Zekarias peeked out from behind the door, watching the assembled legion.
"I cannot do this."
He turned and smiled at his Hammer, resting his usual gentle hand upon her shoulder.
"Can't implies an inability. You have the ability. But compared to the likes of Horus and Fulgrim, public speaking was never your forte."
Ferra snorted as she stood up, her necrodermis hands resting on the door console.
"Have you any advice for me, Anvil?"
Zekarias smiled before locking eyes with his lover.
"Be honest. Be your usual, blunt, and frustratingly honest self. Sincerity is a strength. Especially when tempered with tact. But I won't instruct you any further on the things you fail to grasp."
Normally, Ferra would scowl and tighten her grip on Forgebreaker. But to Zekarias' delight, Ferra Manus laughed, using her hammer as a support.
"Indeed! Perhaps I should've made you my scribe instead to craft those lavish speeches to sway my sons!"
"Ah, but then who would stand up to you and insult you into making better decisions?", Zekarias retorted.
"Don't make me coat your hands in Necrodermis, Anvil."
The man made an exaggerated gasp and clutched his hand to his breast.
"Perish the thought!", he exclaimed, "For whose hand would your new ones hold in the morning? Where then shall I get my pleasure of stroking your face at night before we rest after a hard day's labor?"
Ferra scoffed at his theatrics and bid the machine spirit to open the door, her thoughts straying to her Anvil's advice.
"Be seated", she bid her sons. As they did so, she gazed at their shield arms. All of this. To honor her? After the last battle brother had taken his seat, Ferra returned her attention to the congregation.
"I have heard reports of late, indeed spanning centuries ago during the Great Crusade, that to honor me, you have been removing your arms and replacing them with augmetics. While I am flattered that you wish to be like me and possess iron hands of your own, there is a fact lost on you that has twisted your ritual to honor me and turned it dangerously close to a mania."
"That fact is quite simply that these are not my hands", she continued, gesturing to her necrodermis arms, "These hands are strong, to be sure, and I have created a great many things for Mankind. And that counts for something. You forget, my sons, that the silver on my arms comes from a beast I vanquished. It is the mark of a great evil that I ended, and yet it persists within me."
Ferra paused to collect her thoughts, catching Zekarias' eyes gleaming with pride.
"I would have struggled to remove them then. I did not remove them because I had learned to depend on them. The fault was with my mind. I had relied on the augmention given to me by my metal gauntlets, so much so that the flesh beneath them was little more than a distant memory."
Another pause to collect her thoughts, remembering her second most sacred oath.
"For many decades, there was not a way for me to remove the metal from my hands. But I had sworn long ago that when the time came, and a cure found, that I would strip the unnatural silver from my arms and instruct you, my sons, to do the same. For by relying on the metal and works of the machine, we have begun to doubt the natural strength of our bodies. Hatred of what is natural is the first and greatest of the corruptions. I bid you, my sons to recant the gifts of the machine and relearn the mysteries of flesh, bone, and blood."
"Yes, indeed", Ferra said as she began to wrap up her speech, "In doing so, I shall weaken myself and the legion, but nevertheless, it must be done. For these iron hands have created great things, but they are not mine."
Ferra awkwardly left the podium, leaving most of her sons in confusion. Of course, she informed the Dreadnoughts and the Iron Fathers of her decision, and both stood behind her decision. But what if..?
"And you said I was good at speeches", Zekarias chuckled. Ferra huffed and extended her hand.
"Are you ready?"
Ferra paused before the door to her personal chambers, a whirlwind of thought racing through her mind.
"I don't know."
She gazed playfully at her Anvil, looking him up and down.
"But what I know for certain is that tonight, my hands will be of flesh and bone again. I will want to experience touch again. I will want to experience you."
Zekarias laughed as realization of what his Hammer was saying dawned on him.
"I suppose I'm not the only one doing the stroking tonight?"
Ferra shook her head and opened the door.
"Come. For in this forge, the Hammer must fall upon the Anvil and create something beautiful and natural. Indeed, for I will show you why the Iron Hands were not made for rest."

So I had top surgery today (so exciting!! very gender affirming. I'm trans non-binary and this is going to help me so much). When I went to my original consultation, the surgeon told me that my skeleton was uneven. It wasn't a problem, but he thought I'd find it interesting. I knew this might be the case because my right breast was significantly larger, there's a divit in my right armpit that's not on the left side, and I'm unable to put my right shoulder against the ground when laying with my hands above my head.
