This was supposed to be a reply to this post by u/Varixx95__, but it grew beyond the scope, and probably beyond the character limit, of a comment, and I decided to make a post, for exposure.

How would you sell this saga to your friends?

I wouldn't.
I can tell you what I liked about it: I think every person has a story to them. There's an opinion how this idea (about oneself) is self-aggrandizing and "narcissistic". I don't care, I think psychology is a pseudoscience, etc. I don't think this way about only myself, but about everyone. I think considering your life as a story is a good, constructive, virtuous idea that everyone should take to heart. See how your story shines through the events in your life. Did you see it? Now focus on it. Strive for greatness.
TNoTW is – was – like that except fiction. What you're asked to do in it, and in the good parts of TWMF, is see how the story of Kvothe's life fits together, how it arises from individual events. This is very relatable (even though Kvothe himself isn't). I love my life. I'm not rich or powerful or anything, but I'm incredibly thankful for all the seemingly-incidental lucky events that fit together to make me the person I am. I've had several really close brushes with utter disaster from which I've been rescued by what I think are spiritual forces (not opposed to material forces, just the other side of them, another interpretation; particle-wave dualism if you will). I have evidence, real evidence, that there's Good in the world. I can talk about it for days. Do you have evidence? I can listen to it for days, too.
I actually hate the characters of KKC. Not actively hate like a "fan" might: I remember I hate them when I remember this series exists. Not as fictional people but as devices, collections of words. None of them rise to the level of fictional people. I was kinda excited for Kvothe's story to be a tragedy, because I wish ill on almost all characters in it except Cinder, Devan, and possibly Lanre. Even "character" is pushing it, really. Words, words, words.
But I was interested in the story, because the story is fascinating. This is a first for me and will likely be the only. I've never ever read any other fiction book where I didn't care about or wished ill on the protagonists but was still invested in the story.
However, now that so many years have passed, I think the whole thing is a scam. There's no solution to the riddle.
Several years ago, I read the visual novel Higurashi When They Cry (quite an awkward title, yes; a mangled translation from Japanese made official). It consists of 8 parts divided into the "question arc" (chapters 1-4, when mysterious things happen) and the "answer arc" (chapters 5-8, which are supposed to give the explanations). I am a fan of choose-your-own-adventure books and own a vast collection of paper books. Unlike many visual novels, HWTC has no choices, but the developer insists it's a game and even breaks the fourth wall to lecture the reader. The challenge of the game, he says, is to figure out the central mystery of the story. Of the 7 parts I read before dropping, the most interesting by far was part 3: part 3 is why I persisted for so long, even as the explanations provided in the answer arc got dumber and dumber. I really wanted to find out the explanation for what happened in part 3; I had a theory which explained some of the things, but not everything.
In truth, there's no explanation. I'm not being facetious, you can look it up on the wiki. Not "unsatisfying" or "full of plotholes" or "we refuse to acknowledge it", none whatsoever. The author just came up with fascinating creepy happenings and wrapped them in a fascinating character study. Higurashi is popular, it has sequels, prequels, mangas, animes, remakes, etc, quite a multimedia franchise. There are fans making skitzo conspiracy charts, pointlessly theorizing about the in-plot explanations for the differences in adaptations and connections to the author's two other works. It's like everyone forgot the Great Chapter 3 Fakeout. The lesson I learned from the fiasco is you can get away with not having a solution to a mystery, and a critical mass of "fans" addicted to theorycrafting will nevertheless just let it slide and drown out dissenters.
A lot of fiction writing is illusions: you have to pretend, and help the reader pretend, there's a bigger world and deeper characters than really exist on paper. Some well-known techniques constitute blatant fakery; we notice it but it still works. For at least a century now, sword and sorcery writers dropped names of distant countries and ancient heroes, and sci-fi writers ascribed fictional inventions to fictional scientists. When Roy Batty in Blade Runner gives his famous monologue, we know that all the stuff he name-dropped will be indeed lost like tears in the rain, and gods willing we'll never get a Batty fanwank prequel explaining what the hell a Tannhauser Gate is. When Kvothe lists the plays he acted in or the books he read, we know we're never getting the full script to The Ha'penny King or a treatise on sygaldry with formulas and whatnot. And we all know a few stories about lone wanderers with ambiguous endings that got ruined by unnecessary assquels. Sometimes we're disappointed that a mysterious stranger is three kids in a coat. Sometimes he's a god, or the hero's future self from an alternate reality, which are supposed to be "cooler" but we're still disappointed. I know how these classic tropes work, I won't fault a writer for using them.
I consider myself a fairly unorthodox reader. I don't believe in "arcs" or "character development" or heaven forbid "hero's journey". I've seen complaints on the online that TNoTW/TWMF were pointless and badly written for allegedly lacking these things. I honestly don't care. To me, at every time, the story is meant to lead to the present moment, the line I'm currently reading, and where it goes from there is anyone's guess. I will never fault a writer for publishing part of story without knowing where it will go. I will never truly fault a writer for failing to stick the landing.
I'm also a (hobbyist) writer. I'm working on a somewhat interactive story, a tragedy of sorts which concerns a fictional catastrophe in a fictional corner of the 1600s Earth; less epic than KKC, no ultimate evil, no mythic history. In Part 1, with mild interactivity (mostly for the reader to express attitudes, sympathies and antipathies), as their honorable and well-intentioned plans collide, the characters will end up getting themselves and their homeland cursed (not literally but if you believe in curses then yes; it dovetails with my IRL story-based particle-wave worldview). I have it plotted fairly tightly. Part 2, in which they will try to atone and deal with the consequences, will be fully interactive, with the reader making decisive choices and arriving at one of a variety of (bad) endings. I don't know what will be in it. I haven't even decided on the structure. At one point, the lead character rules a fief, should I make a minimalist strategy game out of that bit? Make the whole part event-based, like the game King of Dragon Pass? Chapters like in Tyranny? Nevertheless, I think it's fair to release Part 1 alone when it's done; risky for me (no retcons after release) but fair to the readers. All the mysteries in it have answers, and if I only hint at some of the answers in Part 1 and there'll be WILD SPECULATION (oh how I wish…), worst case I'll put them in my will. And I will never fault another writer for doing the same. (I say reader, not player, because the story has a bad ending; I feel strongly that games are things you should be able to win.)
One thing is unforgivable. You should never ever write something "tee hee mysterious" for the reader to solve without having an actual solution in mind. I think it's what Rothfuss did, and this is why he's stuck.
I recommended TNoTW once, in the midst of reading it for the first time in 2009. Not for its plot or literary qualities: it was the best, most illustrative example of my worldview. It was good that the main story (the one Kvothe tells) was so unpretentious: it said, in an accessible way, "you too can touch the sublime". After the grossness, filth and idiocy of certain parts of TWMF, TNoTW lost the use as a recommendation: I can't hitch the wagon of my spirit to, ew, those things. And now even TNoTW itself is a hollow fake, a parody of what it could've been.
No, I'm not going to recommend it.

I apologize for the length in advance....Honestly, writing down my feelings isn't easy for me, but I'll give it a shot. As a guy, I've always felt like expressing emotions is a waste of time and unwelcome. That's why I turned to Reddit—where no one knows me and I don't have to fear judgment from people in my daily life. I've often felt like my issues aren't as bad as others', so I didn't think I had a place in this thread and just tried to tough it out. I still feel that way, but I think I'll explode if I don't get these thoughts out somewhere.
Growing up, I was always bullied and excluded, which made me feel like I'd never be fully accepted anywhere. I've been considered overweight for most of my life, and people never missed a chance to remind me. Looking in the mirror, I feel disgusted with my body. Whenever I try to start a routine of exercising and eating healthier, it doesn't last because the cruel things people say hold me back. It feels like I'm only trying to lose weight because of them, not for myself. It really hurts to hear comments like, 'I don't want to work with him, he's fat,' or 'You need to lose some weight, you're too big.' These words stick with me, and I just can't seem to lose weight, no matter what I do. Discouragement is always there.
I've always been the one who 'accidentally' wasn't invited to the party or event. I get those lame apologies like, 'I thought you wouldn't want to come' or 'I didn't think you'd be into that.' Sometimes, I wouldn't get invited at all, and everyone would act normal the next day. I've been excluded because of my weight and race, and it's made me ashamed of my background. I feel like so many people are better than me, and that's why I can't be friends with them or get invited to events. Now, I turn down any invites because I always feel like there's a catch or some malicious intent. I'm not used to feeling included, so when it happens, it makes me uncomfortable in the worst way and it sucks.
Growing up, my parents always treated my sister better than me. When she got in trouble, she'd get yelled at or have something taken away. But for me, it was much worse—I’d get yelled at, have things taken away, and get beaten. My father used dress shoes, belts, broomsticks, his hands, and feet on me. My sister never faced that kind of discipline. Some beatings haunt me to this day, making physical affection really hard for me. I remember being beaten until I bled or being thrown against walls. Going to school with visible bruises was humiliating, and even teachers made fun of me sometimes.
My dad would also destroy things I loved as punishment. I vividly remember him breaking my favorite Spider-Man (2002) DVD, threatening to hit me if I tried to stop him. Since then, I haven't watched that movie. He also broke some toys and electronics, making me detach from things I loved because I knew they'd eventually be destroyed. I would cry, be angry, and sad for days, and if I showed it, my dad would give me the "I'll give you something to cry about" lecture. This experience left me feeling powerless and angry with anything I grew to love and cherish.
My younger cousin had to stay with my family as her mother was arrested and she would have been placed in foster care if we had not taken her in. I'm not sure what she was subjected to but she would constantly ask me for sexual favors (I was also a kid at this time as well) and I would turn her down for obvious reasons. Eventually, she became more aggressive and would ask for sexual favors but add ultimatums in which she would tell my parents I was trying to do sexual things to her if I didn't comply. I couldn't tell if this was a joke, so I complied being a dumb kid, and continued to feel so humiliated and violated by my cousin. Thankfully, she was able to leave our house to live with another relative but I never told my parents what went down.
As a teenager, I realized how emotionally unavailable my parents were. Whenever I tried to talk to them about my dark thoughts and feelings, they brushed me off, especially my mom. She’d say I was making it up, being dramatic, acting crazy, or being a psychopath. My dad would make sarcastic remarks or smile like I was a crazy person, telling me to stop the nonsense.
What hurt even more is that both my parents work in mental health. It’s ironic how two mental health professionals could make me feel so invalidated. Whenever I calmly approached them about something they did or said that upset me, they’d gaslight me into thinking I was the problem, especially my mom. She always found ways to make me feel guilty and stupid if I didn’t follow her advice. Saying no in my house was nearly impossible.
For a long time, I believed that my self-hatred and suicidal thoughts were just me being dramatic because my parents made me feel that way. They took my sister’s emotions more seriously. When she had depressive episodes, they’d check on her, but they never did the same for me. My dad even said it was probably because she's a woman and I’m a man, which seemed to be the dynamic in our household.
One time, my sister pulled a knife on me because I called her friend a B-word after being bullied by her. She chased me into the kitchen, pinned me against the counter, and threatened to cut me if I ever insulted her friend again. My dad also chased me with a knife and scissors during heated arguments. When I voiced thoughts about wanting to harm or kill myself, my dad would grab something sharp and say he'd help me do it, while my mom would coldly say, 'Do what you gotta do,' or even claim, 'He's not my son anymore.'
My sister never seemed to care about my mental and emotional health, and my parents seemed to agree with her. She constantly made me feel inferior, saying things like, 'You're not emotionally developed enough to have conversations with me.' This lack of support from my family made me feel even more isolated and desperate.
I used to cut myself, eat gluten (even though I have celiac disease) to cause internal pain and bleeding, and hit myself with objects or my bare hands. I’d punch my thighs or my face until I saw bruises, discoloration, blood, or swelling. I still do this when I feel overwhelmed, as a form of self-punishment. I also yell at myself aggressively because I believed that’s what punishment was. I even broke my own things as a way of saying, 'Do it again, and see what happens.' I thought punishment meant making myself feel miserable and worse about myself, rather than teaching a lesson.
In high school, the bullying continued. People brought up old things to bully me about, and I faced even more racism, being called the N-word and hearing other racist jokes and phrases. Many people told me I should just kill myself and that I was a waste of space. This was when I first seriously considered suicide and started planning it out.
During this time, I met my first girlfriend. She was a bright spot in my life, but then she cheated on me three times with her ex-FWB. With little self-worth or respect, I kept taking her back, letting her disrespectful remarks and actions slide. Yet, she also had moments of being loving, caring, and understanding. I felt trapped because she made me feel understood and cared for. Looking back, it was probably a manipulation tactic.
As an adult, things got even worse. I stayed with my ex-girlfriend for about five years, enduring her cheating, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, and sometimes physical and sexual abuse. She insulted my family and friends, invalidated my feelings, and told me to 'stop crying' and 'be a man' when I was struggling with suicidal thoughts. She’d throw objects at me during arguments and manipulate me into having sex, knowing how desperate I was to stay with her. She even showed her friends pictures of my penis, ignoring how uncomfortable it made me.
One day, I made a harmless joke about always doing her laundry, and she flipped out. We got into a heated argument, and I said some hurtful things, like how I needed medication because of situations like this. We broke up that day, and she slammed her promise ring into my hand.
I was a wreck and tried to patch things up, but she said she wanted to 'experiment' and sleep with other guys. She went on to sleep with many guys and a few girls, and she’d give me detailed rundowns of what she did with each of them. She talked about their "sizes", what they were good at, and things she experienced with them. It crushed me and destroyed my sexual confidence, making me feel like I was never good enough.
This relationship left me more self-conscious about my body than ever. I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, and ADHD. I've tried various medications to find what works, and I'm still figuring it out.
Eventually, I hit my breaking point and decided to overdose on my antidepressants. After taking them, I collapsed, feeling my heart race, and my body heat up, and struggled to stay awake. My parents saw what was happening and just stayed with me in my room instead of taking me to the hospital. I could have died that night, and maybe I should have because if my parents would leave me to die, how can I believe anyone cares about me?
A few weeks later, I tried to OD again. This time, no one saw, and I passed out, waking up hours later, still alive. I felt like I couldn't even kill myself correctly, and it made me wonder how I could do anything right. I started distancing myself from friends, going months without talking to them. Even though it hurts, I feel like their lives are better without me in them.
I have a few things going for me right now, but it's gotten to the point where I'd give it all up just to stop the pain. I'm almost done with my MBA, I have money saved up, a new girlfriend who's much better than my ex, good friends, and a family. But no matter how hard I try, I can't feel happy.
I've tried seeking professional help, but it hasn't worked out. Therapists either don't pay attention, like one who was on her phone during most of our sessions, or they keep canceling on me. It feels like no one wants to help.
Right now, I still feel the same way, stuck in the same patterns, and the only solution I see is ending my life. I've prayed to God many times, and I believe He hears me. I don't blame Him for any of this, but I hope one day I can experience happiness and the positive feelings people talk about. At this point, I think only God can help me, but it feels like it'll never happen in my lifetime.
I don't feel like I have anyone to turn to or vent to. It seems like I only have myself to rely on, and maybe that's just how it's supposed to be. I really hope my day of death comes soon because I can't keep living like this. I'm isolating myself from friends, my partner, and family. I feel like a waste of space, not good enough for anyone or anything. I believe I'll always be nothing, a loser, fat, and ugly. Sometimes, it's just not in the cards to be 'somebody' in life, and that's the sad truth for me. I honestly don't know what else to do or say.

Hi guys, not sure if this is allowed here but I'll shoot my shot. Every October my improv theater does a special Halloween-themed show throughout the month. I pitched a long-form AYAOTD show, and it's looking like it's going to get off the ground. (Not a 100% sure thing yet, but all signs point to yes, so fingers crossed.)
Basically what I'd like to know from you superfans is what you think are some absolute must-haves for this type of show.
If you guys know anything about improv, basically I'm planning to do a show where we get a suggestion from the audience like, "What's the name of a made-up monster?" or "What scares you the most?" I'm also toying around with an idea to get an audience member to tell a short spooky story to inspire the episode (a modified Armando format, for you improvisers out there). From there, the incredibly talented improvisers at my theater will take this suggestion and turn it into a 40-ish minute original episode in the style of AYAOTD.
I'd like to keep the show as simple and minimally scripted as possible (it is improv, after all). The beats I'm planning to hit are: 1. One actor gives a thematic introduction before throwing the dust over a (cardboard) campfire on stage and announcing the name of the episode. 2. The actors take on stereotypical 90s teen roles of their own choosing 3. A typical teenage problem is paired side-by-side with the supernatural problem. 4. One actor takes on the role of the antagonist 5. Something happens to raise the stakes 6. The conflict reaches the climax and denouement with the resolution of the typical teenage problem 7. The actors return to express a life lesson learned and extinguish the fire.
I've been rewatching a lot of the episodes and trying to pin down a prototype for the structure.
Is there anything I'm missing here? If you were watching an improvised stage production of AYAOTD, what would you want to see? To not see, perhaps? Any and all thoughts will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
P.S. If any of you are in the Atlanta area around October and want some free tickets, I could probably make that happen!

