been going to sleep early these days by like 9-10 ish or so
[8:32 AM]
Honestly, right now, I wake up wait for the day to go by just so I can go to sleep
[8:32 AM]
Im contemplating on returning to work next Tuesday
[8:37 AM]
I wish
katocean. — 04/05/2024 8:52 AM
Basically between 1,300-1,400 fml
[8:52 AM]
All 1 bedroom, 1 bath
[8:52 AM]
Sucks
katocean. — 04/05/2024 10:19 AM
Oh wow
[10:19 AM]
What kind of jobs do you do?
[10:19 AM]
What does your daughter do for work? Did you finish college with a degree or nah?
[10:24 AM]
How do you bring in any income, if you don't mind me asking? Are you on like disability?
[10:25 AM]
Like surveys?
katocean. — 04/05/2024 10:27 AM
Ahhh okay just curious
[10:27 AM]
You gotta get on that and get that money
[10:33 AM]
My favorite up and coming person right now is HonestAv
[10:33 AM]
https://open.spotify.com/album/11ZfrqRpeCnGBAbJ8e50kH?si=E9lWAq4mTTibq7p9Yo25EA
[10:33 AM]
I relate to his songs so much
katocean. — 04/05/2024 10:34 AM
Nah but his songs and lyrics are so relatable
[10:40 AM]
Ha. Im conservative. No more thirst traps.
katocean. — 04/05/2024 11:01 AM
Aweee thats nice of her for something so simple
[11:01 AM]
My ex is my age
katocean. — 04/05/2024 4:32 PM
Awee sorry to hear about your gmas cat, hope its ok!!
katocean. — 04/05/2024 7:08 PM
Ha
[7:09 PM]
I put in a few more inquiries. I do have a back up plan for May though.
katocean. — 04/05/2024 7:20 PM
HOT
[7:20 PM]
hahahahah
April 6, 2024
ThaBiGGDoGG — 04/06/2024 3:34 PM
Not sure what I did that made you upset. I wish you lots of luck with what you are dealing with. I'm always here if you wanna talk.
submitted by ThaBiGGDoGG to u/ThaBiGGDoGG [link] [comments]
katocean. — 04/02/2024 6:15 PM
I have a few contacts now via twitter.
[6:16 PM]
I just love people who are all about saying fuck the establishment. To a degree.
[6:16 PM]
Wow!
[6:17 PM]
I got one that is banned permanently. Then a throw away one. And then my main one im vocal on
katocean. — 04/02/2024 6:23 PM
Oh YOU ARE BLUE BALLS SECURITY?!?!
[6:23 PM]
Lmaooooo
[6:24 PM]
[6:25 PM]
Damn there alll out early today. Now Jess is live
[6:26 PM]
Absolutely!
katocean. — 04/02/2024 6:34 PM
Awee shucks, well its been a nice distraction
[6:34 PM]
Who do you think is your favorite streamer of the Squirrels to watch?
katocean. — 04/02/2024 6:45 PM
It was. A long but fun day
[6:47 PM]
But my stupid ex made me go out the night before and up till like 3AM. I was pissed.
[6:48 PM]
So I just rolled out of bed at like 1230-1 and uber down
[6:48 PM]
No make up or anything and threw comfys on and dipped
[6:48 PM]
Well thank you. I was a hot mess express
[6:49 PM]
5'7
katocean. — 04/02/2024 6:52 PM
katocean. — 04/02/2024 7:05 PM
Big plans for tonight?
[7:12 PM]
Watching the streamers! I just made it on Jess' poster! Shes putting all our names on her poster
katocean. — 04/02/2024 7:28 PM
STOPPPP
[7:29 PM]
Where was that???
[7:29 PM]
Aweee shucks stopppp
[7:32 PM]
Danks
[7:34 PM]
Did DOA say he was coming back?
katocean. — 04/02/2024 7:36 PM
Ahhh okay. Ill just stick on Jess' live for now
[7:40 PM]
Why??
[7:42 PM]
I try and not to be a rude person. I like engaging in conversations with people
katocean. — 04/02/2024 7:44 PM
Your boy just went live
[7:48 PM]
Ill head over cause jess is just writing names on her poster lol
[7:48 PM]
Shoot streets is live
[7:48 PM]
And yellin at the 5-0
[7:48 PM]
Gotta watch that
katocean. — 04/02/2024 7:59 PM
Wow
[7:59 PM]
UNDER CONTROL
katocean. — 04/02/2024 8:15 PM
Nah.
[8:15 PM]
I dont have much of an appetite
[8:16 PM]
But Chris' chipotle does look good but Im always disappointed when I get it. Plus Im saving every nickel and dime I have right now. So deff not ordering out or anything for a while.
[8:19 PM]
What do you know how to make besides pizza?!?!
[8:19 PM]
Lol
[8:21 PM]
Meatloaf
[8:21 PM]
Spaghetti good
[8:21 PM]
Chicken long as its well done lol
katocean. — 04/02/2024 8:22 PM
Hahaha im picky and get weird food adversions. I like everything fully cooked and well done
katocean. — 04/02/2024 8:47 PM
Ruhhh rooh!
[8:49 PM]
Its just starting to sleet / snow over here
[8:49 PM]
And my dog wont stop bothering me to go out. Im like ANNA PUP HUSH YOU DONT NEED TO POTTY EVERY HR
1
April 3, 2024
katocean. — 04/03/2024 7:38 AM
Sorry I fell asleep so early last night
[7:40 AM]
Thank you! Just woke up, its deff snowing but not much yet
[7:41 AM]
Yay for April! And snow! You never know what youre gonna get in the midwest
katocean. — 04/03/2024 7:47 AM
No I applied for an apartment yesterday so hoping to hear back today... applying for another one today. Thats about it. Im temp staying in Wisconsin at my moms. Trying to return to work next week
[7:47 AM]
How about you??
[7:52 AM]
We both live such exciting lives right now
katocean. — 04/03/2024 7:55 AM
How? My life is so messed up right now. I cant wait to get back to normalcy soon. Back in my own place, working, my daily routine etc
[7:57 AM]
[7:57 AM]
katocean. — 04/03/2024 8:12 AM
Whose that?
katocean. — 04/03/2024 8:24 AM
Ewww
[8:24 AM]
Omg
[8:24 AM]
Lord
[8:24 AM]
Stop
[8:24 AM]
Wtf
[8:24 AM]
I look like a night crawler
[8:31 AM]
Gah idk what you're definition of beautiful is but that is NOT it
katocean. — 04/03/2024 8:33 AM
Wtfff lmao. That girl was NOT PLAYIN WITH YA
katocean. — 04/03/2024 8:53 AM
Boy you and your pizza I like plain cheese but a GOOD and mean has to be good, bacon, chicken, bbq hits every once in a while
katocean. — 04/03/2024 9:15 AM
Ewww
[9:15 AM]
No
[9:15 AM]
I dont even like hot dogs.