The surgeon called my mom after I came out of surgery (she's a NP and medically literate) and told her in all of the 150+ operations he's done, he's never seen this before. I am completely missing my right pectoral muscle. This is called Poland syndrome and can also cause right hand defects and there's apparently a study on a woman that had Poland syndrome and also a dermoid cyst in her ovary on the same side (which I had a dermoid cyst in my right ovary the size of a can of soda and it caused 3 full rotations of torsion). My right shoulder has always been a problem area for me and has always gotten more knots and more pain very easily.
My mom said she was obligated to apologize for making fun of me in my childhood for not being able to open cans or carry things or do things similar. I've been made fun of and put down for this on many occasions from many people, include my first boss. It's liberating to find out that it's not and never was my fault.
The oddest thing is: not a single medical professional caught it. My pediatrician saw that I have mild scoliosis but never noticed my lack of pectoral. My right breast has always been bigger and may have hidden it (? is that a reasonable assumption?). My NP mother also never caught it, and neither did my current PCP.
Just an insane experience and extremely fascinating and emotional for me.

9 Stanford - The Cardinal is led by one of the favorites for National Player of the Year in Nijaree Canady(18-4/.50/256). The Pac 12 Pitcher of the year has maybe the best pitch in the country with her rise ball and her addition of her offspeed pitch has makes her better. Regan Krause (18-4/2.34/100)is a really good number 2 pitcher who has win a over Louisiana. This Stanford offense is not great. Emily Jones( .366/2/19)and Aly Kaneshiro (.267/10/35) are the main facilators for the offense, and Taryn Kern (.297/7/30) has showed how good she can be. Stanford has wins over Texas, Tennessee, and Georgia.
Best Win Texas Worst Loss Sacramento State
St Mary's - WCC Freshman of the year Sam Buckley(.370/4/33) is leading the charge for the Gaels in leading them to their first ever NCAA Tourament. For this team to have success they are going to make sure they get their stolen bases. The Gaels average 2 stolen bases a game and are led by speedster Marissa Montelongo (.303/3/17). Hannah Ferguson (.371/0/17) is one of the best lead off hitters in the tournament. Pitching for the Gaels is led by a 3 headed monster with WCC Co-Pitcher of the year Odhi Vasquez (11-8/2.47/85), Avery Wolverton (5-7/2.88/55)and Mia Nishikawa (12-6/2.94/37) all share equal time in the circle.
Best Win LMU Worst Loss Sacramento State
Mississippi State - The Bulldogs are led by Slugger Madisyn Kennedy(.325/17/56). For the Bulldogs to have success they are going to need get a couple of homers from her. Sierra Sacco (.348/1/18) is great lead off hitter, who gets on consistently and Nadia Barbary (.296/4/38) is someone who is also someone who can step up for this squad. Aspen Wesley (14-6/3.28/123) and Josey Marron (9-9/3.51/82) share equal time in the circle. Wesley keeps the ball down in the zone while Marron has a nice late breaking riseball. Wesley has a bunch of nice wins over Louisiana, Arkansas, Florida and a shutout against Georgia.
Best Win Georgia Worst Loss Samford
Cal State Fullerton - This team is built by their pitchers Haley Rainey (17-6/1.76/147) and Staci Chambers (16-6/2.16/133. Rainey throws the ball down and has a great off-speed to keep batters off balanced. Lead off batter Megan Delgadillo (.420/0/18).is a great slapper and gets on base a lot. Hannah Becerra (.309/7/30) is their main offensive weapon that they are going to need to have produce. Peyton Toto (.345/2/22), and Bailey Wallace (.334/0/23) are both great batters who need to continue to get on base. The real issue with this team is lack of extra base hits. Cal State Fullerton averages 1.75 Extra base hits a game. That is going to need to go up to have success this weekend. Cal State Fullerton has beat Michigan and Tennessee.