I just spent the last five hours barricaded in my study, under siege from the most random of odds and ends: a report on the impact of climate change, a proposal for a new project, my daughter's school play script, my half-finished novel, and let's not forget the lifelong aspiration to master the art of baking. So, in essence, I had a cluttered brain with multitudes of unrelated information swarming around aimlessly. It was like a twisted scene from a horror movie.
In this moment of crisis, I was transported back in time to my high school days when Mrs. Miller, my dark-lensed, stern-faced, but brilliant geography teacher, introduced the class to mind mapping. Ah, I can still hear her voice echoing, "Connect and conquer!"
Using a blank sheet of paper and an array of colored pens, I started to draw. Essentially, what I started doing was to create a visual representation of my thoughts, tasks, and the complex relationships between them - a mind map. Bit by bit, things started to fall into place. The climate report could actually be related to the project proposal, my novel could incorporate a scene from the play script, and heck, I could even bake a thematic cake for my daughter's school play!
After an hour or two, my mind had cleared, my focus had returned, and I felt like I had a solid plan for tackling all those unrelated items. I even felt inspired, like I had just discovered hidden treasure or unraveled an ancient mystery.
The lesson here, dear readers, is that mind mapping can be a wonderful tool to streamline your thoughts, make connections between disparate ideas, and increase your productivity. So the next time you feel overwhelmed or lost in the sea of your own thoughts, remember Mrs. Miller's advice: "Connect and conquer!"
P.S. While Mrs. Miller might be a figment of my imagination, the power of mind mapping isn't. Seriously, give it a try. And if you ever manage to connect a climate change report to baking, let me know. We might just start a club.

Hey everyone! I launched a debut book June 1st and I wanted to share some lessons I learned for debuting as a complete nobody.
The stats: I sold 22 copies (15 ebooks, 7 physical), got 568 kindle reads (about 1.5 of the book length), and 5 reviews. I hit the Amazon bestseller page for LGBT+ sci-fi a few times, so I am technically an Amazon bestseller!
Pre-game - ARCS
I didn't do any pre-order period because nobody knows who I am anyway, but I did send out ARCs 2 weeks ahead of the launch. I messaged 70 in-genre influencers, 5 got back, and 2 left a review. I expect a few more reviews to come later. A few made social media posts, but there was no bump in sales the day of the posts, and views were low. (If you're paying attention to the social media landscape, views across the board for small and medium-sized influencers are down).
I submitted my ARC to various Facebook groups and Voracious Readers Only. From there I got 1 reviewer who "doesn't do" Amazon reviews and a drive-by 2-star rating.
The rest of my reviews came from beta readers that I personally contacted. I did not ask friends or family for reviews because they don't read this genre anyway.
Lessons learned: Messaging influencers is a ton of work, and returns are minimal. They can be a good source of reviews but don't expect sales from their posts. Additionally, message them early; 1 month at least. ARC groups are mainly populated by people looking for free crap and a good half of them won't even download the file anyway (I tracked clicks). Some will read the whole thing, download your free novella, and then still not leave a review.
Personally sending messages to people on Discord, Reddit, and wherever else is the best way to get those reviews. People say you're not supposed to pester readers, but it honestly returned the best results for me. It seems that the personal element adds some pressure for them to actually write a review. Additionally, they tend to write better-quality reviews than total strangers. I'll keep you updated as more reviews come in.
The package - Cover, content, and metadata
My cover cost $1000+ and took 40 or so hours of my own time to paint the background, balance the colors, and format. This is going to be overkill for most authors, but in the LGBT SFF space, covers with 2 full-body characters are the standard.
The book took me several years to polish and went through two rounds of professional editing. I'm going to be honest, I don't think all the money spent on professional editors had as much of an effect on the final product as all the beta-reading did. Even the proofread was returned with errors despite that I went to a reputable (and expensive) agency. I've now found a personal contact who's an excellent proofreader, but based on my experience, the only person you can trust to do the job right is yourself. Take the time to do the boring work of learning how to use commas, hyphens, and all that, because no one will put as much effort into polishing your work as you will.
For Amazon keywords and categories, I spent days researching and debating. I ended up spreading my categories thin between sci-fi > dystopian, romance > vampires, and LGBT > sci-fi, but I think my most traction has come from the smallest of those three, the LGBT+ > sci-fi category. Additionally, I used nearly all of my keyword space, which got me added to several additional categories like cyberpunk, but after more thought, I realized that trimming off the less-searched terms and concentrating my focus was a better strategy. Additionally, I did use a subtitle, which many people recommend not doing, but adding that subtitle allowed me to rank first page for some critical terms like "gay dystopian" and "vampire dystopian" without even putting those in my keywords.
I set the novel price to $.99 for the first week to lower the bar to entry. I've since raised it to $2.99 to stay below my competitors, and I'll let y'all know how it changes sales.
Lessons learned: Spend those marketing dollars on your cover art first. Take your time planning your meta-data and keywords. A modest sub-title won't get you banned.
Post-launch - Social media marketing
I had big plans for marketing. I bought props, I took a week off of work, and I put my whole heart into it. All my social media efforts resulted in 46 clicks (I tracked this through affiliate links) and one sale--one sale of someone else's book, lol.
Here's an example of one of the several book trailers I made: https://www.instagram.com/p/C7qK0xAPUPe/
I really thought these were going to pop off, but for each one, I got negligible views on Instagram and Facebook, 250 impressions on TikTok, and 1k on YouTube shorts. You can also see that I have a number of low-effort posts on my social media, and they got the same views as my high-effort ones. TikTok especially surprised me, because I made far crappier videos 2 years ago and could get up to 10k impressions.
I think I may have gotten 1-2 sales from recommending my book on Reddit and 1 from someone I talked to in the comments of Instagram.
Lessons learned: Social media marketing is probably a waste of time for a debut. It seems like a place people go to follow you after they've read your book. TikTok is dead for most genres, but YouTube shorts might be a valid route. Instagram is best for static images, but it's a slow-build game. Facebook only works if you already have a network that's interested in your genre (but my demo isn't big on there). Again, any sales will be through one-on-one interactions with people. If you really want to try social media marketing, make bucket-loads of low-effort content. A video with hours of planning and editing will get the same views as a low-effort trope post.
Busting out your wallet - Paid ads
I experimented with Instagram boosts, Facebook ads, and Amazon ads. I didn't bother with TikTok ads or anything that was pay-per-impression. For $2, I boosted a few Instagram posts, which claimed to get me 8 clicks, but my affiliate links did not report those clicks, so I honestly think these may be a scam. I'm still experimenting with Facebook ads, so I'll report back on those later.
As for Amazon ads, I directly targeted about 250 similar novels and 400 key terms. Many of these books and terms are highly-niche and extremely applicable to my novel, but because they are so niche, they never got many impressions. Moreover, I could target a queer sci-fi vampire novel that is a 1-for-1 comp of mine, but if I wasn't willing to pay $.90 for a click, I couldn't compete with the general vampire erotica bidding on that spot. There was one exception, the category LGBTQ+ Science Fiction. General advice is that buying ads on categories is a bad idea, but all of my 3 sales were from this category. I also experimented with UK, Canada, and Australia ads, but they didn't return any sales.
For general statistics, I got 1800 impressions, 12 clicks at $0.40, and 3 sales. For the first three days of activity, Amazon wouldn't give me hardly any impressions, so I basically had to "earn" the right to pay for those clicks.
Lessons learned: Amazon ads on niche terms/books/categories will provide your best cost-per-click. Category ads for niche categories can be a good investment. I think when people search for a category, they don't have a particular book in mind, so it can be easier to close the sale. I've gotten clicks on competitor's books, but never a single sale; I assume the customer just bought the book they were looking for in the first place.
Final takeaways
So, out of 22 sales, I estimate 3 were from beta readers, 3 were from friends/happy ARC readers, 3 were from ads, and maybe 3 were from personal recommendations online. Where did the other 13 come from? My best guess is Amazon itself. My "customers also viewed" is finally getting into a place that makes sense, and I know I've got a super shiny cover. I wish I had more reviews, but I think the fact that the few I have are very detailed is saving me.
This leaves me with one final takeaway: The best use of your time and money is on polishing your Amazon sales page to a high shine. Perfect your blurb and metadata. Spend money on the cover before spending on ads. Create A+ content and a proper author bio before spending time on social media.
Also, remember that you can ask your betas or friends for quotes to put in your product description. Ask them right after they read it too, because if you come back a month later, they might never get around to it.

The Winds of Winter
Prologue
A storm was coming, but that was not part of the plan.
To the east, dark grey clouds and flashes of lightning were seen afar while thunder could be heard mumbling its rage in the distance. Here where they stood, fierce sea-chilled winds blew from the clear skies of the west. Two weather fronts were on course for a collision, and caught in between was a giant rock that mountains above the shoreline, a hard place. The old natural stonewalls of Casterly Rock were half bathed in gold from the even-falling sun, while the other hid in the shadow of the approaching storm. And soon enough, everything will be clouded in black.
The sound of the strong waves smacking into the face of the stony cliffs can be felt from a mile away, as it was no different from the ones crashing into the wooden hull of their galley. Above their rocking swanship, three tall wooden masts sported simple dark black sails, filled with winds from the west, speeding their eastern course towards the home of House Lannister, ready to hug the coastline tight, fast and dangerous.
The Summer Isle captain at the helm shouted his accented announcement, “Awww shittt! Everyone get yo shields and weapons ready. It’s about to go down! Adventurers and avengers, assemble up to the deck of Motherfunker. Be sharp and stay on yo toes! We’re running this so let’s go!”
“With me to the boats!” the legendary stern knight Ser Brynden Tully called out as his fighting men rallied at the starboard rear of their ship, emerging from the cabins below.
“We all chose to be here. If any man wants to back down now, then do so quickly. I would not die in that man’s company. We elected to do this task for honor and for justice. Some of us are here for vengeance and we may even chance to kill some of them. If so, you may enjoy your short moment of pleasure. But what I offer here is the IMMORTALITY of the songs and tales. And when it is all said & done as we return safely home, the singers will sing of this glorious day, our honorable deed, and their shame of a jape. And they will sing it from this day to the ending of the world, and we in it shall be remembered! We few, we brave few, we band of brothers. For he who shed blood with me today shall be my brother forever in song!”
A roar of cheer exploded in the air, loud and thunderous. As the ruckus died down, Lady Mormont proclaimed, “And a sister too!”
“Aye Maege,” said the Blackfish. “But we have always considered you as one of our brothers. Between your legs, your sacs are larger than most men, especially all the Lannister soldiers.”
“Well that is easy to say, all those Lannisters are a bunch of golden eunuchs!” Lady Mormont declared unlady like.
Laughter swept the deck.
The Summer Isle captain above shouted again and prayed, “Today is The Day, and the moment is upon us my friends. Thirty seconds until the drop zone lads! May the gods be with yo!”
On the starboard stern, three small rowboats hung out from the hull, hovering above the rough waves. Attached over the swanship’s parapet was a roped ladder, allowing the fighters to lower themselves down onto their watercrafts. Each one was designed to hold four pairs of oarsmen abreast, and a single coxswain to steer at the rear.
They were twenty good men and Maege. Each one scaled in black boiled leather armor, with a quiver of arrows slung on one back shoulder, and a Summer Isle goldenheart bow on the other. Most fighters had their own selection of close quarter combat weapons that sat on their belts while a round black-painted wooden shield rested at the center of their backs. They wore no sigils and smeared mud spots on their faces to mimic dark ghostly shadows for this stealthy task. They were lightly armored and had fewer weapons, as their goal required speed. If all goes to plan, they would not need any of them. They could accomplish this mission without a soul lost on either side. But this approaching storm was not part of the plan.
The Blackfish made one last heroic call on the deck of the Motherfunker, before he lowered himself on the ladder, “Come with me and take this song!”
Rico added to the cry, “Come on brothers! Do you want to live forever!?!”
They roared proudly again and began their descent as the Summer Isle crewmen assisted the Westerosi to the ropes, sharing firm ebony and ivory handshakes as they told them they will be back.
Ser Brynden Tully reached the rear rowboat LionsJape along with June, Jory, Jess, Fess, Ben and Benjen. Though it was the end boat, it will be the first to fly.
Aboard the middle boat WinterStorm was Lady Maege Mormont, and the other six oarsmen Phyl, Rico, Sam the Shredder, Ser Barnabus the Goose, Scrooge, and Queen Jeyne’s brother Ser Raynald Westerling.
Lord Galbart Glover commandeered the third boat BattleWolf, which hung closer to the center of the swanship. On it were the younger men Donal, Mikkal, Raff, Leo, and Alesander, all merely teenagers.
As he watched from above, Ser Olyvar Frey thought they were little dark turtles crawling down the ladders with their black shields slung on their backs. As the last turtle, Olyvar hugged & kissed his sister Roslin, and then their brother Perwyn. Ser Perwyn Frey was Lady Tully’s sworn shield, charged with her life’s protection, and her unborn child’s too. Though they were all Frey as family, Rosby blood thorns in their veins as well. We were all just sweet Roses By another name, a horrible name.
Olyvar descended. Alesander Frey was waiting for him adjacent to an empty seat on the boat. He was Olyvar’s nephew, but because they were of a similar age, Alesander felt more like a cousin to him, a cousin that felt more like a brother. He wondered what their mothers would have thought if they saw them there now. As Olyvar sat, he stretched his arms wide at the starboard-bow of BattleWolf and the brothers both grabbed an oar each. Alesander sang and japed, “Are you ready to fly this boat to the moon somehow?”
“Nothing is impossible!” Olyvar smiled.
Ser Olyvar Frey never thought he would be on this boat, absorbing the wrath of the big blue watery roads, rocking BattleWolf as it clung to Motherfunker. But his new knightly confidence was so high he could roar at the Drowned God to look at him and tell him to piss off. But he knew better and kept his silence. With his Frey luck, he believed his corpse would be bedding with mermaids down under the sea if he ever cursed the Drowned God aloud.
The owner of the swanship Motherfunker was an exiled prince of the Summer Isles, a big man with a short black beard, shiny bald head and a dark patch over his left eye that he can’t see through. He was Captain Samullu Jaqenssen, but notoriously called the Black Sparrow … though Olyvar had never heard of him until recently. He and his crew were the only sailors that would assist them in their cause, hypnotized to be a part of their upcoming famous Westerosi song. He was to help navigate his galley at high speeds hugging the rocky coast of the Westerlands. With the three rowboats hung to the side of Motherfunker, it would be hard for the sentries on top of the Rock to spot from above. The Motherfunker stayed far away from the coastline to only emerge near their objective at the time of attack. With a single swanship with plain black sails, the Black Sparrow hoped that the Lannister watchmen would pay them no mind as a regular trading galley on its way to Lannisport or wherever, instead of a vessel for an amphibious assault on their castle. And the stronger the winds and the faster the ship, the window of time to be exposed was much shorter. “They had the need for speed, and the speed needed the wind,” Goose had said the night before. The gods have blessed them with strong winds now. They were to come with the sun setting at their backs in the west, blinding any coastal lookout. Because they were cursed with this approaching storm, the plan changed and they had to depart earlier. Olyvar prayed that this would not compromise the mission. Only time will tell.
Racing onto the storm and nearing the rising cliffs, the Captain spun his ship quickly to a southern course and gave the crewmen the signal to dismount. “Ahhhhhhhhh-ah Ahhhhhhhh-ah!”
“Get ready to push!” the Blackfish commanded.
Each oarsman pressed the tip of their long wooden stick onto the hull of the galley, ready to push off. The Summer Isle crewmen began severing the connections of the mothership and its three rowboats. Single-handed axes swung as LionsJape pushed itself off, the first of three. The rowboat plummeted and the waters swallowed it before spitting it back out just as quick. After allowing itself to lose in Motherfunker’s wake, the oarsmen redirected the bow towards the rocks at the Blackfish’s orders.
The WinterStorm followed right after with Lady Maege’s commands, “Push lads! Push! Push!” as it dropped.
Now it was BattleWolf’s turn. “Gods damn it, I’m too old for this shit,” Lord Glover said as he raised a gloved hand and swung it down, giving the signal to cut. At the main deck, the crewmen swung their axes, gleaming gold in the western sunlight as the oarsmen pushed off. For a heartbeat, the fall had taken Olyvar’s breath away as Lord Glover’s BattleWolf floated in the air. Are we flying? Are we on a dragon? His rowboat slammed into the water, splashing chilled wet droplets inside the boat and out. His hair of short black curls flew and fell, dampening at the plunge. The collision almost knocked Olyvar and the men overboard, but they hung on. The Motherfunker left them with a white salty wake as it headed south. Lord Glover then commanded the starboard men to pull their oars, aiming towards WinterStorm. Olyvar pulled. Once aligned, both sides of BattleWolf began to rev hard. The men were howling and roaring with each tension, trying to evade this dangerous zone of being spotted.
Since the Red Wedding and the death of his beloved King, Robb Stark, Olyvar could not sleep. Grief, anger, vengeance, insomnia and drowsiness took him over the days and nights that felt like half-dreams. But the crashing kiss of the water dive had re-woken Olyvar in shock, as he realized what they were about to do was no fantasy he had ever known. Nothing can stop us now, this is really happening. His heart was pounding to the rhythm of the oars and he wanted to scream his battle cry. He could still hear Jaqenssen the Black Sparrow sounding his siren “Ahhhhhhhh-ah Ahhhhhhh-ah!”
We are brothers loyal to the King in the North, the land of ice and snow. We serve Riverrun and Winterfell, where the hot springs flow. And now the divine winds of the gods had driven our mothership to the Westerlands. To fight for honor, the North will sing and the West will cry. Casterly Rock … Winter is Coming! On we sweep with threshing oars, our only goal will be the western shore!
As Olyvar’s oar rose and fell, he looked up to the windows of Casterly Rock’s tall stony towers, searching for the signaling candle light. But it could not be seen this early. Only when the sun was fully set as planned, this candle would replace it as the guiding light. They rowed by rocks and rocks and more rocks. Seagulls flew in spheres above them, chasing one another. The sun still hung in the air, slowly falling to splash onto the western horizon of the Sunset Sea. They then rowed by a courtyard that just floated on the earth forty feet above the sea’s surface. Suddenly on the other side of their boat, they eyed a whale skimming off the glimmering golden ocean. The boys of the vulnerable BattleWolf did not say a word as the monstrous water-beast swam the opposite direction just twenty yards away from them, paying them no mind. It was a good thing I did not curse the Drowned God as I was going to earlier.
Olyvar, Alesander, Leo, Mikkal, Raff and Donal were seated on Galbart Glover’s rowboat, rowing to Galbart Glover’s commands, “Row! Row! Row your boats you son o’ whores!” and taking in Galbart Glover’s cold stare as he eyed the two Freys specifically when he said it. Olyvar’s arms began to tire, but this was not the place to show weakness to his brothers. So he pulled on while keeping their rowboat as close to the stony walls as possible to avoid detection from above.
They trailed the Lady Bear while following the Blackfish. Soon after, Ser Brynden Tully had found his mark and grounded LionsJape onto a small beach. His men exited, flipped the rowboat above them and dashed forty yards straight toward the rocky edge, where a small barred cave was fitted at the base. Underneath the rusted iron, a thin valley of brown watery slush stank & trickled into the sand & sea. Everyone knew what that was when they agreed to participate in the assault. The Blackfish was told back at Riverrun about a sewer path inside Casterly Rock that allowed all the shit and piss to drain out to the ocean. This tiny hole by the foot of the mountain was all and everything for the mission.
When the sprinting men reached the end with their boat, they dropped it at the skirt and pressed themselves against the wall. The façade was conveniently arched outwards as it ascended, making it difficult to be sighted from above. With the waves muffling the noise of speech, any of them can speak freely outside at sea level. From the cliffs above, their human conversations below would only sound like ghostly whispers. No casual listener should be alerted to such. But hearing and seeing are different things, and they must not be seen.
WinterStorm and BattleWolf soon followed. As Olyvar departed BattleWolf, he cringed at the soreness of his arms that the work had left him. His arms will have to ache again as his squad lifted the rowboat above their heads. They stormed towards the barred entrance, with bow and quiver slung on each shoulder, a turtle shell shield at the center of his back. While the others carried shorter lighter personal weapons, Olyvar was equipped with a longsword that once belonged to his King, Robb Stark.
They dropped off BattleWolf when they reached the wall, waiting for a way in. Ten brothers on one side of the cave, and eleven on the other. The closest ones to the door had their small axes and weapons drawn along with their shields, while the further ones notched an arrow onto their bow. Olyvar had his Summer Isle goldenheart bow ready. The entrance was small, the same size as their black shields, guarding the realm of Casterly Rock, and they continued to wait.
This thunderstorm was coming, and it was not part of the plan. It was the Blackfish’s decision to leave Motherfunker earlier before the storm surges would flood the sewers of Casterly Rock. Their forty yard dash from the beach to the gate may be twenty yards if they arrived an hour later … and there may be no more exit by the time they escape back. But Stark loyalists hidden in the woods outside of the castle were told of executing this assault at the exact evenfall of Queen Jeyne Stark’s arrival to Casterly Rock. The Lannister soldier escorts would be exhausted from their march and acquired a false sense of security when they reached the safe comforts of the castle. The Stark land forces led by Lord Gawen Westerling would create a mummer’s farce with trumpets and drums, sending the weary Lannisters to one side, as the Blackfish himself attacked the other from the sea. Evenfall of this day was the golden time to do this, but they arrived an hour too early. With the storm, Olyvar prayed that everyone else would adjust to the plan. He wondered if Lord Westerling would account for the storm surges. But it makes no difference now. They were here, and they cannot turn back.
Suddenly the rusted iron of the barred cave unlocked and swung open, creaking like a loud squealing rat. Emerged was a crouching older man with a short gray beard and a jaw squared like a mason spice jar. “Welcome to the Rock!” Ser Rolph Spicer declared.
Ser Brynden greeted him with a hug, “I’m so glad you came early, we would be sleeping with the fishes if you were late.”
“It was Edmure’s idea to leave early, he said the storm would flood the sewers, and we prayed you would come sooner too.”
“Like that damn Mill again, Edmure acting prematurely? That boy will never learn! Thank the Gods!”
They both chuckled and began entering through the gate. The others soon followed, ducking into the small hole and into the darkness.
Once inside the caves of Casterly Rock, Ser Rolph grabbed his torchlight and lifted it to the air, showing the brothers the vastness. The lobby was an open abyss where the ceiling was fifty feet high. The walls had multiple rocky openings naturally carved in, small and large. Some were wide enough to walk through. Inside were all shadows, saved the areas illuminated by golden sunlight spying in through each seldom hole or fissure. Where the flames can brighten, hard brown rocks glowed and flickered, as well as old metal tracks, mining carts, abandoned tools, ladders, rusty chains and the occasional plant roots that brewed in the darkness of the caves. The smell reeked. Olyvar was sure there would be no real gold here as it was probably mined out over the centuries. Only shit shits down here in the sewers and caves of Lord Tywin Lannister’s home, not gold, Olyvar thought. This was where Lann the Clever started his legend, swindling the Casterly residents out of the castle, cheating them. It was their turn now to write history, these archers from the sea facing off with their own modern Casterly ploy … accomplishing it without being seen, doing it as faceless warriors.
They followed Ser Rolph and his torchlight in single file, going deeper up into the caves, fitting in burrowed hallways that barely fit them, pursuing his decisions at each fork in the paths, squishing their feet on sluggish wet slopes and steps. The very first entrance they encountered required them to descend a few yards before climbing up the rest of the way. It was hundreds of feet in elevation that they must ascend to. At times, the way was lit well enough. But at other instants, the darkness blinds them, only facing the brother in front of them for their flight. I have promises to keep. And steps to go before I sleep. And steps to go before I sleep.
“By now the guards at the top of the Rock should be asleep after I spiced up their ale,” Ser Rolph Spicer said with a cheeky smile. “Before my sister Sybell married into House Westerling, I explored these parts of Casterly Rock in my youth as a smuggler, going up and down many times. Your legs will tire, no doubt about that. But you lads are years younger than I, and I better hear no complaints unless I am the first one to make it.”
“I’ll do my best,” young Leo announced for himself.
“Your best?” Ser Spicer questioned. “Losers whine about their best. Winners rescue crowned queens.”
“Lady Jeyne Westerling-Stark is THE crowned Queen,” Leo replied.
“Is that so?” Ser Rolph gave Leo a sarcastic look with a raised eyebrow, before continuing up the steps inside the Rock.
“I’ll decide the turns and I’ll establish the security checkpoints. There, we can rest for a moment. A few of you will be left there to guard the area as the others will continue to ascend. Those few will wait until we fall back. But remember, the journey down is far less exhausting. For now, let’s go up and up. Ser Olyvar Frey, would you take the honor of watching our rear?”
Ser Olyvar Frey. The name was still queer to him. As much as he liked the ‘Ser’ in his name, he would like to rid the “Frey” in the surname. He had been the most loyal squire a king could have asked for. He would have stayed with King Robb Stark to the end of the world, but his own blood tore that away from him. Olyvar was not blind though. His young king had made grave mistakes, more than Olyvar wanted to count. As much as he would have favored his sister Roslin to marry him, Olyvar knew you cannot choose the people you love. And Robb genuinely loved another, he hoped. Jeyne Westerling was just as sweet as Roslin. Olyvar would have stayed at Robb’s side as his brother-in-law, or some uncle-in-law by Lord Edmure Tully. Though by choosing Jeyne, it slighted Olyvar’s father Lord Walder Frey. But Seven Hells father, did you have to murder him? At my sister’s wedding feast? Under your own roof? Under my roof? Robb Stark was my king. He was brave and good, and Olyvar Frey loved him. And his soul was tortured in sleepless days and nights, knowing he shared the same blood as the murderers … knowing he could have stopped it if it was not for impulse. You are an honorable fool Olyvar. His father had told him of the treacherous plan the day before, but Olyvar cursed it aloud, defending Robb as it was still his duty. You should’ve been smart and played stupid with father. You could have informed Robb while you were still free, breaking this bad dream. Olyvar shouldn’t have tried to bargain with his father. He should have known he made up his mind a long while ago. Olyvar was imprisoned in the dungeons of the Twins during the Red Wedding. The gaolers were japing at him, “Go ahead, do your duty. Save your king!”
My king. The sad memories faded into blurred flashbacks.
[Part 2]