katocean. — 04/03/2024 9:24 AM
Apple duh
[9:24 AM]
You're probably an android weirdo
[9:24 AM]
K bye
[9:30 AM]
katocean. — 04/03/2024 9:58 AM
I dont really drink pop but If I do it has to be coke. I used to like pepsi then I went to Europe and they only had coke... so then bam I made the switch ever since
katocean. — 04/03/2024 11:07 AM
Mmm I guess horror. I prefer documentaries, war movies especially about WW2, Drama, biographical movies, etc
[11:08 AM]
I'm more of a serious person with a purpose
katocean. — 04/03/2024 2:22 PM
Im just annoyed AF
[2:23 PM]
The application process for these two places are driving me up the fucking wall
[2:23 PM]
Its easier to buy a fucking gun then it is to apply for an apartment
[2:23 PM]
And im just beyond livid right now
[2:23 PM]
All I want to do is cry
katocean. — 04/03/2024 3:05 PM
Do you have a million dollars you can send me? That would be helpful, okay Ill take 100k... i wont be greedy
[3:05 PM]
Thank you
[3:06 PM]
I want to go home so badly. I want nothing to do with my ex. I dont even want to see him but I want to be back in my "home" until I have somewhere of my own again
[3:06 PM]
I hate that all my stuff is still there, that im at my moms
katocean. — 04/03/2024 3:31 PM
You have a better mind set then me
katocean. — 04/03/2024 3:38 PM
Karma works too slow for me
[3:38 PM]
And never seems to happen
[3:40 PM]
Damn lol
[3:40 PM]
Or did YOU break it?!?! Lmao
katocean. — 04/03/2024 3:50 PM
Oh lord I dont want to get into politics. But I am NOT a Trumper. I will say that. I'm a pretty liberal activists and wouldnt be a social worker if I wasnt. But I will say, from a fiscal standpoint I am more conservative as I got older & on my own. And I do recognize that we do better as an economy usually when a republican is president. But thats all Im gonna say about that
[3:52 PM]
Oh god I know. I wish we didnt have to go through these two bafoons again. I want new fresh faces, younger faces with progressive ideas. But I pretty much hate both sides at this moment in time and govt in general
katocean. — 04/03/2024 3:57 PM
Agree
[3:58 PM]
Im about to be in therapy for the next hr so my lack of responses will be why
katocean. — 04/03/2024 6:04 PM
I know I just sped through his stream and caught up. Im worried they are keeping his phones and computer and fur coat. Cause the officer is like "for further investigation"
katocean. — 04/03/2024 6:26 PM
Just relaxing. Contemplating if Im going to eat dinner or not.
katocean. — 04/03/2024 6:44 PM
No way sir
[6:44 PM]
Im in a depression funk
[6:46 PM]
I can give you my instagram if you want
[6:46 PM]
But deff no selfies right now
katocean. — 04/03/2024 6:52 PM
You can find it idk how to link it
[6:52 PM]
Still have all my pictures with my ex tho
[6:52 PM]
Just havent felt like deleting yet
[6:53 PM]
Also please if you see him tagged dont message him or anything. Even if you think thats being helpful.
katocean. — 04/03/2024 7:06 PM
No bueno
katocean. — 04/03/2024 7:20 PM
No bueno = No good
katocean. — 04/03/2024 8:38 PM
Thank you
April 4, 2024
katocean. — 04/04/2024 9:12 AM
Morning, thank you. You as well
katocean. — 04/04/2024 11:54 AM
Go to St. Louis Scientology Squirrel right now
[11:54 AM]
Shes in the St louis org
[11:54 AM]
Under cover live
[11:54 AM]
Recording
[11:54 AM]
But keep it on the DL. We dont want to many people knowing
[11:55 AM]
On YY
[11:55 AM]
Yt**
[11:55 AM]
katocean. — 04/04/2024 12:06 PM
No but it was great. Cant wait for the full replay to be posted
katocean. — 04/04/2024 12:14 PM
My mom informed me she had the book back in the 70s and her & her first husband read it. And thought it was "interesting"... I'm like omg... I could have became a sciento! Thank god it was just a dabble into the book and nothing more
katocean. — 04/04/2024 12:22 PM
Oh god
[12:22 PM]
Probably one I hate
[12:22 PM]
Oh and to answer your question earlier... yes, I want to move to the PNW badly. Thats my dream
[12:22 PM]
[12:25 PM]
Pshhh i know why its your favorite picture... creepy old men lol
[12:25 PM]
But I did post it as a thirst trap sorta bahahaha
[12:25 PM]
I've lost nearly 80lbs this last year
[12:26 PM]
I always was skinny but the last 5-6 years I put sooo much weight on. I got up to 210 and now down to like 130
[12:27 PM]
Which is great. But id love for other parts of my life to fall in place so i can just be happy overall
[12:27 PM]
Do you try and work out? Or anything?
[12:27 PM]
Maybe LESS pizza XXXXX! Lol
[12:27 PM]
Jk
[12:28 PM]
Have you talked with your doctor on getting on like Wegovy or Ozempic? Do you have insurance?
[12:28 PM]
It was a life saver for me
[12:28 PM]
Yeah fool. I found ur fb too. XXXXX XXXXX
[12:28 PM]
[12:29 PM]
I gotta know who im randomly talking to
katocean. — 04/04/2024 12:29 PM
But you have nothing besides memes and rando pictures that i can see and emoji bits or whatever lmao
[12:30 PM]
Get yourself on like Tinder or Bumble or Ok Cupid or somethin!
[12:30 PM]
But you deff have to have pictures
[12:31 PM]
I dont know. Im not in any place to give dating advice. I cant even fathom doing that at all right now. Im just ready to be single and build myself back up.
[12:31 PM]
Sheesh
[12:31 PM]
Im sorry
katocean. — 04/04/2024 12:37 PM
What do you think the issue is? Like not placing blame on you or anything... but when you do a deep dive into yourself what issues or things do you think makes it hard for a women to want to pursue anything further with you?
katocean. — 04/04/2024 12:53 PM
The snap chat thing is a little creepy IMO
[12:53 PM]
So Im not surprised you arent getting much traction from that
[12:53 PM]
Yeah not having a car is a huge hinderance
katocean. — 04/04/2024 1:11 PM
No. My mom does alll the time. Shes actually watching it right now lmao. I find them cheesy AF. Ha. One of my ex's & cousin are extras in those show allll the time
katocean. — 04/04/2024 1:22 PM
Only medical show I can watch is Greys Anatomy. And its because Ive been watching it since I was 16... and just cant give it up. 19 almost 20 years now.
[1:22 PM]
And I was and like "oh god this would never happen IRL" lmao
[1:23 PM]
Its the story lines for me of the characters. Not necessarily the medical aspects and patients.
katocean. — 04/04/2024 1:31 PM
I dont watch the Good doctor. I watched like 2 episodes when it first came out and I couldnt get past his insane autistic melt downs
[1:31 PM]
Lmao Im an asshole
[1:32 PM]
Cute what?
[1:34 PM]
Lets see how fast Sciento dad blocks me
katocean. — 04/04/2024 1:41 PM
Oh fuck me
[1:42 PM]
Probably Kathy hopefully
[1:42 PM]
And not Kathleen lol
katocean. — 04/04/2024 2:07 PM
No
[2:07 PM]
Lol
katocean. — 04/04/2024 2:31 PM
Lol!
[2:31 PM]
Me and Scientology twitter back at it right now
[2:31 PM]
[2:31 PM]
I love the attempting gaslighting
[2:33 PM]
Hahaha i love toying with these little fuckers
katocean. — 04/04/2024 2:48 PM
katocean. — 04/04/2024 3:18 PM
No thank you
[3:18 PM]
Maybe 5-10 years ago
katocean. — 04/04/2024 7:19 PM
Hey I took a really long afternoon nap just woke up
[7:20 PM]
Lol
katocean. — 04/04/2024 7:28 PM
Probably like a deep purple
katocean. — 04/04/2024 7:38 PM
Yeah pretty close
katocean. — 04/04/2024 9:30 PM
No
[9:30 PM]
Lol
[9:30 PM]
Sorry
April 5, 2024
katocean. — 04/05/2024 8:31 AM
Sleeping, Ive been going to sleep early these days by like 9-10 ish or so
[8:32 AM]
Honestly, right now, I wake up wait for the day to go by just so I can go to sleep
[8:32 AM]
Im contemplating on returning to work next Tuesday
[8:37 AM]
I wish
katocean. — 04/05/2024 8:52 AM
Basically between 1,300-1,400 fml
[8:52 AM]
All 1 bedroom, 1 bath
[8:52 AM]
Sucks
katocean. — 04/05/2024 10:19 AM
Oh wow
[10:19 AM]
What kind of jobs do you do?
[10:19 AM]
What does your daughter do for work? Did you finish college with a degree or nah?
[10:24 AM]
How do you bring in any income, if you don't mind me asking? Are you on like disability?