Best Win Tennessee Worst Loss Hawaii
Stanford has a win over St. Mary's
Top 25 Players

1. Nijaree Canady (Stanford) (18-4/.50/256)
2. Madisyn Kennedy (Mississippi State) (.325/17/56)
3. Sierra Sacco (Mississippi State) (.348/1/18)
4. Aly Kaneshiro (Stanford) (.267/10/35)
5. Emily Jones (Stanford) (.366/2/19)
6. Regan Krause (Stanford) (18-4/2.34/100)
7. Aspen Wesley (Mississippi State) (14-6/3.28/123)
8. Haley Rainey (Cal State Fullerton) (17-6/1.76/147)
9. Megan Delgadillio (Cal State Fullerton) (.420/0/18)
10. Taryn Kern (Stanford) (.297/7/30)
11. Nadia Barbary (Mississippi State) (.296/4/38)
12. Sam Buckley (St. Mary's) (.370/4/33)
13. Ella Wesolowski (Mississippi State) (.339/3/26)
14. Josey Marron (Mississippi State) (9-9/3.51/82)
15. Ava Gail (Stanford) (.267/9/30)
16. River Mahler (Stanford) (.294/0/21)
17. Staci Chambers (Cal State Fullerton) (.16-6/2.16/133)
18. Jessie Blaine (Mississippi State) (.319/6/31)
19. Salen Hawkins (Mississippi State) (.305/3/26)
20. Odhi Vasquez (St. Mary's) (11-8/2.47/85)
21. Jade Berry (Stanford) (.245/6/30)
22. Taylor Lane (St. Mary's) (.268/5/32)
23. Hannah Ferguson (St. Mary's) (.371/0/17)
24. Hannah Becerra (Cal State Fullerton) (.309/7/30)
25. Peyton Toto (Cal State Fullerton) (.345/2/22),

I've been noticing that teams will end up being able to choose the exact same augment as their teammate or that other teams will have the same augments. I know that top tier augments will always be chose, but I've been in multiple lobbies where half the teams have the same augments. It actually sucks when I grab a game changer like Jeweled Gauntlet, only to sweat harder because multiple teams also have Jeweled Gauntlet. Or seeing both Shaco and Zyra have Reality Fracture etc.
This is just something I noticed, which I did not notice as often in old Arenas. Maybe this is because there are more teams. I don't really mind it, but the playing field feels too even sometimes.

[OC Intro: The game is modded to increase basic jobs cost, seasonal events are disabled. Much of the crash details are based on NASA/SP-2008-565 Columbia Crew Survival Investigation Report recommendations especially Chapter 3 "Occupant Protection".]
The ship is without power, and Tightniks can't run the radar much without draining the batteries. He has only a few minutes of APU power left, goes over the best clearing he can find, and radars it. It varies by only a few feet from the aerodynamic glideslope there. He spots it out on the cameras and circles to go after that spot. He's only at two hundred feet now. With one hand on the stick, he uses the other to open the pressure equalization valve on the side hatch, then at one hundred feet, gets it undogged. Depending on how much damage he's going to get, it's less likely to be stuck closed and trap him. The dynamic vacuum this pulls in the cockpit rips most of the survival pack data cards from that rack and scatters them across the landscape. Crap, I'm gonna need those! Refocusing on surviving the next few seconds, he turns on the radar for the final approach, takes a last look around, then straight ahead at his forward camera and PFD, he clicks his HANS and shoulder strap locks in; after that, he can barely move, but that now is better than dying in this crash with a broken neck. He's a decent pilot and brings up the flare gently. Bringing up the alpha on this delta-winged ship, he balloons a little, but keeps the nose going up and restores a zero aerodynamic sink rate just above the highest terrain indicated by the radar altimeter. The ship bumps a little in the ground effect, and he can see the radar altitude cycling irregularly up and down about five feet at a time. Rougher than it looked from higher up! The body flap protecting the dead engines hits first, and the nose comes rapidly down. It hits, the screens go blank, and Tightniks is surrounded by airbags, some lifting his feet from the rudder petals and his hand from the control stick. It's blinding, it's disorienting, it's noisy, and, to his relief, it's long! It takes several seconds before the crashing cockpit stops moving. How many times did he flip over? Did he go sideways and roll? Am I rightside up? Are we really stopped on the ground? The airbags deflate, and he can move his arms. He gets his restraints loose and inspects himself. "Uck!" he says out loud (without the 'f'). No broken bones. His pressure suit can take his blood pressure. 116/81, pulse 112, blood oxygen 99 reads off on his left arm, I'll friggin' take it!