I get that the Ministry was trying to look like they were making headway in fighting Voldemort and the Death Eaters and that's why Stan was in Azkaban, which putting him around real Death Eaters was a bad move in the long run, but what should they have done with him? He was talking publicly about Death Eater secret plans. I guess bragging that he was a Death Eater. Azkaban is extreme and he is not actually a Death Eater, but what he did was really stupid and an absolute no-no during a war.
I'm curious if there were a reasonable Ministry, what should have been done? Hefty fine? Probation? Public humiliation in the paper and community service Just let him go and hope he's learned his lesson? Something else?

Hi! I’m making a plan for a tortoise enclosure and would love some advice or tips. There’s a sulcata rescue near me that rehomes sulcattas all the time, I plan to get an older guy and place him in an outdoor enclosure in my backyard.
For info: I have a large backyard with Bermuda grass and tall grape bushes all along the sides in Southern California. I plan to leave the grass as is, have a splash pool, an insulated home with heating and a fence all around. I’m also thinking of situating it near the grapes for shade and extra snacks, but kinda scared of escape as it’s just a chain link fence underneath.
Here’s some questions I have…
•For larger guys do you recommend trenching the perimeter before fencing (in case they dig their way to escape)?
•Any recommendations for shade like trees etc. ? It’d be cool to grow something like a hibiscus tree or something edible for the tortoise!
Any other random advice is appreciated 😁

List - Princeton (applying bc my mom asked me to, I don't think I can get in though) - Johns Hopkins (ED) - Carnegie Mellon - Georgetown - Tufts - Haverford - W&M - Pitt - Drexel
Demographics: rising senior, PA resident (want to stay in a 5ish hour radius), white male, house income around $90-100k
Intended Major: likely Biology (probably music minor)
Unweighted HS GPA: 3.85-3.9/4.0 (not readily accessible so I don't know exactly)
Weighted HS GPA: 4.89
Class Rank: School doesn't do rank
SAT: Took in June, aiming for 1520-1560
Coursework: 12 APs (music theory, euro, macroecon, microecon, physics 1, calc AB, lang, US gov, lit, calc BC, environ. sci, chem)
Awards - Pennsylvania All-State choir sophomore + junior years (includes qualifying for districts + regions; hoping to get into all-easterns this fall) - AP scholar w/distinction - Various honor societies (NHS, math, science)
School activities - Founded my school's chapter of Science Honor Society - NHS officer - Member of student senate - President of choir board - VP of Tri-M music honor society - VP of musical theatre board - Speaking contest finalist - JV XC and track freshman-junior years (planning on taking senior year off to focus on other things cuz it's about a 10 hour commitment every week through spring + summer) - School musicals (male lead my junior year; ranges from 5-15 hours a week from Jan - March) - Member of club that advocates for widespread outdoor AED implementation and more frequent cardiology checks
ECs - Volunteered as music/drama mentor at my church (150+ hours) - Volunteer at local library during summer - Part-time work at church as an audio-visual technician for summer services and an accompanist for monthly services for those with disabilities - Private voice and piano lessons (3 and 8 years, respectively) - Member of adult + youth choirs; member of handbell choir, member of youth praise band (all church activities)
LORs - Econ/euro teacher; had for two years and I feel confident that he can most accurately describe me as a student, don't really have an incredible relationship with him but certainly don't have a bad one either - Choir director; he kinda loves me and knows me best as a person and a musician out of all my teachers, I also helped him orchestrate a choir concert at the church I work at, TLDR he thinks I'm fantastic and will probably write a very good rec - Physics teacher; not my favorite teacher but I worked with her and another mentor to start science honors society, she knows me as both a student and as a leader which I think is valuable - Counselor; I have good rapport with her and she knows I've taken initiative both inside and outside of school
Other - Will probably submit a portfolio of vocal + piano performances cuz even though I just want to minor, music is a very big part of my ECs - Potentially might start independent research if I have time - Also might start another part-time job at a local shop through summer + school year
So yeah, any recommendations/chances for schools I've already found? I appreciate your time.

Hello, I am going to be a first year Aux. I previously taught in South Korea where the curriculum was pretty structured so I could plan out and see what I’d be teaching for the whole semester. We were also teaching from set books that got progressively harder with each program. It was very easy to make PowerPoint because we were following the book and using the questions given in the book. My school even had PowerPoints for games that we would fill in with the unit that we were currently teaching. I’m wondering how day-to-day teaching will be in Spain will there be lots and lots of prep work of me coming up with lessons for every day of teaching? This seems like it would require far more prep time than the part-time hours seem to suggest.

So it's definitely a COMPLETELY different world we are living in compared to when I was younger. Maaaaaan... back when I was a kid? My mom and other adults straight just didn't give a FUCK..... NO, NOT ONE SINGLE FUCK!... NEITHER DID CPS!!...
FOR REAL..
My parents could force me to work as a sex worker to pay ALL OF OUR BILLS - SINGLE HANDEDLY - even though I'm only 9. Then I could walk alone to the store, that's A MILE AWAY, at MIDNIGHT, to BUY FIREWORKS for my mom.... Which she could immediately LIGHT THEM ALL, SHOOTING THEM OFF DIRECTLY AT ME, CATCHING ME ON FIRE THEN I ALMOST DIE.... because I was short of paying rent and she actually needed to use my child support check on something OTHER than her hair and nail appointment, a Lobster dinners for her and her boyfriend, plan B & menthol cigarettes.... and as I'm in the hospital, covered in 3rd degree burns all over 96% of my body.... police would probably ask me "why i think she did this to me" & I tell them the truth? they'd say "lol prove it or ur lying! FAKE NEWS! CONSPIRACY! LIE AGAIN!"...and I could have a whole video of it, to which they'd scream "LOL K? UR OLD ENOUGH TO HELP OUT WITH THE BILLS! U WANNA LIVE OFF UR PARENTS FOREVER, U LITTLE LEECH???.... ur parents are allowed to assign the necessary consequences to disobedient children!" check me out of the hospital early and send me back home.... where she then tries to kill me AGAIN FOR SNITCHING, TRY TO KILL ME AGAIN and if I tried to call CPS again, they'd TRY TO MAKE ME AN APPOINTMENT.... FOR 5 MONTHS FROM NOW.... AND SHOW UP LATE.. ask why "I think she did this again" and again I tell them the truth, CPS would be like "lol k but did u DIE tho????...."
Now a days? If someone notices even just a SMALL SCRATCH and barely visible bruise....? CPS will pop out of the fucking bushes, almost as if they had been manifested by my child because I told him no earlier and he's been angrily thinking about how much of a bitch i am, how horribly I treat him and since i don't love him, he's running away to "teach me a lesson"..... to which they will find me guilty of child abandonment, endangerment and abuse.... even though the scratch is from the family cat when they were play fighting and the bruise is from him tripping and hitting his arm on the staircase railing.
LORD, PLEASE HALT THE WORLD AND ALLOW ME DEPARTURE - FOR I DESIRE NO FURTHER ENGAGEMENT IN THIS UNPLEASANT JOURNEY! 😹
❗👇🏻❗👇🏻❗👇🏻𝕊⃨𝕀⃨𝔻⃨𝔼⃨ ℕ⃨𝕆⃨𝕋⃨𝔼⃨👇🏻❗👇🏻❗👇🏻❗ (𝕓𝕖𝕔𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕖 𝕪𝕖𝕤, 𝕦𝕟𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕦𝕟𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕝𝕪 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕀𝕊 𝕟𝕖𝕔𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕒𝕣𝕪-𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝕤𝕚𝕞𝕡𝕝𝕖𝕥𝕠𝕟 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕥𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕎𝔸𝕐 𝕥𝕠𝕠 𝕤𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕠𝕦𝕤𝕝𝕪)
IF YOU ARE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO DISPLAYS BEHAVIOR REMINISCENT OF A "KAREN" ((STRUGGLING TO RECOGNIZE HUMOR OR IDENTIFY SARCASM, OVERREACTING AND SEEKING ATTENTION BY BEING EXCESSIVELY DRAMATIC ABOUT THINGS THEY HAVE MISUNDERSTOOD - DESPITE ANY CORRECTIONS AND PROPER REITERATED EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED)) I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE CONTINUE READING!.... IF YOU ARE NOT, YOU MAY RESUME YOUR DAILY ACTIVITIES-FOR THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS NOT INTENDED - NOR NECESSARY - FOR YOU TO CONTINUE READING...
SINCE YOU REQUIRE RHETORICAL THINGS TO BE MADE AS ABSOLUTELY CLEAR AS HUMANLY FUCKING POSSIBLE, REGARDLESS TO THE FACT IT SHOULD BE COMMON SENSE..... I WOULD LIKE TO ATTEMPT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION, REMIND AND REQUEST THAT YOU PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CONTENTS OF THIS POST ARE COMPLETELY MADE UP. I KINDLY REQUEST THAT YOU DO NOT FEEL OBLIGATED OR TEMPTED TO TAKE ACTION OR CONTACT ANY AUTHORITIES REGARDING THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE. I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT NO CHILDREN HAVE BEEN HARMED BEFORE, DURING, OR AFTER THE CREATION OF THIS POST. THIS POST IS STRICTLY FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES, AND ALL THE CLAIMS MENTIONED ARE PURELY IMAGINARY. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT NONE OF THE SCENARIOS HAVE EVER ACTUALLY HAPPENED - NEITHER IN MY CHILDHOOD NOR IN THAT OF MY CHILD.
🖕🏼THANK YOU🖕🏼

EDIT

(SINCE IT CLEARLY WASNT MADE CLEAR ENOUGH FOR THE KARENS)

I AM SAYING PEOPLE OVER REACT OVER ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WHEN IT COMES TO CORRECTING THE BAD BEHAVIOR OF CHILDREN TO WHERE EVEN RAISING YOUR VOICE WILL CAUSE SOMEONE TO CALL CPS OR SHAME YOU FOR "BEING TOO MEAN TO YOUR CHILD" AND INSINUATING YOU SHOULD NOT PUNISH OR YELL AT YOUR CHILD FOR KNOWINGLY MISBEHAVING.... BUT BACK IN THE DAY PEOPLE WERE KNOWINGLY ABUSING THEIR CHILDREN FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON AND YET CPS AND THE COURTS DID NOTHING - EVEN GOING AS FAR AS THE CHILD BEING MURDERER BY THE PARENTS AT THE HANDS OF THEIR ABUSE, AND IVE SEEN PLENTY OF CRIME SHOWS TO PROVE IT.