[10:25 AM]
Like surveys?
katocean. — 04/05/2024 10:27 AM
Ahhh okay just curious
[10:27 AM]
You gotta get on that and get that money
[10:33 AM]
My favorite up and coming person right now is HonestAv
[10:33 AM]
https://open.spotify.com/album/11ZfrqRpeCnGBAbJ8e50kH?si=E9lWAq4mTTibq7p9Yo25EA
[10:33 AM]
I relate to his songs so much
katocean. — 04/05/2024 10:34 AM
Nah but his songs and lyrics are so relatable
[10:40 AM]
Ha. Im conservative. No more thirst traps.
katocean. — 04/05/2024 11:01 AM
Aweee thats nice of her for something so simple
[11:01 AM]
My ex is my age
katocean. — 04/05/2024 4:32 PM
Awee sorry to hear about your gmas cat, hope its ok!!
katocean. — 04/05/2024 7:08 PM
Ha
[7:09 PM]
I put in a few more inquiries. I do have a back up plan for May though.
katocean. — 04/05/2024 7:20 PM
HOT
[7:20 PM]
hahahahah
April 6, 2024
ThaBiGGDoGG — 04/06/2024 3:34 PM
Not sure what I did that made you upset. I wish you lots of luck with what you are dealing with. I'm always here if you wanna talk.
2024.05.13 23:37 Scootsna [Vanilla Builds] Episode 1: THE GRENDEL! aka The Ugly Bastard
![[Vanilla Builds] Episode 1: THE GRENDEL! aka The Ugly Bastard](https://b.thumbs.redditmedia.com/JG-S9-sWsTGci2dg2bpxjKOC-Ytiz2tc5Cyz0OKQ0gM.jpg "[Vanilla Builds] Episode 1: THE GRENDEL! aka The Ugly Bastard") | Howdy starsector submitted by Scootsna to starsector [link] [comments] I noticed there was a lack of good vanilla content on this here reddit and would really like to share and discuss vanilla builds. Therefore I will be starting this reddit series! I will be posting 1 ship build I love every few days, for every ship in the game; discussing where and when its useful, as well as how to use it effectively. I will be avoiding [Redacted] weapons and ships as they are all very powerful and are good on just about any ship unless there is a special exception (like for the Vigilance). As this is my first post I will be describing some of the characteristics I will be addressing: Recommended Captain Type (NPC, Player, None): Some ship function very well in the players hands (Doom). Others get the most benefit out of a NPC Pilot (Grendel) And some ships excel no matter who flies them (Tempest). And then again, other ships aren't worth putting an officer on or flying yourself at all (Kite). Effectivity at Stages of the game (Early, Mid, Late, End): Early game ships are usually placeholders that are DP inefficient, but excel at their cost to effectiveness ratio. They don't usually rely on pilots or skills to be effective (Kite). Mid game ships are either good at doing 1 thing (Pirate Falcon), an efficient centerpiece (Champion), or help cover deficiencies in your fleet composition by filling multiple roles effectively (Legion). A good pilot and player skills with BI mods can carry you into the late game. Late game ships are powerful beasts, they need to be DP efficient and excel perfectly in their role or multiple roles (Onslaught, Astral, Odyssey). These ships have to be efficient, max level pilots and player skills, and BI mods are highly recommended. End game ships are insane powerhouses that break the game and are supposed to (Invictus, [Redacted], [Redacted]. These ships are powerful at base level, including BI mods, Pilot skills, and Player skills makes most fights trivial. BI (Built-in) Mods: Some of these builds won't function very efficiently or see a huge jump in firepower when mods are built in (Onslaught), others can perform very well without them (Luddic Path Brawler). Role: This is a bit more subjective and I will be explaining per ship. Recommended Skills: Skills that are recommended for making this ship work in the fleet, this includes pilot skills as well as Starfarer skills. And if you think there's anything I can do to improve these posts please let me know! Without further ado, let me introduce you to my favorite ship in the game, The Grendel-class Phase Cruiser! Big Ugly Bastard Role: Distraction, Point Control, Tank Captain Type: NPC Minimum B-I Mods: 2 Effective: Mid-Late Game Recommended Player Skills: Flux Regulation, Phase Coil Tuning There are a lot of generic skills that always benefit nearly every ship (Tactical Drills, Crew Training), but these are the main 2 that help the Grendel dodge incoming fire and keep flux stable. Recommended Captain Skills: Impact Mitigation, Elite Field Modulation, Polarized Armor, Ballistic Mastery, Gunnery Implants Impact Mitigation, Elite Field Modulation, Polarized Armor: More survivability. Ballistic Mastery and Gunnery Implants: Increase the range of the guns to keep them relevant vs capital ships and avoid unnecessary close range fire. Description: This ship went from bottom to top of my list when me and my friend worked out a good build for it over some drinks. We built this ship to support my Invictus, it was slow to get into combat and reach objectives and vulnerable to getting ganged up on. Enter the Grendel, arriving ahead of my capitals they pull fire and pull attention of all enemy ships acting as an incredibly Tanky, Evasive, and Dangerous craft. Using their heavy needlers to neuter enemy flux, decent point-defense, and some maulers to punish enemies that try to shield flicker the needlers, this baddie almost never dies. I love having 2 of these late game to secure and harass enemy capture points or distract multiple capital ships. The Grendel can tank multiple capital ships using its superior maneuverability and phase cloak, getting enemies to waste missiles and build up flux. While this bad boy will last a LONG time, he doesn't have the infinite staying power of shield ships (the Monitor), so you will want to have heavy hitting assault ships that can deal damage hard and fast (Onslaught, [Redacted], Invictus, lots of bombers) since they will eventually get whittled down in a long grindy fight. Amazing at holding enemy objectives it can easily push off smaller craft and retreat when getting overwhelmed. The heavy needlers have a tendency to shred enemy fighters and bombers as an added bonus. What do you think about the build, will it work with your fleet, is it a waste of DP, do you have a better fit? Thank you so much for reading my shitty reddit post, if you would like to see your favorite ship in one of these posts, please leave a comment below, highest upvoted will be the next ship I build! |
2024.05.13 23:37 Guenther_Dripjens Came back to this game after a 2 month break, got griefed by CVs 3 out of 4 games and uinstalled it again.
I have no idea how a developer can be so tone deaf to community feedback that they didn't fix this shit for 5 years now. It's ridiculous.
So i was trying to stop playing the game period. Subs and especially CVs plus the matchmaking stacking 4+DDs ontop of 2 subs and a CV constantly just ruin the fun for me and thus i just don't enjoy the game enough anymore to boot it up most of the time.
I just know that there is an 85% chance that I will be miserable and at this point im strong enough to not gamble my sanity on a 15% chance of having a fun match.
But today i was weak and good memories of the peak naval combat as well as the urge to game with buddies reeled me back in.
And holy fuck is it not worth to touch this game in it's current state.
Since i dived up with friends, the game spawns us in the middle most of the time. And since i play mostly BBs i can kiss like half of my HP goodbye before even reaching my teammates lemmingtrain on either side for AA "cover" At least if the CV player has more than a quarter of a braincell.
Like this game is genuinly shit. Even with a full AA build Gouden Leeuw with Def AA, next to my Incomparable, a Mid-way with 1700 pr managed to shit on me for 45k in 3 strikes + fire damage.
Not to mention the plane spotting enabling anyone else to shoot me, nullifying the entire gimmick of my ship.
Seriously whenever i pick incomparable in randoms (which is basically never) it summons a half decent CV who focuses me all game.
I don't know what this demented shit is where they add classes that just genuinly suck to play against and then refuse to do anything about it for years.
I also played many online games over the years and no game i have ever played had a developer so apathetic and indifferent about player feedback and game health.
Which says a lot since i played through the entirety of Destiny 1 and 2s lifespan. But even then Wargaming makes Bungie look like an actually competent studio, which cares about the game.
And don't come to me with B...bUt ThEy AnoUnCeD Aa ChAnGes aLrEaDy. They did a thousand times and didn't follow through with any of it. Shit never even made it to PTS whilst even ranked is live testing for demented new shit like subs now.
This time wont be any different.
See you in 3+ months for the next rant about CVs.
submitted by Guenther_Dripjens to WorldOfWarships [link] [comments]
So i was trying to stop playing the game period. Subs and especially CVs plus the matchmaking stacking 4+DDs ontop of 2 subs and a CV constantly just ruin the fun for me and thus i just don't enjoy the game enough anymore to boot it up most of the time.
I just know that there is an 85% chance that I will be miserable and at this point im strong enough to not gamble my sanity on a 15% chance of having a fun match.
But today i was weak and good memories of the peak naval combat as well as the urge to game with buddies reeled me back in.
And holy fuck is it not worth to touch this game in it's current state.
Since i dived up with friends, the game spawns us in the middle most of the time. And since i play mostly BBs i can kiss like half of my HP goodbye before even reaching my teammates lemmingtrain on either side for AA "cover" At least if the CV player has more than a quarter of a braincell.
Like this game is genuinly shit. Even with a full AA build Gouden Leeuw with Def AA, next to my Incomparable, a Mid-way with 1700 pr managed to shit on me for 45k in 3 strikes + fire damage.
Not to mention the plane spotting enabling anyone else to shoot me, nullifying the entire gimmick of my ship.
Seriously whenever i pick incomparable in randoms (which is basically never) it summons a half decent CV who focuses me all game.
I don't know what this demented shit is where they add classes that just genuinly suck to play against and then refuse to do anything about it for years.
I also played many online games over the years and no game i have ever played had a developer so apathetic and indifferent about player feedback and game health.
Which says a lot since i played through the entirety of Destiny 1 and 2s lifespan. But even then Wargaming makes Bungie look like an actually competent studio, which cares about the game.
And don't come to me with B...bUt ThEy AnoUnCeD Aa ChAnGes aLrEaDy. They did a thousand times and didn't follow through with any of it. Shit never even made it to PTS whilst even ranked is live testing for demented new shit like subs now.
This time wont be any different.
See you in 3+ months for the next rant about CVs.
2024.05.13 23:36 DogNo9895 I don't want to be alone tonight.
I'm 39 from the UK. I want to keep on going but today my body isn't working in coordination with my mind. I felt something I never felt before and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Which is ironic. I wouldn't wish the feeling of defeat on my worst enemy. I just want the end to be painless. I feel like I deserve it as I suffered so much. However, I've caused my family so much distress that reaching out isn't an option to me. I have so much to give but nobody can see it. That's because I made them all not want to look. Any young kids out there reading this. Please take a different approach to life and stay away from drink and drugs. If you have friends or family close then make sure to get them closer. You only have one chance and you aren't invincible. I really don't want to be alone tonight as I fear that I'll end my life. For me I want the end to be painless and I've researched how to do it without ending up failing like I failed at everything else. In my opinion the route to happiness is going through pain without numbing the pain. I tried to cover up the reality and now I'm lost. I am 39 years old and I'm done with life. I'm not sure why I'm writing this. The same way I'm not sure who I really am. Please pray 🙏 for my family.
submitted by DogNo9895 to SuicideWatch [link] [comments]
2024.05.13 23:34 Horror_Salad_359 Awaiting Cancer diagnosis. What conversations and things should I put in place?
I’m based in the UK and have been referred to the 2 week breast cancer referral program to find out if I have it or not. For context, I have had an awful patch of eczema on my nipple for 2 years and it changed very recently and I had a really bad infection. I’ve tried steroids and creams to heal it but nothings changing. The doctor is concerned and wants to make sure it’s not cancer. However, since being told she thinks it is and wants it testing, all I can think about are eventualities, contingency plans, what to do for my kids, how to support my husband, what I should put in place if it is that outcome. It’s all I can think about. But I can’t focus on it properly and it matters to me that I have this sort of thing prepared, even if it’s negative, I just want to prepare in case (god forbid) it happens in the future to either myself or my husband. So with that being said, does anyone have any advice for me? What should I be doing with planning and prepping for what may or may not come?
submitted by Horror_Salad_359 to CancerFamilySupport [link] [comments]
2024.05.13 23:28 AlfrescoDog The Great Wall and Wall Street: Become a Better Trader by Understanding the Perils of 🇨🇳 Chinese Companies on 🇺🇸 U.S. Exchanges
 | ⚠️ Attention all traders and holders of Chinese stocks: You should read this if you don’t know what a VIE is. Sure, most of you will be repelled by the great wall of text here (so many words!), but you might want to keep this post nearby. submitted by AlfrescoDog to wallstreetbets [link] [comments] Hello. You are aware that Wall Street’s bustling bazaar hosts a veritable Forbidden City of Chinese companies draped in ticker tape rather than silk. Today, I will provide background and data on all allowed Chinese companies listed on three of the largest U.S. stock exchanges: New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), Nasdaq, and NYSE American. I should note that a bustling troupe of 26 national securities exchanges are registered with the SEC in the United States. Most are owned by the Nasdaq, NYSE, or the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE). Nonetheless, based on data from the World Federation of Exchanges as of August 2023, the NYSE and Nasdaq were the top two exchanges behemoths of the global financial stage, accounting for 42.4% of the total $110.2 trillion in valuation traded across 80 major global exchanges. 🖼️ I had a photo of Wall Street to add here, but I'm only allowed to include one attachment. 2022 vs. 2023 According to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, as of January 8, 2024, there were 265 Chinese companies listed on the three U.S. exchanges, with a total market capitalization of $848 billion. That valuation is down from a year prior—January 9, 2023—when a slightly lower 252 Chinese companies were tracked, but they represented a total market capitalization of $1.03 trillion. Since January 2023, 24 Chinese companies have entered the spotlight of the three U.S. exchanges, raising $656 million in combined initial public offerings (IPOs). On the other hand, eleven Chinese companies have folded their tents and delisted. China Securities Regulatory Commission The American stock exchanges witnessed a springtime bloom of Chinese IPOs in the first quarter of 2023. However, this listing activity came to an abrupt halt as the clock struck March 31, 2023. Why? The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) implemented a revised approval process for companies going public overseas. I won’t get into the details, but China has rules to cap foreign investment and ownership in sectors deemed strategic, such as technology. In the past, those regulations have driven several Chinese firms to the legal gymnastics of a Variable Interest Entity (VIE) structure—a clever contrivance that allowed them to leapfrog domestic constraints. However, under the revised review mechanism, every company, regardless of its corporate ownership structure, must now bow before the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) to register its intent to list overseas. 🖼️ I had a photo of the CSRC building to add here, but I'm only allowed to include one attachment. The gatekeeper Therefore, although the CSRC touted this regulation as a necessary measure for enforcing regulatory compliance and preventing fraud (which is true), it also helps regulators act as gatekeepers poised to block any proposed listing they deem poses a risk to their national security or jeopardizes China's national interests. This process is wide-ranging. For instance, it includes an evaluation of the company’s safeguards against disclosing what the Chinese Communist Party considers potential state secrets. But we’re not talking about top-secret black-ops projects meant to be hidden from international oversight committees. No… any company that collects personal information on more than one million users requires stern data security review mechanisms for its cross-border data flows. For perspective, TikTok has over 150 million users in the U.S. alone and is not subject to the same scrutiny from the Western nations. Currently, the CSRC approval process is reportedly taking upward of six months. Audit inspections and investigations in China You’re probably unaware of the HFCAA, so let’s start there. The Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act of 2020 (HFCAA) is a law that requires companies publicly listed on stock exchanges in the U.S. to disclose to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) information on foreign jurisdictions that prevent the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) from conducting inspections. That law laid down a stern ultimatum: If Chinese authorities kept obstructing the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) from inspecting audit firms in China or Hong Kong for three consecutive years, the companies audited by these entities would face a ban from the bustling arenas of the U.S. exchanges. Basically, either China allowed the PCAOB to inspect the audit firms, or the companies had to change to another auditing firm within three years. Then, as 2022 waned to its final days (literally, on December 29), President Joe Biden signed a Consolidated Appropriations Act, which contained a provision that will tighten the noose, shortening future timelines from three consecutive years to only two. Once they looked under the rock Finally allowed to conduct full investigations of audit firms in mainland China and Hong Kong after over a decade of obstruction, the PCAOB announced the findings of its first round of inspections in May 2023, identifying deficiencies in seven of eight audits conducted by the auditing firms KPMG Huazhen and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Hong Kong. Audits of Chinese Companies Are Highly Deficient, U.S. Regulator Says On November 30, 2023, the PCAOB announced fines against three audit firms in China, totaling $7.9 million for misconduct. For perspective, that number included the second and third-largest fines ever doled out by the PCAOB. Why were the fines so bad? Those sneaky Chinese accountants Imagine a gaggle of accountants in the far reaches of PwC China and Hong Kong applying for a U.S. auditing curriculum. But alas, these foreign accountants find the U.S. auditing training tests a trifle tedious, so someone came up with the answers and decided to pass them around like a secret note in a schoolroom. From 2018 to 2020, over 1,000 of these busy bees completed their U.S. auditing online exams by copying the answers from two unauthorized apps with a fervor that would make a gossip columnist blush. When confronted with the evidence, PwC China and PwC Hong Kong response: 🤷♂️ And let me remind you, this happened late last year. Both firms are expected to provide reasonable assurance that their personnel will act with integrity in connection with internal training and to report their compliance to the PCAOB within 150 days—April 2024. 