NO, I AM NOT CONDONING CHILD ABUSE. YES, I AM SAYING YELLING OR SCOLDING YOUR CHILD SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED - AND IS NOT - CHILD ABUSE BUT THE SAME PEOPLE THAT ENABLED THINGS BACK IN THE DAY ARE THE SAME PEOPLE NOW PUNISHING AND SHAMING PEOPLE FOR PARENTING THEIR CHILD!!!
EXAMPLE: BACK THEN IT WAS PERFECTLY NORMAL BEHAVIOR TO LITERALLY ABUSE YOUR CHILD - NOW IF SOMEONE WITNESSES A PARENT SCOLDING A CHILD THEN THE NEXT DAY THE KID HAS A DAMN BRUISE, THEY WILL CALL CPS ON THE PARENTS AND ACCUSE THEM OF ABUSE, AND IF THE KID SAYS THEY ARENT ABUSING THEM ITS JUST FROM THEM PLAYING, THEY ASSUME THE CHILD IS LYING BC THEYRE TERRIFIED
🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

The West is stomping around, bragging that "we've really pissed Putin off. Well... no. " It isn't that we've merely pissed them off- that implies a certain emotionalism or recklessness.
The Russians are far more cerebral than that. They're chess players. By comparison, Americans are playing tiddlywinks and throwing temper tantrums. What else do you call the antics of lawmakers like MTG?!
They've been watching America's habitual belligerence around the world for decades and they understand that when the American military industrial complex wants to pump up profits, they have to pick a fight. The fight has to be big enough to credibly scare the average American sitting in his easy chair, swilling beer and cussing at the tube, otherwise they don't get extra appropriations and their stock price doesn't go up. But it can't be TOO big, because then the hardware they built might be exposed as the fucking garbage that it is because it was designed to make defense industry profits rather than win wars.
Now, America has decided that, because Russia won't kiss the ring, trade in dollars, let American private equity buy up all of its useful assets or ship resources to the US for pennies on the dollar, that they're the "bad guys" and we need to "teach them a lesson."
Ukraine is a long standing project of the above kind of subjugation, the final step of which is to make them a NATO member so we can force them to go into crushing debt to buy billions of dollars worth of hot garbage from American defense contractors, just like we've done to the rest of Europe. Well, Russia has been very clear, again for decades, that they're not having it. They want a buffer between the kids table and themselves in case the little brats start throwing food and missiles - they want some distance between NATO and Moscow.
America is the ultimate spoiled rotten bully and you know how such impulsive thugs get when someone tells them, "no!" And so sure as hell, when all the children on Capitol Hill start screaming and yelling about how Russia is "the enemy" and start the same bullshit escalation ladder of rhetoric and sanctions that we've done a hundred times before against everyone from Iraq to Venezuela, Russia is paying attention. They have to; they're tiny compared to America in terms of population, GDP and manufacturing output. Ultimately, this posturing by America often leads to war. Again, America spends YEARS doing this so that canny leaders can see it coming. It's really, really stupid if you think about it.
So the United States fomented a coup in Ukraine in 2014 after other efforts to control the country had failed. Russia, the chess players that they are, saw this move coming a mile away and executed plans to protect their naval base in Crimea, to bring the ethnic Russian majority population under the protection of Russia, and even to build an engineering marvel called the Kursk Bridge so they could link it by road and railway to Russia.
The Ukrainians, now firmly under the control of Washington, started shelling, bombing and simply murdering ethnic Russians throughout the eastern part of the country. Russia tried everything to bring this under control, even signing the Minsk I and II Accords to bring peace and stability to the region. They were disrespected at every turn.
That's when Putin said enough was enough and they invaded Ukraine. The point was to clear out the Banderist thugs committing the ethnic cleansing against the ethnic Russian locals and to demilitarize Ukraine but the West kept pouring money and weapons into the country and now it's become the mess we see today.
For America in particular and more generally for their vassal States in Europe, this is just another square on the geostrategic playing field; they want Ukraine and by God, they're gonna have it- but it's on the far side of the planet from home. By contrast, the war is happening on Russia's front porch and so Russia sees this as an existential threat.
Let me say that again; the Russians see this as a threat to their homeland, ESPECIALLY now that Western backed forces are tossing missiles into Russia itself and we're placing nuclear capable missiles in eastern Europe. Remember how the US freaked out over nuclear capable missiles in Cuba? We damn near started WWIII. Well, now we're putting the Russians in the same position and telling the world that they're the belligerent ones. That might fly at cocktail parties in DC, London or Paris but Russia isn't playing games.
And now, here we are. French President Macaroni is planning to send troops to Ukraine. The United States is planning to send advanced weapons that the Ukrainians cannot operate themselves, so American soldiers will be in theater, operating those systems. The rest of the NATO alliance has already thrown their stockpile of reserve, cast off and obsolete arms at Ukraine, only to see it all trashed in short order- or sold on into the international arms black market.
The Russians have been warning the West that they WILL NOT tolerate a Ukraine under Western control, packed with NATO military hardware, a short jaunt from Moscow. They've been saying that for DECADES. The children on Capitol Hill hear only the defense industry lobbyists because that's who keeps them in their seats in Congress.
The Russians are winning the war in Ukraine and it would be long over if Ukraine hadn't gotten all that "help" from the West. They know that will not sit well with the United States and they want to make sure the spoiled brats in Washington understand that They. Are. Not. Playing. Russia has the largest nuclear weapons stockpile on the planet, the freshest fleet of ballistic missile submarines, nuclear capable hypersonic missiles and they will use them if push comes to shove.
But how do you demonstrate to the United States that you mean business without actually launching the nukes?
If you're not deeply, deeply concerned about where things are heading then it's probably only because no one laid it out for you like I just did.

Hi guys! Please try to help.
Can't start Fallout4 VR with Mad God's Overhaul classic, crash report I will attach below
I add DLC files from old fallout 4 to Fo4 VR directory, total weight 32 DLC files 8.74 Gb I purchased the steam version of the game Then i add DLC files from old fallout 4 to Fo4 VR directory, total weight 32 DLC files 8.74 Gb, downloaded the wabbajack, the mods were downloaded. After pressing the launch button in the mod organizer, the fallout 4 vr launch window appeared for a few seconds and closed.
I try copy files from ...mods\Essential Boot Files\root...
f4sevr_loader.exe f4sevr_1_2_72.dll f4sevr_steam_loader.dll x3daudio1_7.dll
to steam game folder and launch f4sevr_loader.exe in steam game folder as administrator. AAAAnnnddd Yayahuu i see grey shades instead of vanilla and i see hands instead Joostiks in shelter after start new game (when you play vanilla you see Joostiks instead hands model). Satisfied, I closed the game and went for a walk.
A couple of hours later, I continued the game and did not immediately notice that I had joysticks instead of hands in the game, and when I came to the surface from the shelter, I realized that all the colors were vanilla
Fallout 4 v1.2.72
Buffout 4 v1.31.1 Feb 28 2023 00:32:02
Unhandled exception "EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION" at 0x7FF76094DA04 Fallout4VR.exe+01BDA04 test byte ptr [rcx+0x0C], 0x01 `anonymous_namespace'::PersistentStringInfo::PersistentStringInfo(char_*,char_*)_1BDA04)

\[Compatibility\] F4EE: false \[Debug\] Symcache: c:symcache WaitForDebugger: false \[Fixes\] ActorIsHostileToActor: true CellInit: true CreateD3DAndSwapChain: true EncounterZoneReset: true GreyMovies: true MagicEffectApplyEvent: true MovementPlanner: true PackageAllocateLocation: true PipboyLightInvFix: false SafeExit: true TESObjectREFRGetEncounterZone: true UnalignedLoad: true UtilityShader: true WorkBenchSwap: true \[Patches\] Achievements: true BSMTAManager: true BSPreCulledObjects: true BSTextureStreamerLocalHeap: true HavokMemorySystem: true INISettingCollection: true InputSwitch: false MaxStdIO: 2048 MemoryManager: true MemoryManagerDebug: false ScaleformAllocator: true SmallBlockAllocator: true WorkshopMenu: true \[Warnings\] CreateTexture2D: true ImageSpaceAdapter: true 

SYSTEM SPECS:

OS: Майкрософт Windows 10 Pro v10.0.19041 CPU: GenuineIntel Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-10900KF CPU @ 3.70GHz GPU #1: Nvidia GA102 \[GeForce RTX 3090\] GPU #2: Microsoft Basic Render Driver PHYSICAL MEMORY: 9.74 GB/31.87 GB 

VR SPECS:

Model: Oculus Rift CV1 Manufacturer: Oculus Tracking System: oculus Hardware Revision: V1.0 Driver Version: Render Model: generic\_hmd Additional Data: Expected Controller Type: Controller Type: rift Display Frequency: 72 Wireless: false Charging: false Update Available: false 

PROBABLE CALL STACK:

\[ 0\] 0x7FF76094DA04 Fallout4VR.exe+01BDA04 test byte ptr \[rcx+0x0C\], 0x01 \`anonymous\_namespace\'::PersistentStringInfo::PersistentStringInfo(char\_\*,char\_\*)\_1BDA04 -> 1269110+0x224 test byte ptr \[rcx+0x0C\], 0x01 \[ 1\] 0x7FF76094BF27 Fallout4VR.exe+01BBF27 mov \[rbp+0x38\], rax BGSLocalizedStrings::Precache(TESFile\_\&)\_1BBF27 -> 441693+0x117 mov \[rbp+0x38\], rax \[ 2\] 0x7FF7608B03AE Fallout4VR.exe+01203AE mov \[rsp+0x60\], rsi TESDataHandler::ConstructObjectList(TESFile\_\*,bool)\_1203AE -> 1575553+0xBE mov \[rsp+0x60\], rsi \[ 3\] 0x7FF7608AED7A Fallout4VR.exe+011ED7A inc r15d FUN\_14011e8e0\_11ED7A -> 57137+0x49A inc r15d \[ 4\] 0x7FF761512844 Fallout4VR.exe+0D82844 call 0x00007FF7624BECE0 Main::InitTES(NiNode\_\*)\_D82844 -> 708657+0x2F4 call 0x00007FF7624BECE0 \[ 5\] 0x7FF76151AEF3 Fallout4VR.exe+0D8AEF3 call 0x00007FF76151A5A0 \`anonymous\_namespace\'::Main\_InitGameData(void)\_D8AEF3 -> 407290+0x263 call 0x00007FF76151A5A0 \[ 6\] 0x7FF7615337E9 Fallout4VR.exe+0DA37E9 call 0x00007FF76236C510 \`anonymous\_namespace\'::InitGameDataThread::ThreadProc(void)\_DA37E9 -> 1514101+0x659 call 0x00007FF76236C510 \[ 7\] 0x020F4E86754C f4sevr\_1\_2\_72.dll+001754C \[ 8\] 0x7FF76232F94D Fallout4VR.exe+1B9F94D mov rcx, \[0x00007FF76634C6B8\] BSThread::CallThreadProc(void)\_1B9F94D -> 495709+0x2CD mov rcx, \[0x00007FF76634C6B8\] \[ 9\] 0x7FFEE6377344 KERNEL32.DLL+0017344 \[10\] 0x7FFEE82A26B1 ntdll.dll+00526B1 

REGISTERS:

RAX 0x1C2C1FF5A8 (void\*) RCX 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] RDX 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] RBX 0x61 (size\_t) \[97\] RSP 0x1C2C1FF530 (char\*) "a" RBP 0x1C2C1FF630 (void\*) RSI 0x21080A3C0C8 (char\*) "ksho" RDI 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] R8 0x8 (size\_t) \[8\] R9 0x1 (size\_t) \[1\] R10 0x8000 (size\_t) \[32768\] R11 0x1C2C1FF520 (void\*) R12 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] R13 0x20F4F9AE0D2 (char\*) "ru" R14 0x1C2C1FF5C0 (char\*) "DLCRobot" R15 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] 

STACK:

\[RSP+0 \] 0x61 (size\_t) \[97\] \[RSP+8 \] 0x21080A3C0C8 (char\*) "ksho" \[RSP+10 \] 0x21080A3C0C8 (char\*) "ksho" \[RSP+18 \] 0x8 (size\_t) \[8\] \[RSP+20 \] 0x1C2C1FF5C0 (char\*) "DLCRobot" \[RSP+28 \] 0x20F4F9AE0D2 (char\*) "ru" \[RSP+30 \] 0x7FF763423B98 (char\*) ".STRINGS" \[RSP+38 \] 0x7FFE5A6F4419 (void\* -> MSVCR110.dll+0034419 add rsp, 0x38) \[RSP+40 \] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+48 \] 0x1C2C1FF598 (void\*) \[RSP+50 \] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+58 \] 0x6188DE7CDD (size\_t) \[418908110045\] \[RSP+60 \] 0x1C693F0841 (size\_t) \[122024822849\] \[RSP+68 \] 0x2105BEA2CF0 (char\*) "a" \[RSP+70 \] 0x1C2C1FF588 (void\*) \[RSP+78 \] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+80 \] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+88 \] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+90 \] 0x746F626F52434C44 (size\_t) \[8390032861075557444\] \[RSP+98 \] 0x2106DC1EC00 (void\*) \[RSP+A0 \] 0x7FF7660C2840 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+5932840 add \[rdx\], al FUN\_142caa2b8\_5932840) \[RSP+A8 \] 0x7FF7608B5797 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+0125797 mov rcx, \[rbp+0x1B8\] \`anonymous\_namespace\'::LoadInStartsEnabledQuestsForFile(TESFile\_\*)\_125797) \[RSP+B0 \] 0x210683A2C00 (void\*) \[RSP+B8 \] 0x1C2C1FF6E0 (char\*) "\_ru.STRINGS" \[RSP+C0 \] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+C8 \] 0x7FF7660C2590 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+5932590 add \[rax\], al FUN\_142caa2b8\_5932590) \[RSP+D0 \] 0x2106D17D440 (BSFile\*) \[RSP+D8 \] 0x1C2C1FF668 (void\*) \[RSP+E0 \] 0x7FF7660C2840 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+5932840 add \[rdx\], al FUN\_142caa2b8\_5932840) \[RSP+E8 \] 0x2105BEA2CF0 (char\*) "a" \[RSP+F0 \] 0x746F626F52434C44 (size\_t) \[8390032861075557444\] \[RSP+F8 \] 0x7F006D736500 (size\_t) \[139639813006592\] \[RSP+100\] 0x2106D17D440 (BSFile\*) \[RSP+108\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+110\] 0x21080A128E0 (BGSMaterialSwap\*) File: "DLCworkshop01.esm" Flags: 0x00000001 FormID: 0x05000AA9 FormType: kMSWP (145) \[RSP+118\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+120\] 0x1 (size\_t) \[1\] \[RSP+128\] 0x7FF7608C7B62 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+0137B62 mov rbx, \[rsp+0x30\] TESFile::TESRewind(bool)\_137B62) \[RSP+130\] 0x1 (size\_t) \[1\] \[RSP+138\] 0xC52444548 (size\_t) \[52919813448\] \[RSP+140\] 0x210683A2C00 (void\*) \[RSP+148\] 0x7FF7660C2590 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+5932590 add \[rax\], al FUN\_142caa2b8\_5932590) \[RSP+150\] 0x1 (size\_t) \[1\] \[RSP+158\] 0x7FF7608C553B (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+013553B mov al, 0x01 TESFile::OpenTES(char\_\*,char\_\*,NiFile::OpenMode,bool)\_13553B) \[RSP+160\] 0x61 (size\_t) \[97\] \[RSP+168\] 0x210683A2C00 (void\*) \[RSP+170\] 0x1 (size\_t) \[1\] \[RSP+178\] 0x21080A128E0 (BGSMaterialSwap\*) File: "DLCworkshop01.esm" Flags: 0x00000001 FormID: 0x05000AA9 FormType: kMSWP (145) \[RSP+180\] 0x21080A128E0 (BGSMaterialSwap\*) File: "DLCworkshop01.esm" Flags: 0x00000001 FormID: 0x05000AA9 FormType: kMSWP (145) \[RSP+188\] 0x7FFEE4219E17 (void\* -> dxgi.dll+0049E17 add \[rax\], al) \[RSP+190\] 0x3B (size\_t) \[59\] \[RSP+198\] 0x22 (size\_t) \[34\] \[RSP+1A0\] 0x2F53474E49525453 (size\_t) \[3410147744412750931\] \[RSP+1A8\] 0x746F626F52434C44 (size\_t) \[8390032861075557444\] \[RSP+1B0\] 0x495254532E75725F (size\_t) \[5283378029097480799\] \[RSP+1B8\] 0x1C0053474E (size\_t) \[120264542030\] \[RSP+1C0\] 0xC2000 (size\_t) \[794624\] \[RSP+1C8\] 0x2105BEA2330 (void\*) \[RSP+1D0\] 0x18 (size\_t) \[24\] \[RSP+1D8\] 0x7FFE5A6F6480 (void\* -> MSVCR110.dll+0036480 jmp 0x00007FFE5A6F644D) \[RSP+1E0\] 0x1D7E (size\_t) \[7550\] \[RSP+1E8\] 0x7FF762353531 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+1BC3531 test eax, eax \`anonymous\_namespace\'::FindEntry\<char\>(BSStringPool::Entry\_\*\_\&,char\_\*,ushort,bool)\_1BC3531) \[RSP+1F0\] 0x22 (size\_t) \[34\] \[RSP+1F8\] 0x7FF7635E2550 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+2E52550 add \[rax\], al FUN\_142caa2b8\_2E52550) \[RSP+200\] 0x52434C445C514553 (size\_t) \[5927665391040021843\] \[RSP+208\] 0x5145532E746F626F (size\_t) \[5856178349452255855\] \[RSP+210\] 0x210683A2C70 (char\*) "DLCRobot.esm" \[RSP+218\] 0x7FF762353801 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+1BC3801 test al, al \`anonymous\_namespace\'::GetEntry\<char\>(BSStringPool::Entry\_\*\_\&,char\_\*,bool)\_1BC3801) \[RSP+220\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+228\] 0x7FF7635E2550 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+2E52550 add \[rax\], al FUN\_142caa2b8\_2E52550) \[RSP+230\] 0x7FF7663D06E0 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+5C406E0 add \[rax\], al FUN\_142caa2b8\_5C406E0) \[RSP+238\] 0x1 (size\_t) \[1\] \[RSP+240\] 0x2106D17D280 (BSFile\*) \[RSP+248\] 0x7FF762365423 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+1BD5423 add \[rbx+0x180\], rax BSFile::DoRead(void\_\*,unsigned\_\_\_int64)\_1BD5423) \[RSP+250\] 0xD0000000C (size\_t) \[55834574860\] \[RSP+258\] 0x2106D101420 (void\*) \[RSP+260\] 0x7FF7660C2801 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+5932801 add al, \[rax\] FUN\_142caa2b8\_5932801) \[RSP+268\] 0x7FFE59F4BDB5 (void\* -> Buffout4.dll+00FBDB5 mov r8d, eax E:\\Documents\\source\\repos\\vcpkg\\buildtrees\\tbb\\src\\v2021.8.0-b8941aa9b2.clean\\src\\tbbmalloc\\frontend.cpp:2567 ?getTLS@MemoryPool@internal@rml@@QEAAPEAVTLSData@23@\_N@Z) \[RSP+270\] 0x210683A2800 (void\*) \[RSP+278\] 0x7FF7660C2590 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+5932590 add \[rax\], al FUN\_142caa2b8\_5932590) \[RSP+280\] 0x2105BEA2CF0 (char\*) "a" \[RSP+288\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+290\] 0x7FF7660C2590 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+5932590 add \[rax\], al FUN\_142caa2b8\_5932590) \[RSP+298\] 0x2105BEA2CF0 (char\*) "a" \[RSP+2A0\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+2A8\] 0x2106DC1EC01 (void\*) \[RSP+2B0\] 0x7FF7660C2590 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+5932590 add \[rax\], al FUN\_142caa2b8\_5932590) \[RSP+2B8\] 0x2105BEA2CF0 (char\*) "a" \[RSP+2C0\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+2C8\] 0x2106DC1EC01 (void\*) \[RSP+2D0\] 0x21080A3C0C0 (void\*) \[RSP+2D8\] 0x57 (size\_t) \[87\] \[RSP+2E0\] 0x1C2C1FF860 (void\*) \[RSP+2E8\] 0x7FF76094BF27 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+01BBF27 mov \[rbp+0x38\], rax BGSLocalizedStrings::Precache(TESFile\_\&)\_1BBF27) \[RSP+2F0\] 0x21080A3C0C0 (void\*) \[RSP+2F8\] 0x7FF700000000 (size\_t) \[140698833649664\] \[RSP+300\] 0x61 (size\_t) \[97\] \[RSP+308\] 0x7FF700000000 (size\_t) \[140698833649664\] \[RSP+310\] 0x210683A2C00 (void\*) \[RSP+318\] 0x7FF7660C2590 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+5932590 add \[rax\], al FUN\_142caa2b8\_5932590) \[RSP+320\] 0x7FF7660C2590 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+5932590 add \[rax\], al FUN\_142caa2b8\_5932590) \[RSP+328\] 0x21000000000 (void\*) \[RSP+330\] 0x7FF7660C2840 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+5932840 add \[rdx\], al FUN\_142caa2b8\_5932840) \[RSP+338\] 0x210683A2C00 (void\*) \[RSP+340\] 0x2106DBD3400 (void\*) \[RSP+348\] 0x7FF7608B03AE (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+01203AE mov \[rsp+0x60\], rsi TESDataHandler::ConstructObjectList(TESFile\_\*,bool)\_1203AE) \[RSP+350\] 0x2105B0EE81D (void\*) \[RSP+358\] 0x210683A2800 (void\*) \[RSP+360\] 0x2106D101420 (void\*) \[RSP+368\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+370\] 0x2106DC1E000 (char\*) "SItemCardAR" \[RSP+378\] 0x7FF7608B1B2A (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+0121B2A mov rdi, \[rdi+0x08\] TESDataHandler::SetMasterFileLargeBuffer(int)\_121B2A) \[RSP+380\] 0x6 (size\_t) \[6\] \[RSP+388\] 0x7FF7660C2840 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+5932840 add \[rdx\], al FUN\_142caa2b8\_5932840) \[RSP+390\] 0x2106DC1EC40 (void\*) \[RSP+398\] 0x2106DC1EC40 (void\*) \[RSP+3A0\] 0x2106DBD3400 (void\*) \[RSP+3A8\] 0x7FF7608AED7A (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+011ED7A inc r15d FUN\_14011e8e0\_11ED7A) \[RSP+3B0\] 0x57 (size\_t) \[87\] \[RSP+3B8\] 0x7FF7660C2590 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+5932590 add \[rax\], al FUN\_142caa2b8\_5932590) \[RSP+3C0\] 0x2 (size\_t) \[2\] \[RSP+3C8\] 0x7FF7660C2590 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+5932590 add \[rax\], al FUN\_142caa2b8\_5932590) \[RSP+3D0\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+3D8\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+3E0\] 0x575F444F4C5F5256 (size\_t) \[6295825911461663318\] \[RSP+3E8\] 0x6E756F72616B726F (size\_t) \[7959390453498606191\] \[RSP+3F0\] 0x52565F7073652E64 (size\_t) \[5933034495684193892\] \[RSP+3F8\] 0x6D7365006D73652E (size\_t) \[7886758424966554926\] \[RSP+400\] 0x2E73746F68736400 (size\_t) \[3347146969908995072\] \[RSP+408\] 0x652E52565F707365 (size\_t) \[7290855377681281893\] \[RSP+410\] 0x5020006D73006D73 (size\_t) \[5773615192369818995\] \[RSP+418\] 0x7073652E68637461 (size\_t) \[8102931404563903585\] \[RSP+420\] 0x6D73652E52565F (size\_t) \[30807650867500639\] \[RSP+428\] 0x2106D06A200 (void\*) \[RSP+430\] 0x7FF7614731D0 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+0CE31D0 mov \[rsp+0x08\], rbx TESAudio::DuckingMgmt::InstancedIni::HandleINIChange(Setting\_\&)\_CE31D0) \[RSP+438\] 0x7FF76147762B (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+0CE762B mov \[rbx+0x20\], ax TESAudio::VoiceCategoryMgmt::DuckingModeManager::Update(uint)\_CE762B) \[RSP+440\] 0x9C0 (size\_t) \[2496\] \[RSP+448\] 0x7FF76625DE00 (TESAudio::DuckingMgmt::AttenInstancedIni\*) \[RSP+450\] 0x9C0 (size\_t) \[2496\] \[RSP+458\] 0x7FF76625DF40 (SettingT\*) \[RSP+460\] 0x7FF7614731D0 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+0CE31D0 mov \[rsp+0x08\], rbx TESAudio::DuckingMgmt::InstancedIni::HandleINIChange(Setting\_\&)\_CE31D0) \[RSP+468\] 0x7FF76147762B (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+0CE762B mov \[rbx+0x20\], ax TESAudio::VoiceCategoryMgmt::DuckingModeManager::Update(uint)\_CE762B) \[RSP+470\] 0x7FF7666C3A00 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+5F33A00 add \[rax\], al FUN\_142caa2b8\_5F33A00) \[RSP+478\] 0x7FF76625DF40 (SettingT\*) \[RSP+480\] 0x1C2C1FF9D8 (void\*) \[RSP+488\] 0x1C2C1FF9E0 (void\*) \[RSP+490\] 0x7FF76625DF40 (SettingT\*) \[RSP+498\] 0x7FF761473267 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+0CE3267 mov eax, \[0x00007FF76625DAA4\] TESAudio::DuckingMgmt::InstancedIni::HandleINIChange(Setting\_\&)\_CE3267) \[RSP+4A0\] 0x7FF76625DF40 (SettingT\*) \[RSP+4A8\] 0x2105BEA2CF0 (char\*) "a" \[RSP+4B0\] 0x2105BEA2CF0 (char\*) "a" \[RSP+4B8\] 0x2105BEA2CF0 (char\*) "a" \[RSP+4C0\] 0x2105BEA2CF0 (char\*) "a" \[RSP+4C8\] 0x7FF761463328 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+0CD3328 mov \[rdi\], ebx TESAudio::InitSDM(BSTEventSource\<BGSActorCellEvent\>\_\*)\_CD3328) \[RSP+4D0\] 0x66 (size\_t) \[102\] \[RSP+4D8\] 0x7FF77119A65A (size\_t) \[140700731156058\] \[RSP+4E0\] 0x66 (size\_t) \[102\] \[RSP+4E8\] 0x20F7119A65A (size\_t) \[2265345271386\] \[RSP+4F0\] 0x9C0 (size\_t) \[2496\] \[RSP+4F8\] 0x20F4F9B4800 (SceneGraph\*) Name: "WorldRoot Node" RTTIName: "SceneGraph" Flags: 2000000000280e Name: "WorldRoot Node" \[RSP+500\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+508\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+510\] 0x2105BEA2300 (void\*) \[RSP+518\] 0x7FF763F56930 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+37C6930 push 0xFFFFFFFFF763508A FUN\_142caa2b8\_37C6930) \[RSP+520\] 0x7FF763F56930 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+37C6930 push 0xFFFFFFFFF763508A FUN\_142caa2b8\_37C6930) \[RSP+528\] 0x7FF761512844 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+0D82844 call 0x00007FF7624BECE0 Main::InitTES(NiNode\_\*)\_D82844) \[RSP+530\] 0x2105BEA2A29 (void\*) \[RSP+538\] 0x2106DBAEB00 (PlayerCharacter\*) Flags: 0x00200400 FormID: 0x00000014 FormType: kACHR (65) Object Reference: File: "Fallout4.esm" Flags: 0x00040001 FormID: 0x00000007 FormType: kNPC\_ (45) Flags: 0x00200400 FormID: 0x00000014 FormType: kACHR (65) \[RSP+540\] 0x2105BEA2CF0 (char\*) "a" \[RSP+548\] 0x20F4F9C5480 (NiNode\*) Name: "ObjectLODRoot" RTTIName: "NiNode" Flags: 2000000000280e Checking Parent: Name: "shadow scene node" RTTIName: "ShadowSceneNode" Flags: 2000000000280e Checking Parent: 

Name: "WorldRoot Node"
RTTIName: "SceneGraph"
Flags: 2000000000280e

 Name: "ObjectLODRoot" \[RSP+550\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+558\] 0x20F4F9C5780 (NiNode\*) Name: "WaterLOD" RTTIName: "NiNode" Flags: 2000000000280e Checking Parent: Name: "LODRoot" RTTIName: "BSClearZNode" Flags: 2000000000000e Checking Parent: 

Name: "shadow scene node"
RTTIName: "ShadowSceneNode"
Flags: 2000000000280e
Checking Parent:
Name: "WorldRoot Node"
RTTIName: "SceneGraph"
Flags: 2000000000280e

 Name: "WaterLOD" \[RSP+560\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+568\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+570\] 0x80000 (size\_t) \[524288\] \[RSP+578\] 0x7FF700000000 (size\_t) \[140698833649664\] \[RSP+580\] 0x535C (size\_t) \[21340\] \[RSP+588\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+590\] 0x535C (size\_t) \[21340\] \[RSP+598\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+5A0\] 0x7FF7662CE990 (GameScript::PathingCallbackMgr\*) \[RSP+5A8\] 0x7FF76232373A (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+1B9373A test al, al BSTArrayBase::AddUninitialized(BSTArrayBase::IAllocatorFunctor\_\&,uint,uint)\_1B9373A) \[RSP+5B0\] 0x7FF7662954B8 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+5B054B8 add \[rax\], eax FUN\_142caa2b8\_5B054B8) \[RSP+5B8\] 0x7FF7662954A8 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+5B054A8 or al, 0x60 FUN\_142caa2b8\_5B054A8) \[RSP+5C0\] 0x246 (size\_t) \[582\] \[RSP+5C8\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+5D0\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+5D8\] 0x210502EF440 (void\*) \[RSP+5E0\] 0x7FF7662954A0 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+5B054A0 add \[rax\], al FUN\_142caa2b8\_5B054A0) \[RSP+5E8\] 0x7FF761B567DB (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+13C67DB cmp eax, 0xFFFFFFFF FUN\_1413c66f0\_13C67DB) \[RSP+5F0\] 0x7FF7662954A0 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+5B054A0 add \[rax\], al FUN\_142caa2b8\_5B054A0) \[RSP+5F8\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+600\] 0x2105BEA2CF0 (char\*) "a" \[RSP+608\] 0x35ED3B6F56250000 (size\_t) \[3885827402863280128\] \[RSP+610\] 0x206 (size\_t) \[518\] \[RSP+618\] 0x7FFE59F4B53E (void\* -> Buffout4.dll+00FB53E cmp eax, ebx E:\\Documents\\source\\repos\\vcpkg\\buildtrees\\tbb\\src\\v2021.8.0-b8941aa9b2.clean\\src\\tbbmalloc\\frontend.cpp:2537 ?freeOwnObject@Block@internal@rml@@QEAAXPEAX@Z) \[RSP+620\] 0x535C (size\_t) \[21340\] \[RSP+628\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+630\] 0x7FF763411248 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+2C81248 jo 0x00007FF763411274 hkbInternal::hks::execute\<0\>(hkbInternal::lua\_State\_\*,hkbInternal::hksInstruction\_\*,int)\_2C81248) \[RSP+638\] 0x7FF7662954A8 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+5B054A8 or al, 0x60 FUN\_142caa2b8\_5B054A8) \[RSP+640\] 0x7FF7662CE990 (GameScript::PathingCallbackMgr\*) \[RSP+648\] 0x7FF761B54A26 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+13C4A26 mov \[rsi\], ebx GameScript::PathingCallbackMgr::PathingCallbackMgr(void)\_13C4A26) \[RSP+650\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+658\] 0x2105BEA2CF0 (char\*) "a" \[RSP+660\] 0x2 (size\_t) \[2\] \[RSP+668\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+670\] 0x2105BEA2CF0 (char\*) "a" \[RSP+678\] 0x7FF761B869BA (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+13F69BA mov \[0x00007FF7662CE280\], rax FUN\_1413f69a0\_13F69BA) \[RSP+680\] 0x2 (size\_t) \[2\] \[RSP+688\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+690\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+698\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+6A0\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+6A8\] 0x7FF76151AEF3 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+0D8AEF3 call 0x00007FF76151A5A0 \`anonymous\_namespace\'::Main\_InitGameData(void)\_D8AEF3) \[RSP+6B0\] 0x2 (size\_t) \[2\] \[RSP+6B8\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+6C0\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+6C8\] 0x2105BEA2CF0 (char\*) "a" \[RSP+6D0\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+6D8\] 0x7FF7615337E9 (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+0DA37E9 call 0x00007FF76236C510 \`anonymous\_namespace\'::InitGameDataThread::ThreadProc(void)\_DA37E9) \[RSP+6E0\] 0x210320C59C0 (\`anonymous namespace'::InitGameDataThread\*) \[RSP+6E8\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+6F0\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+6F8\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+700\] 0x210320C59C0 (\`anonymous namespace'::InitGameDataThread\*) \[RSP+708\] 0x20F4E86754C (void\* -> f4sevr\_1\_2\_72.dll+001754C mov rcx, \[0x0000020F4E91A580\]) \[RSP+710\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+718\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+720\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+728\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+730\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+738\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+740\] 0x210320C59C0 (\`anonymous namespace'::InitGameDataThread\*) \[RSP+748\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+750\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+758\] 0x7FF76232F94D (void\* -> Fallout4VR.exe+1B9F94D mov rcx, \[0x00007FF76634C6B8\] BSThread::CallThreadProc(void)\_1B9F94D) \[RSP+760\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+768\] 0x1C2C1FFCB0 (void\*) \[RSP+770\] 0x20F4F9AFC90 (void\*) \[RSP+778\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+780\] 0x210320C59C0 (\`anonymous namespace'::InitGameDataThread\*) \[RSP+788\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+790\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+798\] 0x7FFEE6377344 (void\* -> KERNEL32.DLL+0017344 mov ecx, eax) \[RSP+7A0\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+7A8\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+7B0\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+7B8\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+7C0\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+7C8\] 0x7FFEE82A26B1 (void\* -> ntdll.dll+00526B1 jmp 0x00007FFEE82A26D3) \[RSP+7D0\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+7D8\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+7E0\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+7E8\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+7F0\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+7F8\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+800\] 0x3FFC0A1800000000 (size\_t) \[4610571216716038144\] \[RSP+808\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+810\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+818\] 0x7FFEE5E5E050 (void\* -> KERNELBASE.dll+012E050 mov \[rsp+0x10\], rbx) \[RSP+820\] 0x1C2C1FE600 (void\*) \[RSP+828\] 0x19EA4800007FFEDA (size\_t) \[1867384160344080090\] \[RSP+830\] 0x7FFEDA19EA48 (size\_t) \[140732557552200\] \[RSP+838\] 0x1C2C1FE600 (void\*) \[RSP+840\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+848\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+850\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+858\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+860\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+868\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+870\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+878\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+880\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+888\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+890\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+898\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+8A0\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+8A8\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+8B0\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+8B8\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+8C0\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+8C8\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+8D0\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+8D8\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+8E0\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+8E8\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+8F0\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+8F8\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+900\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+908\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+910\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+918\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+920\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+928\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+930\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+938\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+940\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+948\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+950\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+958\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+960\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+968\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+970\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+978\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+980\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+988\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+990\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+998\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+9A0\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+9A8\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+9B0\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+9B8\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+9C0\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+9C8\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+9D0\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+9D8\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+9E0\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+9E8\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+9F0\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+9F8\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+A00\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+A08\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+A10\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+A18\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+A20\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+A28\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+A30\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+A38\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+A40\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+A48\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+A50\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+A58\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+A60\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+A68\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+A70\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+A78\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+A80\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+A88\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+A90\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+A98\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+AA0\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+AA8\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+AB0\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+AB8\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+AC0\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] \[RSP+AC8\] 0x0 (size\_t) \[0\] 