🖼️ I was planning on using an AI-generated image of Chinese accountants cheating, but I'm only allowed to include one attachment. State-owned enterprises According to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, this graph represents the total market capitalization of Chinese companies listed in the three U.S. exchanges. Market Capitalization of Listed Chinese Companies The number of listed companies has stayed at around 260. However, all Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have delisted themselves from U.S. exchanges, most of them soon after the PCAOB announced it had secured complete access to Chinese auditors’ records. Variable Interest Entities (VIEs) Most traders—and that means you—are unaware that 166 Chinese companies currently listed on the three major U.S. exchanges use a VIE structure. As of January 8, 2024, these companies have a market capitalization of $772 billion. For perspective, that represents 91% of the total market capitalization of all the Chinese firms listed on the three major U.S. exchanges. What the hell is a VIE? It is a complex corporate structure that grants shareholders contractual claims to control via an offshore shell company without transferring actual ownership in the company. A Variable Interest Entity (VIE) is a bit like a riverboat casino’s cleverest trick, allowing a company to sell its chips on a foreign table without ever letting the players hold the cards directly. A VIE is a structure used primarily by companies that wish to partake in the financial streams of another country (the U.S. exchanges) without breaking local laws (Chinese laws) that prevent full ownership. Remember, Chinese companies structured themselves as VIEs to circumvent China’s restrictions—not U.S. restrictions—on foreign ownership in industries the CCP deems sensitive. Therefore, when you hold stock in one of these Chinese companies, you’re not officially holding any actual ownership in the company. Because if you did, then that company could be breaking Chinese restrictive caps on foreign investment and ownership. That’s why they set up a façade, or a legal entity, that controls the business on paper, but the true power and profits are funneled back to the company pulling the strings. Granted, it’s not as shaky as asking a random stranger to hold your shares, but it is crafty, and you should be aware of the risks. Wait. What are the risks? You need to understand that there’s a shadow of potential risk looming. Potential. Now, don't mistake me for the town crier of doom; I'm not proclaiming that the sky is falling on these shares. Nor am I declaring that disaster is certain for Chinese stocks. What I am pointing out, however, is the presence of a risk—a subtle beast that might just catch you off guard if you remain unaware. And let’s face it: Most of you are completely oblivious to these issues. There are two sides here: 🇺🇸 & 🇨🇳 🇺🇸 Since July 2021, the SEC has imposed additional disclosure requirements for Chinese companies using a VIE to sell shares in the U.S. These requirements include greater transparency about the relationship between the VIE and its Chinese operating companies. In summary, the SEC aims to push VIEs toward the company behind them to offer more clarity on U.S. investor ownership in the Chinese operating company. 🇨🇳 On the other side, Chinese companies that list overseas using a VIE were not required to register their listings with the CSRC, as the VIE is not considered a Chinese company under China’s law. This is the reason VIEs were used in the first place. However, as I mentioned earlier, after March 31, 2023, the CSRC established requirements for all new Chinese companies to register and receive permission before going public overseas—even those planning to use VIE structures. That’s why there was a boom of Chinese IPOs before that deadline. Granted, on September 14, 2023, a Chinese auto insurance platform became the first company that received the elusive blessing of the CSRC to list, and it did so using a VIE arrangement, breaking the long, dry spell that had plagued Chinese IPOs when she listed on the Nasdaq four days later. However, even though VIEs received some sort of recognition from the CSRC, the VIE corporate structures still hold dubious legal status under China’s laws. Remember, VIEs purpose is to avoid being considered a Chinese company under China’s laws. So… do you see the potential risk here? Umm… No, I don’t get it. Think about it. Either country could potentially increase regulations for VIEs, but if the SEC forces them to be more transparent, the VIE would not be able to circumvent China’s restrictions. That’s one risk. Also, at some point, China’s CSRC might question whether it’s appropriate to recognize a corporate structure that was created to circumvent its laws. Which leads me to this: What’s keeping the CCP from deciding to start reigning in those VIEs? The answer is simple: They’re not in a hurry to do so because if misfortune should befall, it’ll be the foreign investors who’ll see their assets deflated like a punctured balloon. 🖼️ I would've added a nice image or two by now, to balance all the text and make this more appealing, but I'm only allowed to include one attachment. If a VIE-listed company goes private at a lower valuation, businesses fail, or there’s a valuation discrepancy, the enforceability of a VIE’s contractual arrangements is unproven in Chinese courts. With VIE-listed companies, foreign investors’ recourse in the Chinese legal system is as elusive as a catfish’s whisper. Yeah, but that’s unlikely… Sure. Of course, I’m not saying every Chinese stock will have these issues. But it can happen. And it has happened. The unlucky case of Luckin Coffee Due to the lack of compliance with international audit inspections, Chinese corporate financial statements’ reliability for valuation and investment is not assured. Such is the case of Luckin Coffee. In a bold bid to capture Wall Street’s hearts and wallets, Luckin Coffee showed up dressed in finery, flaunting alluring figures of revenue, operations, and bustling customer traffic. At her grand debut, the stock sashayed onto the Nasdaq at $17, swirling up a storm of interested buyers to the tune of $561 million in capital. For a fleeting moment, Luckin shimmered like a star over the financial firmament, boasting a market capitalization that soared to a heady $12 billion, with shares peaking just over $50. Ah, but as the adage goes, ‘Truth will out.’ And out it came—the revelation of those embroidered numbers caused the company's stock to plummet like a stone tossed from a bridge, leaving a wake of investor losses and culminating in a disgraceful delisting from Nasdaq 13 months after her debut. Luckin Coffee Drops Nasdaq Appeal; Shares to Be Delisted 🖼️ I would've added an AI-generated image of a cup of Luckin Coffee jumping from a bridge, but I'm only allowed to include one attachment. Well… but that won’t happen to me… Uh-huh. On April 2, 2020, after announcing that employees—including its chief operating officer—falsified 2.2 billion yuan (about $310 million) in sales throughout 2019, Luckin's shares nosedived -80%. This is from one of you unluckin bastards: I've lost 240k on Luckin Coffee, all my life savings. Now I'm broke af. I’m sure many of you might reckon yourselves immune to a similar debacle since you think you’re smart enough to use stops to escape any runaway losses. It's time to wake up and smell the Luckin coffee. Chinese news catalysts often strike like lightning at night, and the stops you set under the sun cannot shield you from storms that explode in the moonlight. Dumbass. Chinese regulators can be mercurial Even though the PCAOB is currently able to perform its oversight responsibilities, concerns remain around the possibility that Chinese regulators might backtrack, potentially clamping down once again on the PCAOB's ability to access audit firms and personnel across mainland China and Hong Kong. If that happens, the PCAOB can quickly declare a negative determination. HOWEVER, this action would only start the countdown under the HFCAA, giving U.S.-listed Chinese companies a window of TWO years to secure services from an auditor in a compliant jurisdiction or face a trading ban. That’s it. Of course, within that time, Chinese regulators could agree once again to allow access to the PCAOB, thus resetting the two-year countdown without significant consequences. What lurks in the shadows Although the risk of PCAOB non-compliance looms over these financial engagements, it is the ghost of potentially misconstrued—or, let's say, creatively presented—earnings reports coming to light that should scare you most. Or, on the flip side, present the biggest opportunity. I believe it is possible that there are several ghosts out there—ghastly financial figures dressed up a tad too finely—lingering in the shadows, unchecked and unchallenged. If they’re found and unveiled under the harsh spotlight of scrutiny, the fallout would be immediate and severe, leaving investors scrambling. And if that happens, it’s not about diamond-holding through the plunge since the company might opt (or be forced) to delist from the U.S. exchanges. 🖼️ I would've added an AI-generated image of an attractive young Chinese ghost woman, implying both the allure of Chinese stocks, but also the risk of getting closer. However, I'm only allowed to include one attachment. You need to understand a crucial concept. Many traders believe that if a company messes up, plunges, and gets delisted, it means the company is basically over—dead. But that’s not the case here. A delisting does not equal death. I mean, Luckin Coffee is still out there, alive and kicking. 16,218 stores and counting, covering 240+ cities across China.You would think that a company like that would not be able to cheat on its balance sheet. Yeah, just like you would think PwC China would notice 1,000 accountants cheated their way through the U.S. auditing curriculum. 🖼️ I would've added an AI-generated image of a Chinese accountant dabbing like a boss for getting his cheated accounting diploma, but I'm only allowed to include one attachment. So… is it too far-fetched to believe more ghosts might come to light, now that the PCAOB can supervise the numbers? I mentioned a flip side since you could specialize in tracking everything the PCAOB does. If you can get a whiff about increased auditing on a certain company, you might decide to play a short position in anticipation of a potential ghost coming to light. Be warned, though, that it’s not as if they tweet out which companies they’re auditing. If I were to do it, I would research and join whatever digital saloon young Chinese ledger-keepers convene in. Perhaps I’d stumble upon a post by SumYungGuy or another pleading for advice on how to parley with the PCAOB Laowai making a fuss over his figures. The poor lad's in a pickle, you see, since he cheated the exam and doesn’t know squat. Methodology For the purposes of this table, a company is considered Chinese if:
I should also point out that this list does not include companies domiciled exclusively in Hong Kong or Macau. ⚠️ Remember, this list only considers Chinese companies listed on three of the largest U.S. stock exchanges: New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), Nasdaq, and NYSE American. Oh, and btw, this isn’t a list I came up with. This info was compiled by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. It’s their methodology and list. Since the majority is a VIE, I’ve marked the ones that are not registered as a VIE with an asterisk (*). This is determined using the most recent annual report filed with the SEC. A company is judged to have a VIE if:
Chinese companies listed on U.S. exchanges Companies are arranged by the size of their current market capitalization. All companies utilize a VIE corporate structure, except those marked with an asterisk (*). BABA Alibaba Group Holding Limited PDD Pinduoduo Inc. NTES NetEase, Inc. JD JD.com, Inc. BIDU Baidu, Inc TCOM Trip.com International, Ltd. TME Tencent Music Entertainment Group LI Li Auto BEKE KE Holdings BGNE BeiGene * ZTO ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. YUMC Yum China Holdings Inc. EDU New Oriental Education & Technology Group, Inc. HTHT H World Group Limited * NIO NIO Inc. YMM Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd VIPS Vipshop Holdings Limited TAL TAL Education Group LEGN Legend Biotech * MNSO Miniso * BZ Kanzhun Limited XPEV Xpeng BILI Bilibili Inc. IQ iQIYI, Inc. HCM HUTCHMED (China) Limited * ATHM Autohome Inc. QFIN Qifu Technology RLX RLX Technology LU Lufax ATAT Atour Lifestyle Holdings * WB Weibo Corporation ZLAB Zai Lab Limited * ZKH ZKH Group Ltd * YY JOYY Inc. GOTU Gaotu Techedu, Inc. MSC Studio City International Holdings Limited * GCT GigaCloud Technology Inc GDS GDS Holdings Limited ACMR ACM Research, Inc. * HOLI Hollysys Automation Technologies, Ltd. * FINV FinVolution Group JKS JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. * DQ Daqo New Energy Corp. * MOMO Hello Group Inc. CSIQ Canadian Solar Inc. * EH Ehang TUYA Tuya Inc. NOAH Noah Holdings Ltd. HUYA HUYA Inc. KC Kingsoft Cloud YALA Yalla * These are only 51 of the 261 Chinese companies currently listed on the major U.S. exchanges to comply with rule three. I kept the market cap minimum at $750M to allow for some wiggle room. I mentioned earlier that the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission had 265 tickers, but that was on January 8, 2024. Since then, three companies have been acquired, and the other one has voluntarily delisted. As you can confirm, the vast majority is structured as a VIE. I was going to include charts to illustrate how several Chinese stocks—aside from the ones with the biggest market caps—tend to display sudden rallies, followed by after-hours reversals. It is important to recognize them, whether you want to capitalize on them, or avoid them entirely. But I can't add any more attachments, so... Besides, it's unlikely that many of you have even read this far without images. Have a good day. |
2024.05.13 23:26 escapehatch The Ultimate Skill Monkey
I wanted to make the ultimate BG3 skill monkey, and this post is the best I’ve been able to come up with so far. I’m looking for feedback and any ideas I’ve overlooked.
[I try not to spoil anything with this post, but you may be able to infer some things from the names of abilities or items I mention, so proceed at your own risk, I guess]
This build gets proficiency in every single skill, expertise in 13 skills, and ends the game at 19 STR, 20 DEX, 8 CON (lol), 17 INT, 18 WIS, and 20 CHA, and can do it all while being a useful support character in combat (you’re going to want someone else in the party to be your carry). In addition, they can buff their own skill checks with Guidance or Enhance Ability, and get 1d10 Bardic Inspiration and/or Guidance or Enhance Ability from a party member. With this character, the vast majority of your consequential skill checks will be made at advantage with a +12 flat bonus and at least 2d4 added on top of that.
I make a few choices that may seem suboptimal at first glance, but I actually think are optimal because I value expertise very highly (this is basically an exercise in seeing how many skills I can get expertise in at once), but don’t value Reliable Talent as much. Scroll to the bottom of this post for my treatise on why Reliable Talent isn’t as good as Expertise in BG3.
If you prefer Reliable Talent, then a Githyanki Rogue 11/Cleric 1 will be a great skill monkey. But I posit herein that it will not be The Ultimate Skill Monkey. The Ultimate Skill Monkey would have Proficiency in every skill and Expertise in every skill possible, and only miss it on the least consequential skills.
How do I do it? With Knowledge Cleric 2, Rogue 6, Bard 4.
Expertises: History, Arcana, Religion
Level 2:
Rogue 1 (Perception and Deception proficiency, Persuasion and Sleight of Hand expertise)
Proficiencies: Stealth, Insight, Perception, Deception
Expertises: History, Arcana, Religion, Sleight of Hand, Persuasion (bold means it just came off the proficiencies list because expertise got added)
Level 3:
Cleric 2: Knowledge of the Ages WIS (Animal Handling, Medicine, and Survival Proficiency)
You can use tricks to get the Shapeshifter’s Boon ring this early without risking the cow or Dammon in future acts (attack the cow with mage hand, then offer to bribe it to apologize, which opens up the trade window where you can buy the ring). I’d also recommend you get the Whispering Promise ring off Volo and start applying it with this character to buff your carry. You can also pick up the Warped Headband of Intellect, which amounts to a +4 to all INT-based skill checks for the rest of your career.
Proficiencies: Stealth, Insight, Perception, Deception, Animal Handling, Medicine, Survival
Expertises: History, Arcana, Religion, Sleight of Hand, Persuasion
Level 4:
Bard 1
Level 5:
Bard 2
Around now is when most people can get Hag’s Hair. With Hag’s Hair you can respec to re-optimize your key Ability Scores and eventually get DEX to 20, but if you want to save HH for your carry, you can also skip Khalid’s gift and just make your +2 WIS ASI into a +1DEX +1 WIS and accept the 1 point loss on WIS-based skill checks in the final build.
Level 6:
Lore Bard 3 (Acrobatics, Investigation, and Nature proficiency, and Insight and Perception Expertise, and you can now cast Enhance Ability)
If you haven’t already, go get The Graceful Cloth from Esther and put it on, for permanent +1 to your DEX skill checks and permanent advantage on them as well, for the rest of the game! You can also get the Club of Hill Giant Strength and Titanstring Bow now, which will simultaneously boost your Athletics checks by 5 and allow you to do competent attack damage when you’re done buffing your carries.