MODULES:

XINPUT1\_3.dll 0x000000400000 x3daudio1\_7.dll 0x0000713C0000 steam\_api64.dll 0x0000713D0000 SHCORE.dll 0x020F4B4F0000 f4sevr\_1\_2\_72.dll 0x020F4E850000 wintrust.dll 0x020F75FE0000 Fallout4VR.exe 0x7FF760790000 DSOUND.DLL 0x7FFE59B60000 XAudio2\_7.dll 0x7FFE59C00000 VRFpsStabilizerFallout.dll 0x7FFE59C90000 UnlimitedSurvivalMode.dll 0x7FFE59D00000 HighFPSPhysicsFixVR.dll 0x7FFE59D50000 FO4VRTools.dll 0x7FFE59DC0000 Buffout4.dll 0x7FFE59E50000 d3d11.dll 0x7FFE5A250000 dxgi.dll 0x7FFE5A620000 MSVCR110.dll 0x7FFE5A6C0000 MSVCP110.dll 0x7FFE5A7A0000 bink2w64.dll 0x7FFE5F0C0000 X3DAudio1\_7.dll 0x7FFE61070000 cbp.dll 0x7FFE61D40000 openvr\_api.dll 0x7FFE6D550000 vrclient\_x64.dll 0x7FFE6D720000 GLU32.dll 0x7FFE6DDA0000 OPENGL32.dll 0x7FFE6DDD0000 steamclient64.dll 0x7FFE741E0000 vcheck\_patcher.dll 0x7FFE825A0000 gameoverlayrenderer64.dll 0x7FFE87830000 vstdlib\_s64.dll 0x7FFE87C30000 tier0\_s64.dll 0x7FFE87CF0000 usvfs\_x64.dll 0x7FFE8B400000 AcGenral.DLL 0x7FFEB8FC0000 ondemandconnroutehelper.dll 0x7FFEBF9F0000 winmmbase.dll 0x7FFEC14B0000 ncryptsslp.dll 0x7FFEC9270000 WININET.dll 0x7FFEC99C0000 nvwgf2umx.dll 0x7FFECD0C0000 InputHost.dll 0x7FFED11E0000 textinputframework.dll 0x7FFED1570000 Windows.UI.dll 0x7FFED1670000 mskeyprotect.dll 0x7FFED17C0000 nvgpucomp64.dll 0x7FFED1B70000 nvldumdx.dll 0x7FFED3E90000 f4sevr\_steam\_loader.dll 0x7FFED4110000 MSVCP140.dll 0x7FFED4830000 nvapi64.dll 0x7FFED4EC0000 WINMM.dll 0x7FFED67E0000 MPR.dll 0x7FFED68F0000 VCRUNTIME140\_1.dll 0x7FFED7F00000 VCRUNTIME140.dll 0x7FFED7F10000 Secur32.dll 0x7FFED7FE0000 MSVCP140\_ATOMIC\_WAIT.dll 0x7FFED8CE0000 iertutil.dll 0x7FFEDA620000 rasadhlp.dll 0x7FFEDB100000 fwpuclnt.dll 0x7FFEDB110000 srvcli.dll 0x7FFEDBB10000 urlmon.dll 0x7FFEDBD70000 dxcore.dll 0x7FFEDD480000 cryptnet.dll 0x7FFEDE610000 VERSION.dll 0x7FFEDE8D0000 drvstore.dll 0x7FFEDE9C0000 twinapi.appcore.dll 0x7FFEDEE70000 WindowManagementAPI.dll 0x7FFEDF080000 avrt.dll 0x7FFEDF580000 WINHTTP.dll 0x7FFEDF590000 WINNSI.DLL 0x7FFEDFDB0000 MMDevApi.dll 0x7FFEE0390000 AUDIOSES.DLL 0x7FFEE0440000 PROPSYS.dll 0x7FFEE07D0000 WTSAPI32.dll 0x7FFEE0B50000 wintypes.dll 0x7FFEE1110000 d3dcompiler\_47.dll 0x7FFEE1830000 d3d11.dll 0x7FFEE1C90000 CoreUIComponents.dll 0x7FFEE2260000 CoreMessaging.dll 0x7FFEE2940000 apphelp.dll 0x7FFEE2CA0000 uxtheme.dll 0x7FFEE2E40000 resourcepolicyclient.dll 0x7FFEE2FC0000 dwmapi.dll 0x7FFEE30C0000 windows.storage.dll 0x7FFEE3650000 dbghelp.dll 0x7FFEE3DF0000 kernel.appcore.dll 0x7FFEE41B0000 dxgi.dll 0x7FFEE41D0000 tdh.dll 0x7FFEE42D0000 schannel.DLL 0x7FFEE4880000 rsaenh.dll 0x7FFEE4970000 ntmarta.dll 0x7FFEE4A90000 UMPDC.dll 0x7FFEE4D50000 IPHLPAPI.DLL 0x7FFEE4D70000 DNSAPI.dll 0x7FFEE4DB0000 netutils.dll 0x7FFEE4E80000 POWRPROF.dll 0x7FFEE4E90000 MSWSOCK.dll 0x7FFEE50D0000 CRYPTSP.dll 0x7FFEE52C0000 CRYPTBASE.DLL 0x7FFEE52E0000 Wldp.dll 0x7FFEE5370000 NTASN1.dll 0x7FFEE53A0000 ncrypt.dll 0x7FFEE53E0000 msasn1.dll 0x7FFEE5500000 devobj.dll 0x7FFEE56C0000 DPAPI.DLL 0x7FFEE5720000 USERENV.dll 0x7FFEE57E0000 SspiCli.dll 0x7FFEE5810000 profapi.dll 0x7FFEE5860000 CRYPT32.dll 0x7FFEE5930000 cfgmgr32.dll 0x7FFEE5BB0000 win32u.dll 0x7FFEE5C00000 ucrtbase.dll 0x7FFEE5C30000 KERNELBASE.dll 0x7FFEE5D30000 msvcp\_win.dll 0x7FFEE6030000 bcrypt.dll 0x7FFEE60D0000 gdi32full.dll 0x7FFEE6100000 bcryptPrimitives.dll 0x7FFEE6220000 KERNEL32.DLL 0x7FFEE6360000 PSAPI.DLL 0x7FFEE6420000 NSI.dll 0x7FFEE6430000 RPCRT4.dll 0x7FFEE6440000 USER32.dll 0x7FFEE65D0000 OLEAUT32.dll 0x7FFEE6770000 SETUPAPI.dll 0x7FFEE6840000 combase.dll 0x7FFEE6D30000 SHLWAPI.dll 0x7FFEE7090000 ole32.dll 0x7FFEE7150000 imagehlp.dll 0x7FFEE7280000 SHELL32.dll 0x7FFEE74E0000 clbcatq.dll 0x7FFEE7C30000 GDI32.dll 0x7FFEE7CE0000 IMM32.DLL 0x7FFEE7D20000 WS2\_32.dll 0x7FFEE7D50000 sechost.dll 0x7FFEE7F00000 MSCTF.dll 0x7FFEE7FA0000 ADVAPI32.dll 0x7FFEE80C0000 msvcrt.dll 0x7FFEE8170000 ntdll.dll 0x7FFEE8250000 

F4SE PLUGINS:

Buffout4.dll v1.31.1 cbp.dll FO4VRTools.dll HighFPSPhysicsFixVR.dll UnlimitedSurvivalMode.dll vcheck\_patcher.dll VRFpsStabilizerFallout.dll v1.0.1 

PLUGINS:

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I'm on my first playthrough, still very inexperienced. I'm working on unlocking Tier 5 and 6 milestones, and I'm starting to spread out of my starting area, and building more factories at different (often quite distant) parts of the map, and I'm struggling with how best to set up my supply chain, and how to separate (or combine) the different production stages for more complex parts.
Thus far, I've mostly created multi-level factories in the vicinity of relevant resource nodes, and go through the entire production process (from raw material to finished product) at a single location. Would it make more sense to separate the production stages into different facilities?
For an example of how I've done it up to this point, I might decide to build a "Modular Frame" factory right next to a group of Iron nodes, where I run belts from the miners to a ground-level group of smelters, then belt those iron ingots up to constructors on level 2 to make the necessary plates, rods and screws, and then belt all THOSE up to a group of assemblers on Level 3 to be made into reinforced plates and finally, modular frames, and then belt them down to several ground-level industrial storage containers where they'll stay, until I need them for something else.
Would it make more sense to create a facility exclusively for smelting (perhaps making multiple types of ingots, depending on the ore nodes in the area) and then set up a truck route to several more small factories that only make constructor parts (plates/rods/etc), and then belt/truck those to ANOTHER facility, where they'll be assembled into modular frames?
Is there a third option that makes sense?
I'm pretty bad with math and long-term planning, and I'm not super concerned with trying for the absolute most optimum efficiency set-up, but I would like to establish some kind of basic structure/best practices for setting up my supply chain so that I'm not making things more difficult for myself, down the line.
Any suggestions would be most welcome!

Hi all, just received 50 000 CAD from a will disbursement from my step father's passing. I am 31 M.
I earn 2000/month WFH and have no real assets and no liabilities, simply 50 000 in my chequing right now.
My flexible plan is as follows;
5000 in chequing to avoid fees(4000 in account no fees)
12000(6 months expenses) in a CIBC TFSA
10-15000 in a GIC
10 000 in Wealthsimple medium risk Robo investor
3000 in gold(perhaps through CIBC). I am a doomer by gut instinct haha.
5000 my own personal stocks; dividends and dependable stocks. I played around with 2000CAD back in 2021 and learned the lessons and rules around the markets. Alternatively just buy 3000 in Vanguard ETF or some other SPY ETF and only use 2000 for play. Perhaps 500-1000 in crypto just for small exposure if it moons or who the hell knows.
General outlook;I generally distrust the financial markets and late stage capitalism, I see a 1929 esq bubble coming aka Ray Dalio Changing World order. That being said with rate lowering and such we might be on another 5 year mini bull run. Hence Gold, GIC, and crypto(dont mock me haha) exposure. Bond rates are decent and the stock market is fucky, I like bonds despite being 31.
*is a GIC essentially a bond? I was looking to have 10000- 15000 in that GIC or in a bond market getting some nominal 4-5%.

Between Esdeath and Ivan, for a while things hadnt looked all that promising regarding the groups plan to save the Lostbelt. But as the blizzard stopped, the thing that made life so harsh and survival the most important aspect of all, Ivan had proven himself to be surprisingly amicable.
The Yagas lifestyle, brutal and loveless as it was, was no longer needed in a world that could be warm. And with the Box (Yang still was pondering the proper name for the device) in place after the Lostbelts Tree was destroyed... their world was for now at least safe. Comfortably stabilized and in stasis until Yang could get off this planet and plant them on a proper world.
So the trio departed for the next target, this time by a matter of logic and reason. The various Lostbelts had been marked on the walkie talkie like apparatus Yang received with various redacted information. Suppsoedly to be revealed as they progressed. It made her wonder what kind of game this was supposed to be but any information could be useful. Each Lostbelt had different ranks of danger, with Russia being the lowest.
In accordance with the danger rating, their next location would be Scandinavia. A land where Ragnarok never proceeded as it was supposed to, with a Mother Goddess fused with Scathach as its Lostbelt King. And its Jumper being... annoyingly hidden. Supposedly this Jack Slash (Corax immediately wanted to kill him no debate involved after she learned of his name... something about Worms?), had talked Surtr into attempting to end all the world instead of only the age of gods.
Skadi was at least much more approachable than Ivan, greeting them like a mother would. Horrific circumstances regarding humanity in this Lostbelt aside, who had to routinely be feed to Giants at young ages, Skadi was elated to hear they could help, defeat Surtr and put an end to the Giant threat. She had guaranteed them her full support in every endeavor.
It was nice to have a proper room in Skadis Palace instead of having to hide out in a cave. All things considered things were looking up, even if a harsh fight was on the horizon. And what better thing to do than train? So she had done just that with Taiyang for the last couple hours. Corax mentioned wanting to discuss... something with a certain Mother Goddess...
Yang wiped away some sweat of her brow, drinking some of the warm tea the Lostbelt King had provided. She honestly hoped the next Lostbelts would be warmer this cold was getting annoying.
As they recovered some of their energy... Yang felt compelled to ask. "Say... how did you meet Corax?"
Tai coughed, having been drinking water at the time of the question being asked- his mind somewhat frantically pondered an excuse that would keep his extradimensional paramour’s secret.
“Well… she found me, after I joined back up with the survivors from my Remnant she came to visit our Citadel and we started talking”
Yang leaned back with an amused smile. "Really? She just popped in and felt like chatting? Well... I suppose thats how I met her and Sephiroth in Animal Crossing but still... What did you talk about? Anything in particular?"
“Well… she gave me a Symbiote- a piece of Quil it’s what helps me use this arm Flowey gave me without losing my sanity or just straight up dying.”
He looks over at her.
“Are you wondering who she is under the mask? She told me that she knew a counterpart of mine and wanted to meet me because of it, I took her to meet Pietro if you remember him? Your friend Penny’s father?”
So thats how she did it. Yang couldnt help but thank the masked woman mentally. Actions like that were an easy way to get in Yangs own good graces. Shed have to voice her thanks to the woman some time.
"Mister Polendina?" the huntress pondered the name. "I heard of him. Ive known what he looks like from studying Remnant but... I never actually got to meet mine. Last ive seen of Penny was when Pyrrha tore her apart on accident and I never left Patch before... you know." Yang gave an awkward shrug, quickly trying to change the topic. "He seems like a cool guy. Would love to know what he thinks of my tech. As for Corax..."
She clicked her tongue contemplating. "I guess... im just curious cause I cant really get a read on her. Why shes here or doing all this. My best GUESS is that maybe she is projecting some of her trauma and trying to make amends... and fuck me if that isnt a running theme in our group." she let out a small sympathetic chuckle.
"I wouldnt rip the mask of her face or something. She needs to deal with her shit on her own time. Just... curious for sure now how her RWBY visit went."
“Yeah… I don’t know the whole story as well, I don’t know how she met Sepiroth or any of the details after the fact- I just know Remnant went… badly for her to say the least and that she cares about you a lot.”
Tai smiled a little sadly.
“She can be such a gray blur sometimes can’t she?”
That made Yang blink. She... maybe figured something like that after hearing Corax voice in her head back when she took Sephiroths challenge. But to hear that this masked stranger cared about her... why? That was the question currently on Yangs mind.
What could she have done to deserve Corax care?
All she could tell for sure was that Taiyang seemed to care about her as well. Good grief what a Trio they made. Their little 'Neo Chaldea'. Misery loves company?
"...Good way to put it." she said with a small mirrored smile. "You probably know her better than I do and if she is a blur to you, she may as well be mist to me. But well... I suppose we just have to wait until she comes out with her own baggage and lend a shoulder for her when she needs it." Yang decided, unaware just what kind of promise she was making.
....Suddenly she felt like chuckling. "You know its weird... the way she acts... it kind of feels familiar. Or well not familiar but like... something I imagined someone to act LIKE..."
“Raven right? What you always hoped she’d be like when you found her back on Remnant? She reminds me of Ray sometimes too… they’re similar people in a lot of ways”
Yangs expression looked blank for a moment, Taiyangs comparison ringing true. "Yeah I think so. When I first learned that a 'Bandit' gave birth to me... I kinda thought of an 'edgy badass who takes no shit but could teach you cool stuff'. Guess thats what a brain of a 5 year old comes up with." she said distinctively... removed. The same kind of emotion and passion one would give towards describing the specific color of grass.
"Corax... oddly fits this idea I had in my brain I suppose. But considering Corax is around and Raven isnt... I fail to see any similarities." she stated neutrally and matter of factly.
“Yeah… I know what you mean”
Taiyang’s voice sounded… sad, he wished Yang had had the chance to get to know Raven back on Remnant, back before all the Ozpin shit.
‘Sorry Corax you’ve got your work cut out for you…’
Trying to lighten the mood Tai nudges Yang-
“She’s a badass though right? I never wanted to use a sword before what she did in the last Lostbelt now I’m wondering if she’ll give me lessons”
And all but immediately the passion and emotion was back in Yangs face. Gone the utter lack of care about Raven... replaced by what Corax had become.
"You can say that again! Shes treating space like it was paper. I don't think I ever saw someone THAT good with a sword its frankly absurd. I'm honestly surprised Ivan lasted as long as he did." she said with a heartfelt laugh... and admiration in her voice.
A golden blade appeared in her hand, brimming with the power of Ea and Rhongomyniad. "I ended up picking up on sword fighting when I saw just so many Items in Jumpchain not just fitting a brawler fighting style alone. Feels like a waste to deny myself of them entirely. But I am the first to admit that I still feel like a complete novice. You think shed be up to give me some training?"
“Well no harm in asking is there? Even if that doesn’t work out the two of us could train?”
Yang gave a small smile in return. "Sounds good to me."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
*Meanwhile*
"Honestly I don't really understand the issue here. You weren't there to fulfill your duties as a mother but now you are here. So what is your problem?" Skadi asked in a remote and secure corner of the Palace the woman standing in front of her... said womans mask in her hand and clutched so tightly her knuckles went white.
"The PROBLEM is that it took me until Remnant literally went to Hell to figure out I have *issues*. The problem is that it took me facing and killing the objectively worst mother in the Omniverse to even THINK about actually being a mother. The problem is that I can not even look at Yang without wanting to vomit out of sheer guilt." Raven said in exasperation. She had the absolutely foolish spur of the moment Idea to turn to a Mother Goddess for advice on her predicament... but it was increasingly looking questionable how smart that idea was.
Skadi hummed in thought. "True... this Ragyo woman really put shame on the role of mother. But you did good in ensuring she can no longer do harm. And I do not think simple absence means you are as bad as her."
"Its not just that I am bad its that I am the worst possible option at the latest time imaginable. I had my chance twice over, once when I had her and left and once again when Summer died. Summer Rose is her real mother and she COULD be that figure in her life. Now she has Aziza who is basically Summer but a cosmic level Pharaoh."
"You are getting too hung up on the idea of motherhood as some sort of competition." Skadi argued, a frustrating amount of compassion on her face. "But such bonds are not easily summarized or put on a ranking. All one can do for sure is love and be there for them. Do you love Yang."
"...Yes. It... took me a while to admit that but I do love her."
"And are you there for her now?"
"...Its not that I-"
"Are you there for her NOW?" Skadi insisted and raven sighed. "I mean... I think so."
"Than that alone means you have what is necessary to be a good mother. As long as you have these two virtues I would never judge you my child."
What in the world was it with people around her being so understanding? Seriously a part of her still wanted Tai to spit on her face when she first met him. It was frustrating in a very complicated way.
"I didnt exactly... HAVE those for a long time. Me and my brother... the tribe wasnt exactly the kind of environment where you make close bonds. I never really had a mother myself and just was too... afraid. Of Ozpins War. Of Salem. Of... caring. So when I had the chance I didnt try."
Skadi just continued to wear a gentle smile. "And yet your Semblance, this power rooted in your soul, manifests as a connection and gate to your loved ones. I believe your Soul is trying to tell you something raven. Something you yourself cant yet see... but I do and Taiyang does and I am sure if you let her Yang would see it as well."
Raven bit the inside of her cheek, brain furiously trying to voice counterarguments. "Skadi."
"Please call me mom."
...Right. Mother Goddess. "...'Mom'... what if it is just too late?"
"It never is too late to show someone you love them. Just as it is never to early to stop with fetishizing ones own sadness."
"But she doesnt CARE about me. And honestly that should be a good thing! Wouldnt I just be selfish if I make her deal with something she put behind her?"
"The woman she moved past is not the woman in front of me today isnt she? You allowed yourself to change Raven and dove into the unknown to be there for her. Mask or no Mask hiding your identity that is NOT something a coward could do." and just like that, raven found herself pulled into a hug, eyes widening from the sudden embrace.
"My child... you are so much braver and stronger than you think you are. I KNOW you will get over this and I can not wait for the day I get to see the both of you act like mother and daughter should."
...Such a notion fell somewhere between pipe dream and insanity for Ravens current mind. But being hugged by a woman that just radiated comfort... she couldnt bring herself to speak these words.

They found just enough of my best friend's body to mark him down as dead, not missing. The rest of his family wasn't as lucky. They found pieces of Wyatt, Emily, and Alice Forrester—teeth strewn across the parents' bed, strands of the girl's hair caught in the latch of her bedroom window—but there supposedly wasn't enough evidence to determine whether the rest of the family was dead or alive.
After the discovery, my town entered an unofficial, unspoken lockdown. Any peace of mind gained from Fred's arrest was shattered by the realization that, even if he was guilty of grave robbing and killing animals, there were far worse criminals operating in our community. I talked a big game in my last post, saying that I'd put down whatever entity I'd unleashed like some kind of wannabe ghostbuster. In reality, all I did for days was sit in my room, imagining the terror and pain Liam must have felt in his final moments. I submitted an application to visit Fred through the county jail's website, but it took a while to get approved.
Just over a week ago, I received an unexpected visit from Liam's girlfriend, Eleanor. When I answered her knock at my door, she instantly pulled me into a hug and burst into tears, so I figured, despite the two of us not being close, she'd come to commiserate over our shared loss. Not sure what else to do, I invited her inside.
In some ways, it was nice to have someone else who felt the same pain that I did, but in others, seeing her cry just made me feel guilty. She'd come all this way to confide in me, not knowing the role I played in her boyfriend's death. At one point my grandma came in from her garden and made Eleanor some tea, which helped calm her down a little.
It occurred to me that if I was supposed to be investigating the thing that killed Liam, Eleanor might be a good place to start. As gently as I could, I asked her if she'd noticed anything strange about Liam before the discovery.
She shook her head and told me: "He was the same as ever. I just can't see Liam or the rest of his family having any enemies. His parents owned a bakery—that's like the most innocuous job ever. And Alice, I mean, she was only twelve. The only person I might've suspected was your creepy boss. But he was already in jail by that night."
After a minute of silence, she sighed, saying, "That asshole is real bad news. I practically begged Liam not to take that job. We hardly ever disagreed on anything, but we fought about that stupid job all the time." Eleanor started tearing up, so I refrained from asking any follow-up questions. When she composed herself again, she set the teacup down and excused herself, so I walked her out to her car.
I didn't think much about it at the time, but when Eleanor talked about Fred, she seemed really upset. A lot of people in my town have long been wary of Fred, but Eleanor seemed particularly bitter, like there was a painful history between them. Who knows, maybe I'm not the only one who witnessed him messing with dead bodies. I'll have to ask her more the next time I see her.
Before I made it back inside the house, my grandparents appeared on the porch, dressed for an outing. My granddad let me know they were going to The Home Depot for a new raccoon trap, since apparently there was an issue with our current one. He said, "Every morning I find food everywhere and an open trap door. Either the thing's broken or the coyotes have grown opposable thumbs."
After that, they left me alone with the unpleasant notion that something other than coyotes had gotten into the trap. I walked to the edge of our front yard to investigate, and sure enough, the trap door was open and the dog food we used as bait was scattered all over the grass. It looked like someone had reached an arm inside just to knock over the dog food bowl, and yet when I looked closely, I saw a small clump of fur caught in a bottom corner. At some point, there had been an animal in that trap, but something else had opened the door for it. Whether they had done so out of compassion or because they wanted the trapped animal for themselves, I didn't know. I did know that after a week of doing nothing, I finally had a plan.
I spent most of last Saturday gathering supplies, hitting up most of the hunting and camping stores in our small town. My itinerary included four traps in total: two for raccoons; one for mice and other, smaller animals; and one bear trap. I also bought dog food and peanut butter to bait the raccoon and mice traps accordingly. Finally, I bought a pack of four trail cameras. All together, I spent so much that I practically blew through all the money I'd earned at Sundae Central, but I was hoping that it would be worth it.
On Sunday, I set up the traps. My grandparent's house, like all the others on this side of our street, borders a canyon. We've got a nice plot—a huge fenceless yard, at the edge of which sits a greenhouse that my granddad built for my grandma's 50th birthday. Beyond the flat portion of the backyard is a long, gradual decline to the arroyo below, not quite sheer enough to be called a cliff, but too steep and full of trees and boulders to do anything with.
I set up the first trail camera to point to the newly-replaced raccoon trap in the front yard, dedicating the area as Site A. Next, I placed the mouse trap next to the greenhouse, propped up the second trail camera against one of the greenhouse's shelves, and designated it as Site B. I set up the remaining raccoon traps at sites C and D, which lay right at the bottom of the hill and at the very edge of our property respectively. The bear trap, for the time being, I kept in reserve.
Nothing happened on Monday night. I stayed up late, watching the trail cams on my laptop, until I got bored and fell asleep. The following morning, I watched the sped-up recordings, and was both relieved and disappointed to see that nothing had paid the traps a visit.
Site B caught a mouse on Tuesday night. It crawled into the trap near the greenhouse at around 3 AM, but nothing else came to investigate. I released it into the woods the next day. The Site D camera caught something moving in the distance just before dawn, but the trail cam's night vision quality is so bad that I have no idea what it was. From the way the brush swayed in its wake, though, it was something big.
Wednesday night was when things started to get weird. At around midnight, I was sitting at my desk. I've been asked to speak at Liam's funeral, so I was fruitlessly attempting to draft a speech when I looked up at my computer screen to check the cameras. Clicking through the four feeds, I saw that the trap at Site C had caught an opossum. I full-screened the Site C feed and watched the animal scurry around inside the trap for a while. I sat there for a long time. When an hour passed and nothing else happened, I was ready to throw in the towel on the whole stupid operation and just go to bed.
And then, all of a sudden, the trap door slid open.
The opossum was still huddled in the back corner of the cage; the door seemed to have opened all on its own. Cautiously, the creature approached the exit, slowly making its way out of the metal cage. It took a few steps out into the night, and then it stilled. Its head turned to the side, its glowing eyes fixed on something that I couldn't see. I squinted at the video feed. For a moment, I thought I saw depressions in the grass, like something was walking next to the trap.
I blinked, and the opossum disappeared.
I've played back that footage so many times now, and I just can't make sense of what I saw. One second, the creature was standing there in the grass, and the next, it was simply gone. The next morning, when I investigated the area, I saw no trace of the opossum or any other animal. For reasons I still can't comprehend, the thing that's been taking our local wildlife isn't showing up on my cameras.
I focused my efforts on Site C. On Thursday evening, just before dusk, I swapped the dog food in the raccoon trap in favor of a slab of bloody, raw meat I'd bought from the butcher. I also hauled the bear trap down the hill and set it up in front of the raccoon trap, chaining it to a large tree and disguising it as best I could with leaves and dirt. Finally, I sprayed some bear and raccoon repellant around the surrounding area. I've never used a steel-jawed trap on an animal before—I've only ever used humane, catch-and-release-style traps for pest control and I'd like to keep it that way. It was my hope that the repellant would deter the animals from getting too close.
I stayed up the entirety of Thursday night for nothing. No animals graced the trail cam feed, nor did any monsters.
Friday night was similarly slow. I spent so many lonely hours struggling to write my speech and staring at grainy trail cam footage. Maybe I was going a little crazy from my self-imposed isolation, but I kept thinking I saw something moving in the background of Site D.
Last night was when everything went to hell. The slab of meat had been so thoroughly ravaged by flies that I swapped it out for a new one on Saturday evening. Then, I returned to my room to wait. At 3 in the morning, long after my grandparents had gone to sleep, something in the Site C camera caught my eye. Movement in the brush. Depressions in the grass, so slight I never would've seen them if I wasn't looking for them. I held my breath …
And then the bear trap snapped shut.
I stood up from my desk, ecstatic that I'd finally caught my prey and terrified that I'd finally have to confront it. With shaking hands, I quickly tied my shoes and fitted a headlamp over my forehead. As I prepared to leave, the bear trap thrashed around on my screen, presumably as whatever entity it held fought for escape. The last thing I grabbed before I jogged into the night was my granddad's rifle from his gun safe.
Once outside, I made my way towards the bottom of the hill. The weight of the gun in my hand gave me some reassurance as I descended, but I was still more scared than I'd like to admit. Eventually, I drew close enough to the trap to hear the clink of the metal chain. I clicked on my headlamp to see what I'd caught.
There was a woman sitting on the ground, her back towards me. Her hair was blonde, her frame was thin, and she wore a black dress similar to the one I'd seen on the woman outside of Sundae Central. The sight of that dress made my heart sink—instantly, I knew that I was dealing with more than one enemy.
The woman turned around to look at the source of the light, and as she did so, she released her leg. She'd been holding her trapped foot up to her mouth with both hands, and from the look of the gaping wound below her calf, she'd been trying to bite through her leg to free herself. The sight of all that gore made me sick to my stomach. When she saw me, she rose to her feet, though how she could possibly stand in such a state I couldn't fathom.
I pointed the rifle at her. Her lips and chin were completely stained with blood, but I could get a good look at the rest of her face—at her reddish-brown eyes and straight nose, at her freckles and pale skin. Unlike the dark haired woman I'd seen before Liam's death, this woman seemed more corporeal. There was none of the dizzying, distorted effect I'd gotten from looking at the other woman for too long. This woman also seemed younger. She shouldn't possibly have been older than 25.
"What are you?" I asked. She didn't respond, nor did she move at all. Blood dripped off of her chin and pooled on the forest floor beneath her.
"What are you doing in my town?" No response but an unblinking stare and an apathetic expression. I asked her a few more questions, though what exactly I said I can't remember, before finally asking her about Liam.
"My best friend was murdered two weeks ago, for no reason at all. Did you kill him? Did your friend?"
At that, the woman lowered her gaze. Her lips parted, revealing two sets of teeth—a row of normal, human teeth in front, and a row of jagged, shark-like teeth behind them.
"I didn't kill him, but I'm sorry he had to die." Her voice was surprisingly soft, but her words were difficult to make out. It seemed difficult, almost painful, to talk around so many teeth.
"What do you mean 'had to die'?"
"He interfered. He saw too much. And now so have you." Her tone carried no malice and her expression looked almost remorseful. I kept the rifle trained on her, but I took a few steps forward, studying her face. I noticed that she had two beauty marks, one under her left eye and one above her left eyebrow. The weird thing is, I'm pretty sure I've seen a girl with those exact birthmarks before. In fact, the longer I looked at her the more familiar she seemed, but I couldn't for the life of me put my finger on where I'd seen her before.
"Do I know you from somewhere?" I asked her, and she looked surprised.
"I don't …" She started, and then trailed off. She turned away from me, peering intently into the dark woods. I heard something faint, like boughs snapping in the distance, and a familiar feeling settled in my gut. I felt like I was back in the car outside Sundae Central, face to face with the thing that would eventually kill my best friend. Whatever I'd seen that night, I got the sense that it was approaching.
The blonde woman looked back towards me. "You should go," she said, and I didn't have to be told twice. I took one last look at her, trying to take in every detail of her face, and then I turned around and ran for my house.
By the time I was halfway up the hill, I was certain that I was being followed. I could feel a presence behind me, yet I heard no one: no heavy breathing, no snapping of twigs underfoot. Figuring that I couldn't hear my pursuer because they were too far behind me, I risked a glance backwards and failed to stop the scream that escaped me.
Less than five feet behind me was the dark haired woman I'd seen outside the ice cream shop. I have no idea how she got so close behind me without making a sound. Though I only caught the briefest glimpse of her face, I saw that her lips were torn at the corners, allowing her to open her mouth unnaturally wide. Like the blonde girl I'd spoken to, this woman's mouth was cluttered with a double-row of jagged teeth. Figuring I could run faster without my rifle, I threw my it at the woman and put everything I could into that final sprint towards my house.
I didn't stop or look behind me until I was inside with the door shut and locked. I couldn't believe I'd made it in one piece. Hurrying to the back window, I looked out across the backyard and saw, at the very edge of the property, the faint shape of the dark-haired woman. She was perfectly still, staring in the direction of the greenhouse, though at what exactly I'm still not sure. After a few minutes, she turned around and disappeared past the treeline. Her long, black dress swayed around her ankles and made her look like she was floating instead of walking on two feet.
The recording from Site C ended abruptly after I left the scene. When I returned to the scene in the daylight this morning, I found the camera in pieces at the base of the tree it was once hanging on. I also found that the bear trap itself was nowhere in sight. The chain I had used to tie it to a nearby tree was now connected to nothing, leaving me to wonder if the dark-haired woman bit clean through the metal links in order to free her friend.
It's Sunday now, and while I'm in desperate need of some sleep, I wanted to make sure I wrote everything down before I forgot all the details. Though I've learned a lot from my experiment, every new revelation has resulted in more questions. I know that I'm dealing with more than one creature, but I don't know what they are or what they want. I know that Liam was killed for "interfering", but with what exactly I have no clue. The blonde woman's face is still fresh in my mind; maybe I should draw a sketch or something before I go to sleep. She seems so very familiar, and I feel like if I figure out where I've seen her before, I might be one step closer to unraveling this whole fucked-up mystery. I also finally got cleared to visit Fred this week, so hopefully he'll shed some light on what we're dealing with.
Until then, I just have to pray that no sharp-toothed women kill me in my sleep for "seeing too much." I hate that they know where I live now, and that I have no clue how many of them there are. Whatever the case, I'm going to do my best to get to the bottom of it, and try to keep you all updated as I do.
Wish me luck.