Proficiencies: Stealth, Deception, Animal Handling, Medicine, Survival, Acrobatics, Investigation, Nature
Expertises: History, Arcana, Religion, Sleight of Hand, Persuasion, Perception, Insight
Level 7:
Bard 4: feat: Actor (+1 CHA, Performance and Deception proficiency and expertise)
Respec to accommodate the +1 CHA and to replace Deception at Rogue 1 with Athletics
Proficiencies: Stealth, Animal Handling, Medicine, Survival, Acrobatics, Investigation, Nature, Athletics
Expertises: History, Arcana, Religion, Sleight of Hand, Persuasion, Perception, Insight, Deception, Performance
Level 8:
Rogue 2
Around now you’re getting into Act 3. Choose to become ugly so you get proficiency and expertise in Persuasion, Deception, and Intimidation, allowing you to respec out of those skills in your build (picking up redundant Medicine proficiency at Cleric 1 and Investigation expertise at Bard 3).
Proficiencies: Stealth, Animal Handling, Medicine, Survival, Acrobatics, Nature, Athletics
Expertises: History, Arcana, Religion, Sleight of Hand, Persuasion, Perception, Insight, Deception, Performance, Intimidation, Investigation
Level 9:
Rogue 3 (subclass doesn't matter to me, pick your favorite)
Around now you can get Khalid’s Gift, an amulet that can increase your WIS by 1. It’s not required, but if you want to really max your skil checks, it does allow you to break past another WIS threshold without giving up another important skill check ability score.
Level 10:
Rogue 4 (feat: +2 WIS, or stats of your choice)
Somewhere around now you’ll be ready to access The Mirror of Loss, which, with a little planning/respecccing/save scumming can get you +1 CHA and +2 to another stat. If you don’t/can’t scum or don’t want to put in the effort, you can adjust your ability scores down accordingly.
Level 11:
Rogue 5
Level 12:
Rogue 6 (Stealth and Acrobatics Expertise)
Proficiencies: Animal Handling, Medicine, Survival, Nature, Athletics (final count: 5)
Expertises: History, Arcana, Religion, Sleight of Hand, Persuasion, Perception, Insight, Deception, Performance, Intimidation, Investigation, Stealth, Acrobatics (final count: 13)
At any point in the fight, use Healing Word or just throw potions at people to apply Bless to the 4th party member with Whispering Promise, or to apply Bless to anyone without actually casting it.
Titanstring counting multiple times on trick arrows, plus sneak attack, and enemies will actually notice that you’re hitting them. And, more importantly, you're providing buffs that are relevant in combat throughout the game.
You may have noticed that while this Ultimate Skill Monkey covers an extraordinary range of skills and is competent in all of them, there are two skills I didn’t get expertise in that, from time to time, there will be pretty important checks you’ll want to pass, and often they’ll be passive: Athletics and Survival. You also need a strong carry to compensate for your relative combat weakness. Enter the overpowered Tavern Brawler Open Hand Monk/Thief.
Karlach and Wyll both start with Survival proficiency from their backgrounds and Athletics is a Rogue skill, allowing you to spend your 2x Expertise at Rogue 1 on Athletics and Survival.
Then use STR elixirs so you can pump WIS (which you’ll want to do by Act 3 anyway due to Boots of Uninhibited Kushigo), and now you’ve got someone who will spot every buried treasure and can turn valve wheels like a pro. Oh, and also does inconceivably devastating single-target damage.
Member 3: Bard
No skill monkey is complete without a separate bard to give them Bardic Inspiration. I prefer the 10/1/1 Swords Archer, but 10/2 SSB would be great too. Either one can do carry-level damage while abusing Band of the Mystic Scoundrel and Helm of Arcane Acuity to single-handedly trivialize any combat encounter. Can also cast Enhance Ability on you.
Member 4: Cleric
The only thing the team’s lacking is AoE damage, and someone to dump all the remaining caster, radorb, and reverb gear onto. Light Cleric 11/Storm Sorcerer 1 is my favorite option here, with Spirit Guardians applying gobs of debuffs, supplemented by fire spells that are buffed by oil your skill monkey can apply with their bow. I like the side benefits of Warding Flair, Aid, and other Cleric goodies here, but you could totally throw in a Sorcerer here, or swap to a lightning or ice variant with your skill monkey throwing water bottles on enemies as setup.
Thus ends the meat of the guide, thanks for reading and I’m looking forward to your feedback!
My Tiresome Treatise on Reliable Talent vs. Expertise in BG3
Reliable Talent is very good in a vacuum, but its value goes down substantially in the BG3 environment compared to tabletop.
submitted by escapehatch to BG3Builds [link] [comments]
[I try not to spoil anything with this post, but you may be able to infer some things from the names of abilities or items I mention, so proceed at your own risk, I guess]
This build gets proficiency in every single skill, expertise in 13 skills, and ends the game at 19 STR, 20 DEX, 8 CON (lol), 17 INT, 18 WIS, and 20 CHA, and can do it all while being a useful support character in combat (you’re going to want someone else in the party to be your carry). In addition, they can buff their own skill checks with Guidance or Enhance Ability, and get 1d10 Bardic Inspiration and/or Guidance or Enhance Ability from a party member. With this character, the vast majority of your consequential skill checks will be made at advantage with a +12 flat bonus and at least 2d4 added on top of that.
I make a few choices that may seem suboptimal at first glance, but I actually think are optimal because I value expertise very highly (this is basically an exercise in seeing how many skills I can get expertise in at once), but don’t value Reliable Talent as much. Scroll to the bottom of this post for my treatise on why Reliable Talent isn’t as good as Expertise in BG3.
If you prefer Reliable Talent, then a Githyanki Rogue 11/Cleric 1 will be a great skill monkey. But I posit herein that it will not be The Ultimate Skill Monkey. The Ultimate Skill Monkey would have Proficiency in every skill and Expertise in every skill possible, and only miss it on the least consequential skills.
How do I do it? With Knowledge Cleric 2, Rogue 6, Bard 4.
Ability Scores
Start 8, 16, 12, 8, 14, 16. As you get certain items, buffs, and feats you’ll respec to slowly dump that CON into other key stats. At the endgame you could use the CON necklace at the expense of your WIS.Leveling Steps:
Level 1:- Race: Rock Gnome (History proficiency and expertise). Don’t want to play a gnome? Well guess what, you’re going to be disguised 90% of the time anyway!
- Background: Urchin (Sleight of Hand and Stealth proficiency) [note: we pick this to avoid backgrounds that give WIS skills that would overlap with Knowledge of the Ages, and CHA skills that overlap with Illithid Expertise or the Actor feat]
- Class: Knowledge Cleric (Arcana and Religion proficiency and expertise, Insight and Persuasion proficiency, Guidance)
Expertises: History, Arcana, Religion
Level 2:
Rogue 1 (Perception and Deception proficiency, Persuasion and Sleight of Hand expertise)
Proficiencies: Stealth, Insight, Perception, Deception
Expertises: History, Arcana, Religion, Sleight of Hand, Persuasion (bold means it just came off the proficiencies list because expertise got added)
Level 3:
Cleric 2: Knowledge of the Ages WIS (Animal Handling, Medicine, and Survival Proficiency)
You can use tricks to get the Shapeshifter’s Boon ring this early without risking the cow or Dammon in future acts (attack the cow with mage hand, then offer to bribe it to apologize, which opens up the trade window where you can buy the ring). I’d also recommend you get the Whispering Promise ring off Volo and start applying it with this character to buff your carry. You can also pick up the Warped Headband of Intellect, which amounts to a +4 to all INT-based skill checks for the rest of your career.
Proficiencies: Stealth, Insight, Perception, Deception, Animal Handling, Medicine, Survival
Expertises: History, Arcana, Religion, Sleight of Hand, Persuasion
Level 4:
Bard 1
Level 5:
Bard 2
Around now is when most people can get Hag’s Hair. With Hag’s Hair you can respec to re-optimize your key Ability Scores and eventually get DEX to 20, but if you want to save HH for your carry, you can also skip Khalid’s gift and just make your +2 WIS ASI into a +1DEX +1 WIS and accept the 1 point loss on WIS-based skill checks in the final build.
Level 6:
Lore Bard 3 (Acrobatics, Investigation, and Nature proficiency, and Insight and Perception Expertise, and you can now cast Enhance Ability)
If you haven’t already, go get The Graceful Cloth from Esther and put it on, for permanent +1 to your DEX skill checks and permanent advantage on them as well, for the rest of the game! You can also get the Club of Hill Giant Strength and Titanstring Bow now, which will simultaneously boost your Athletics checks by 5 and allow you to do competent attack damage when you’re done buffing your carries.
Proficiencies: Stealth, Deception, Animal Handling, Medicine, Survival, Acrobatics, Investigation, Nature
Expertises: History, Arcana, Religion, Sleight of Hand, Persuasion, Perception, Insight
Level 7:
Bard 4: feat: Actor (+1 CHA, Performance and Deception proficiency and expertise)
Respec to accommodate the +1 CHA and to replace Deception at Rogue 1 with Athletics
Proficiencies: Stealth, Animal Handling, Medicine, Survival, Acrobatics, Investigation, Nature, Athletics
Expertises: History, Arcana, Religion, Sleight of Hand, Persuasion, Perception, Insight, Deception, Performance
Level 8:
Rogue 2
Around now you’re getting into Act 3. Choose to become ugly so you get proficiency and expertise in Persuasion, Deception, and Intimidation, allowing you to respec out of those skills in your build (picking up redundant Medicine proficiency at Cleric 1 and Investigation expertise at Bard 3).
Proficiencies: Stealth, Animal Handling, Medicine, Survival, Acrobatics, Nature, Athletics
Expertises: History, Arcana, Religion, Sleight of Hand, Persuasion, Perception, Insight, Deception, Performance, Intimidation, Investigation
Level 9:
Rogue 3 (subclass doesn't matter to me, pick your favorite)
Around now you can get Khalid’s Gift, an amulet that can increase your WIS by 1. It’s not required, but if you want to really max your skil checks, it does allow you to break past another WIS threshold without giving up another important skill check ability score.
Level 10:
Rogue 4 (feat: +2 WIS, or stats of your choice)
Somewhere around now you’ll be ready to access The Mirror of Loss, which, with a little planning/respecccing/save scumming can get you +1 CHA and +2 to another stat. If you don’t/can’t scum or don’t want to put in the effort, you can adjust your ability scores down accordingly.
Level 11:
Rogue 5
Level 12:
Rogue 6 (Stealth and Acrobatics Expertise)
Proficiencies: Animal Handling, Medicine, Survival, Nature, Athletics (final count: 5)
Expertises: History, Arcana, Religion, Sleight of Hand, Persuasion, Perception, Insight, Deception, Performance, Intimidation, Investigation, Stealth, Acrobatics (final count: 13)
Gear:
Almost all of the gear is available in Act 1!- Warped Headband of Intellect
- The Graceful Cloth (Esther)
- Shapeshifter’s Boon
- Whispering Promise
- Club of Hill Giant Strength
- Titanstring Bow
- Khalid’s Gift
Combat Strategy
There are a lot of options here, but I think the optimal thing is probably to either pre-cast or use your first action to cast Bless on 3 party members. Then on future turns use your BA to apply a weapon oil that will buff the fire damage from your Cleric, then use an Arrow of Many Targets to apply it (in less consequential fights you can conserve resources with a different weapon coating and cheaper trick arrow).At any point in the fight, use Healing Word or just throw potions at people to apply Bless to the 4th party member with Whispering Promise, or to apply Bless to anyone without actually casting it.
Titanstring counting multiple times on trick arrows, plus sneak attack, and enemies will actually notice that you’re hitting them. And, more importantly, you're providing buffs that are relevant in combat throughout the game.
Party Comp:
Member 2: MonkYou may have noticed that while this Ultimate Skill Monkey covers an extraordinary range of skills and is competent in all of them, there are two skills I didn’t get expertise in that, from time to time, there will be pretty important checks you’ll want to pass, and often they’ll be passive: Athletics and Survival. You also need a strong carry to compensate for your relative combat weakness. Enter the overpowered Tavern Brawler Open Hand Monk/Thief.
Karlach and Wyll both start with Survival proficiency from their backgrounds and Athletics is a Rogue skill, allowing you to spend your 2x Expertise at Rogue 1 on Athletics and Survival.
Then use STR elixirs so you can pump WIS (which you’ll want to do by Act 3 anyway due to Boots of Uninhibited Kushigo), and now you’ve got someone who will spot every buried treasure and can turn valve wheels like a pro. Oh, and also does inconceivably devastating single-target damage.
Member 3: Bard
No skill monkey is complete without a separate bard to give them Bardic Inspiration. I prefer the 10/1/1 Swords Archer, but 10/2 SSB would be great too. Either one can do carry-level damage while abusing Band of the Mystic Scoundrel and Helm of Arcane Acuity to single-handedly trivialize any combat encounter. Can also cast Enhance Ability on you.
Member 4: Cleric
The only thing the team’s lacking is AoE damage, and someone to dump all the remaining caster, radorb, and reverb gear onto. Light Cleric 11/Storm Sorcerer 1 is my favorite option here, with Spirit Guardians applying gobs of debuffs, supplemented by fire spells that are buffed by oil your skill monkey can apply with their bow. I like the side benefits of Warding Flair, Aid, and other Cleric goodies here, but you could totally throw in a Sorcerer here, or swap to a lightning or ice variant with your skill monkey throwing water bottles on enemies as setup.
Thus ends the meat of the guide, thanks for reading and I’m looking forward to your feedback!
My Tiresome Treatise on Reliable Talent vs. Expertise in BG3
Reliable Talent is very good in a vacuum, but its value goes down substantially in the BG3 environment compared to tabletop.
- Inspiration exists: if you happen to get a low roll, you can use inspiration. Meanwhile, there’s no mechanic that allows you to pump up your maximum skill check that you aren’t already using (Guidance, SSB, BI).
- Enhance Ability: you can pretty much always have this up, and use it during dialogue. Advantage greatly diminishes the odds of a bad roll
- Similarly, you can add Guidance and Bardic Inspiration at will
- Also similarly, the more dice you roll, the less likely you are to get all 1s, and in BG3 you can add Guidance and Shapshifter’s Boon to every roll, plus potentially BI.
- Reliable Talent has a very high opportunity cost in BG3: compared to my build, to get Rogue 11, you have to give up 4 skill proficiencies and 3x expertise, as well as the ability to cast Enhance Ability yourself (or Disguise Self without having to swap your hat in and out): without Knowledge Cleric 2 you have to drop Rock Gnome for Githyanki, and you can’t take Bard 3. And that’s before considering actual combat utility of the builds.
- 55% of the time (at least) it does literally nothing. If you have advantage, which you will have most of the time, the odds of it doing anything at all dwindle to 20%. When it does do something, it will add +5 to a roll on average…which is just 1 more than expertise is guaranteed to add to every roll over proficiency alone. In practice, it’s better than expertise about 11% of the time.
- Granted, those are the times you need it most, and when it’s at its best, it’s adding a whopping +9 to your roll.
- But how often is it actually going to turn a failure into a success when expertise wouldn’t? If with proficiency you’re adding +8+2d4 to most skill checks, you still beat a DC10. If going for a DC 20, with expertise and 1s on the extra dice (6.25% chance), you’d have to roll below 6 twice (advantage) to fail, which is 9%. You have a 0.6% chance of that happening, and if did happen to you, it might be in another scenario where it didn’t end up mattering! But if you rolled average on the d4s, you’d have to hit below 3 twice (2.25% chance) . In that extremely unlikely event, use an Inspiration point. To put it in plain language: you have something like a 1/50 chance that RT will give you a success when Expertise would not on a DC20 check.
- But what if the DC is very high? In that case, Expertise can cause success where RT would fail any time where a 10 on the die is still 1-4 short. If you’re only adding 13 on average to your roll, then you’d need a 17 to pass a DC30, while expertise brings that down to 13. With advantage you have a 36% chance to break 17, but a 51% chance to break 13. Forgive my napkin math, but that’s like 40% better odds, vs. the 11% chance RT will even be better than expertise, let alone the