I recently picked back up my violin from playing many many moons ago, and have been doing some jam sessions with a friend. I quickly realized that since I was trained in an orchestra and did everything via sheet music that it was more difficult for me to play by ear (especially in the weird keys my friends play in that are more amenable to guitar and piano than violin).
I plan to start lessons soon because I missed playing more than I thought, but am curious on thoughts as to how to train playing by ear and how to become better skilled at playing in a band. In the orchestras I played in violins were typically the melody, but in a band I find it being more harmony and backup. Thanks for feedback and thoughts!

I used to work permanent nights.
On nights, we often had sickness at the last minute that no one was willing to come in and cover. So, we used to all help out one another. We didn't do it for the praise, or for additional money (there wasn't any!) , we did it because we were colleagues for years and there was no one else.
Inevitably, our work was taken for granted. The managers NEVER thanked us for helping them out of the shit, but they also started to assume that we would cover everything, so they made less and less effort to arrange cover for absence, even planned absence they knew about in advance.
On night, before work, I came into work and received a shitty email complaining about staff in our department using the computers of another department. Now, we had our own computers. The ONLY time my department ever used the other departments computers was when we were covering their absence. The email chain showed the other department complaining about us to my manager, who sent out an email to all the night staff in my department saying "from now on, DO NOT USE the other department's computers."
I was fuming, because as I said, we only did it to help out, and to stop the other department having to cover night staff at short notice. But I thought "fine, that's how it is."
The very next night, the other department is short-staffed again. The supervisor on that shift asks me to cover their department. I say no, I can't. I have been told not to use their computers by my manager.
The supervisor says "oh no, that's okay. You can use them." I say: "No, I can't. My manager told me not to, under any circumstances."
So she gets her manager to call me, the same manager who complained about us and say: "for this one shift (!) you can use our computers" as if she is doing ME the favour.
So I say: "no, I really can't. You are not my manager. I cannot defy my manager's instructions."
Because they can't get my manager on the line that late a night, another supervisor had to come in last minute and cover the shift.

I hope this report helps others as much as the ones before helped me plan!
May 30-June 8
Traveled to Japan from the west coast of US with husband and two daughters, 14 & 11.
May 30 Arrived at Narita Airport around 3 PM. The line at customs was over an hour long and it was stiflingly hot and humid in the customs area. the line wound around 2 giant rooms. We had done the QR code and it didn’t even matter- the line for QR code people and paper form people was the same line. After the long flight there, this was hard on us.
Arrived at our hotel- the FAV Tokyo Hotel in Ryogoku. I picked this hotel because of the price. It was high quality and the staff were super nice. The original room we had, though, was really small- 200 sq feet. we felt really cramped in there and ended up upgrading to a bigger room after 3 nights.
Upon arriving we unpacked a bit, walked around the corner to get some ramen, stopped at 7-11 to get some snacks and I checked the pharmacy for CPAP water. I found “soft water”- which I used and it seemed to be ok, even though they didn’t have official distilled water. We crashed around 8 pm.
May 31 It was a little rainy in the morning, so we changed up our plans and started in Akihabara. We went to a cat cafe and loved it- the cats were all super cute and healthy. They seemed pretty spoiled! We were underwhelmed by the anime stores in Akihabara though- I think you need to be really into it to like them. We were all feeling pretty tired so we went back to the hotel for a bit, then went out in the evening to Senso-Ji. Unfortunately all the vendors in Nakimise dori were closing when we got there, so we didn’t try a lot of the food we wanted to. But it was nice to see the temple when it was less crowded. We went to dinner at a sushi restaurant in Asakusa, and went to a cabaret dance show at Asakusa Kugua- which we all LOVED. We booked the tix through Viator but I think you can book directly. My 11 year old said it was her favorite part of the trip. I loved the shopping area around it. I actually wish we stayed in Asakusa- it ended up being my favorite area of Tokyo.
June 1 We started with day with breakfast at Yoshinoya which ended up being what we did every day, because my youngest daughter liked it so much. Traditional breakfast of miso soup, white rice and salmon. After that we went to Happy Pancake to see what all the fuss was about. I loved them- my daughters didn’t- they thought they tasted like eggs. After that, we did Shibuya scrambled, checked out Loft, went to Takeshita Dori in Harajuku and went to the Puma store in Shinjuku. I think it was a mistake to do these areas on a Saturday. The crowds were something I wasn’t prepared for- obviously I had seen videos but actually BEING in the chaos is a different story. I was really overwhelmed and tired by the end of this long day and I fell asleep by 7.
June 2 We started the day at TeamLabs Planets- which was really cool. We had booked our tickets well in advance and we didn’t feel overly crowded since they do timed entry. After that, we went to Yanaka Ginza, as I had heard that old town was a nice change to Shibuya. It was- but I wished for more- the “shopping street” was not as long as I thought it would be. Luckily it was walking distance to Nezu shrine, which was absolutely gorgeous. It started raining just as we arrived and I enjoyed the quiet, serene setting, watching the raindrops in the stream with koi fish swimming around. It was one of my favorite places in Tokyo.
June 3 This was our “theatrical” day. We started with a Samurai class that I had booked through Viator. Again, you could book directly through Samurai Theater. This was SO MUCH FUN. My husband’s favorite part of the trip. It was an hour long class, we got to dress up like Samurai’s (I’m plus size and it worked), and there’s a fun choreographed sequence they teach you that you do to music at the end. The instructors spoke great English and were just a lot of fun to spend time with.
We then went to Gonpachi- the restaurant that inspired the design of the restaurant in Kill Bill’s iconic sword fight scene. This didn’t disappoint- it’s a super unique interior design and we loved felling like we were in the movie (especially after having just had sword fights of our own!)
We ended the day with a Kimono Tea Ceremony with MAIKOYA Tokyo. This was also fun- the girls loved getting their hair done, getting to choose their kimono and we were all excited to learn how to make matcha tea and learn about the ceremony.
June 4 This was a “free” day so we decided to try Harajuku again on a weekday. It was a little less crowded and the girls were happy to get some fun clothes at ACDC Rags and Punyas. We also went to a puppy cafe. This one wasn’t as fun as the cat cafe. The dogs seemed really hungry- and it made me sad. (They looked well fed, but it makes me wonder if all their food comes through the hand feeding from visitors?) afterward, we went to the Pokémon Cafe for my 11 year old who loves Pokémon. The food was really bad- which we expected from reviews. I didn’t know, though, that you don’t get to take photos with Pikachu- he just does a little show and waves. This wasn’t worth it in my opinion. We then had ramen on “ramen street” at Tokyo station for dinner. We did the seafood ramen- I think I would have preferred a different one.
June 5 We traveled on the Shinkansen To Kyoto on this day. It was relatively easy as we connected through Shinagawa Station instead of Tokyo station. We checked into the Mimaru SHIJO (which was amazing and had free happy hour with beer and sake daily from 5-7!) and went straight to Nishiki Market and my husband tried allll the food. He loved all of it. The girls and I loved the shopping area connected to Nishiki. We did My Only Fragrance- a fun experience to design your own perfume (we had a reservation). I went to fushimi inari alone at sunset and was super excited that it wasn’t crowded and the light was stunning. I was there about 30 minutes. Later, My husband and I went out alone this evening in Gion. We saw two Maiko out and about (we didn’t take photos or harass). We also had the best sushi dinner of our lives in an 8-seat restaurant called Sushi Ninenzaka Numoto. We got REALLY lucky as we just walked in- I didn’t realize so many restaurants require reservations in Kyoto!
June 6 I woke up at the crack of dawn and my 14 year old and I took the Shinkansen down to Hiroshima. We went through the Peace Museum, which made both of us emotional- but her especially. She had to take some time afterwards sitting in the park on a bench while I explored the surrounding area- the dome, the different memorials, etc. we didn’t spend a lot of time in Hiroshima but it was important to me to go, and I’m happy we made the trip. My daughter said she wished I had warned her- had she known how emotional it would be she might have skipped it. I think it’s important that people learn from history so even though it was hard for her I’m glad she came with me. We were back in Kyoto by 2. We took a nap then took the train to Osaka to at least see the dotonbori- which was amazing. Such a great vibe. There was a live concert happening when we got there a girl JPoP band called Shinsekai Hero, and my daughters were super into it. We had conveyor belt sushi, tried some food at the stands and headed back to Kyoto.
June 7 Our last day in Japan. My husband and I went to Ninzaka and Sannenzaka at 10 when the shops opened up- we spent a lot. We loved the pottery shops and the doll shop. So many souvenirs bought. Later in the day we went to Kinkaku-Ji and it was everything I imagined and more. Even with the crowds it’s such a calming place. We tried to have dinner at a nice steakhouse that evening but again- no reservations.
June 7 Took the Shinkansen back from Kyoto to Tokyo station because we had an oversized bag and even with booking well in advance couldn’t get a reserved seat with the oversized bag connecting in Shinagawa. We made our connection (20 minutes!) but just barely and only because I had studied the Tokyo station map. If I hadn’t we would have missed our connection to the Narita express.
All in all- it was a great trip that was definitely a teaser for future trips. I wish we spent more time in Kyoto and Osaka- I think we would have liked those areas more than Tokyo. I also want to see more of the countryside, as I preferred the temples to the wild city.
Lessons learned -The subway was tricky for us- we gave up after day 1 and just took taxis which we not much more expensive than the subway and saved a lot of headache- we used Uber and the go taxi app - my daughter got a cold while we were there- the Payke app was a lifesaver as you could scan a bar code and the label with ingredients and instructions showed up in the app in English - my other daughters glasses broke - luckily there are a lot of eyeglass stores in Shibuya and they repaired them for a small fee - Make reservations in Kyoto - For language, I used “sumimasen” “nan ban nori ban?” and “arigato gozaimas” a lot but the other phrases I learned didn’t come up. I used google translate to type in and show people the Japanese when needed

• healthy icecream or froyo off protein/whey stuff
  
  • mix in protein cups for that awesome icecream-with-stuff-in-it thing
• cauliflower or protein-bases for pizza ~ already figured out, needs more practice though =D
  

TB: Jalapeno sauce, nacho fries (tatos) ~ spices. Cheese ~ similar, it's the flavoring.
I should straight up take a cooking class. (And DE classes, or JP)
Once settled into a routine. Once TIME PRESSURE has been alleviated by routines of growth in the right locales. (And I can change locales easily; travel moar, make moar etc.)
Honestly, the others aren't wrong. But they're taking the wrong approach. (The only problem with my work-life balance - besides the balance - was the pay. I need to finance living anywhere; cities included, for the lifestyle. Company making a DE move easier isn't necessary - if I were building my professional and personal folio enough to be a desireable candidate and applicant to programs in DE or FR).
But I can plan life-blocks ahead, Bee. I'm not discouraged, I'm not worried. Recontacting you is phase one; asking you if you'd visit me were I in France is like a Phase three thing. (I can slow roll too, dear. 😉 The Philosopher's life and timeline, as you reminded me, isn't some spontaneous thing... ah, you know lol. Time, all at once, etc. You see it as the Fox parable - which is a really good one btw, I went back and reread it! Thank you! I'm sorry I didn't follow in the Prince's footsteps for you 😔 but I'll make my peace with us-not-being-each-other's-people before I ask you, just in case I can't slow down enough for you. I believe I can, but... you know. Precautions, not taking chances. I don't wanna get your hopes up again if we're not our people x.x') Rambling, where was I. Ah yes. Planning.
Life-blocks. Enum things like cooking, language learning, and alloc ~ easier once the overall plan I've been shying away from is mapped out.
This moving plan is one of many, many items on the list. Mapping them out even, is an item in the plan.
Gods, I wish I could vacation with you somewhere as I mapped this out. (Wish wish wish. Time to start doing what I can do on my own; while regrouping and deciding how best to reapproach you bearing in mind you might already have precommitted to [and have no leeway for] ever talking to me again)
That...
._.
Gods, that's why I'm so scared.
Bea successfully convinced me that I'd met her, not you. She seemed dead-set. IDM could just as easily have been someone else, Bea could be Bea, and I could be alone again and in denial; which is the outcome I have to be ready to face.
I still have faith. So I'll prepare myself, and ask. But I'm also not going to let myself fall apart again; so I'll prepare myself for any answer.
I do miss you, and no matter what you decide, I'll always love you. But you are free to decide not to use the Keyword after I pass one to you. The decision you make today is passive; tomorrow your active choice not to day to day will give me the little bit of extra-information, that clarity I needed.
(Should I mention the Keyword's deadline? I can set it to maintain interest on my side if you - not-unified, yet. I can consider this when I'm in my new locale, on my new steady-states and talking to Lusson about you again and not everything else in my life right now.)
Ahh, Bee. These are the times I'll look back on fondly. Hopefully with you someday, but...
No regrets. One way or another, these'll be my highlights. I love my life a bit more each day, after having met you.
ILY. <3 Gotta go. Ttyl. :hugggggg:
(Can you feel digital hugs? ..') (No, but - _leads-into-chain-of-thoughts-concluding-with-The-Plan) (_including the you're-free-to-choose Backup-Plan that puts me in JP or something)
I'm already like, one LB shy of what I need. So I can't stick around RSV. Gtg.

I’ve used YNAB since January 2015 – almost ten years! My budget has evolved a lot since then – children, higher incomes, more wants and “needs” – but YNAB has helped me navigate it all. I cannot thank the YNAB team enough for giving my wife and me this amazing tool.
I also cannot thank this subreddit enough. Although I never post, many of you have provided me with examples and lessons learned that have been invaluable to me.
However, I’ve had a nagging feeling in the back of my mind for the last few months that our financial proportions are out of whack. My main worry is that I’m saving too much for retirement/kid’s colleges – but feel free to tell me if I’m not – and forgoing opportunities to go on more trips/vacations with my wife and children while they’re still home;
I’m 35. My wife is 34.
Our gross household income is right at $170,000.00. My wife and I are government employees, so we both have 9% taken out of our checks for our pensions. We also contribute to our deferred compensation plans. The remainder of what is taken out of our gross income is insurances and taxes.
After all of that, my wife and I bring home $8,890.00 a month.
We also contribute to Roth IRAs and HSAs as part of our YNAB budget. In total, we save 30% of our gross income for retirement - including the pensions.
Also, our current house is paid off – we live in an extremely LCOL area – but we are saving for a down payment on a bigger one.
Here’s a rough estimate of our typical spending/savings percentages – as a percentage of our gross income – as outlined in our monthly YNAB budget:

• Daily Expenses (Food, Gas, Household Goods, Personal Items, Etc.) – 12.5%
  
• Monthly Expenses (Utilities, CaHouse Insurances, Cell Phone, Etc.) – 7.5%
  
• Yearly Expenses (Property Taxes, Car Tags, YNAB, Amazon Prime, Costco, Etc.) – 3%
  
• Miscellaneous Expenses (Car Tires, Lawn Care, Clothes, Gifts, Etc.) – 5%
  
• Rainy Day Savings (I mainly try to keep our insurance deductibles stashed away) – 2%
  
• Retirement Savings - 30%
  
• College Savings (529 plans for our 4-year-old and 7-year-old) – 4%
  
• Miscellaneous Savings (Christmas, New(er) Cars, House Down Payment, Etc.) – 12.5%
  
• Vacation Savings – 6.5%
  

I guess my ultimate questions are:

• What is the appropriate balance between saving and spending? How did you find your balance?
  
• Am I okay? Doing too much? Doing too little?
  

As always, thanks for the advice!