The ship is amazingly intact from what he can tell. He can't get any readings. The systems test meter seems to be working, but can't find any voltages anywhere. The ship seems to be completely dead. Behind him, 10 passenger seats are all surrounded by airbags and the back of the cabin ends in some sort of dirt-and-gravel and there's a bit of daylight seeping in around the edges. He was the only one on board, though, so their deployment was mostly academic (they might have stiffened the structure a little during the crash, but that's probably trivial.) Tightniks gets out of his spacesuit. The air on this planet is actually breathable. He gets the hatch open, steps outside and-
"A green shimmer erupts then disappears, and you hit the ground."
The human emerges from the glowing green mist and hits the ground. Groans. Pushes against that ground, trying to get back up. Where am I? What's my name? I remember nothing. Aren't babies born naked? He's got a dark blue button-down shirt on. A uniform? A shoulder patch. Gets up, looks around. I feel really heavy. I'm not that fat, am I? He picks up a small stone from the ground, this also feels heavier than it should. He rises to his feet and holds it out somewhat (he's unable to fully extend his arm) and lets it go. The stone hits the ground near his feet quickly and with remarkable speed. It's the gravity, it's greater than it is on- ...where am I from? This is- ...not my home planet? "Oooh..."
"Ka?" it says.
What is that? It's cute, at least.
It is not tame. He has no hope of catching it on foot. The creature seems to like the berries. Maybe if I gather some of those into one place and set some kind of trap...
33s: First trap.
I got one! The human lumbers up to the trap and gets the catch open. Do you bite? It doesn't matter much to me; I'm so friggin' screwed.
It doesn't. It looks at the human with a sense of wonder, actually. A blink and tilt of the head. Seems almost to be asking, Is it you? My purpose? My savior? Once out of the trap, which is totally wrecked, he has to make a new one from scratch, it follows him around like a imprinted hatchling bird.
Wiry little fella, you are. You're going to need some bulking up to do anything useful. The- ...'trimp', I guess... The trimp seems just barely able to feed itself. The human lets him into the broken ship's intact cabin, and it curls up comfortably in a passenger seat for a nap.
1m03s: Second trap.
"Apparently the Trimps breed if they're not working. Doesn't look pleasant."
What are they doing?
The trimps appear to be androgynous, and these two have paired off in the back of the ship. They're holding something carefully within a few hours, feeding it berries, grass, and- ...corundum.
Corundum?? Whatever that is, it isn't a baby.
1m35s: Third trap.
Only it IS a baby! The third trimp he trapped immediately joined the other two in raising it. They have a strange diet of food the human has found compatible with his own body, but they also eat rocks! They're careful to crush and sort aluminate minerals from silcate ones and only eat aluminate. Actually, they don't eat aluminate, they're only feeding it to the baby.
2m06s: Fourth trap.
All four are raising the same child, who is just starting to toddle. It seems these fellas have alumina or maybe even aluminum bones. The human takes a nap and wakes to find the first child grown up and they're starting to raise a second child, all five of them.
2m46s: Huts.
The human found a working bit of electronics. He calls it a pad, but maybe it's more like a smartphone. It has plans for two residential structures. The first, the smaller one, he can build right away, but the second one needs something called "drywall", and he has to figure out how to make that before he can build it. Huts and houses, apparently.
3m13s: 10 pop, full, first farmer.
The trimp he trained to farm and make paper took an incredible 50 units of food to get bulked up to do the work, and now it's not participating in rearing the child. But less than an hour after the trimp started farming and pulping, the child was out on its own, and the trimps did not start another. The ten seats on the ship were all full. Well, eleven counting the one up front that the human sleeps in. The pilot starts exploring the area.
3m28s: Battle.
Wait, what are you do-
The hostile roars and charges at the human, but one of his trimps jumps in front of him with a stick and they fight. It started right when the human got far enough away from the ship that the hostile non-trimps away from the ship began to regard him as leaving his own territory. After the trimp defeats the first enemy, it continues after other hostiles.
3m53s: Shield I in Z1c5.
The human is easily able to recover the loot in the territory cleared by the fighting trimp. Then he sees something glinting in the- That can't be! What the heck is that? It's a data card that fits his pad. It quite clearly regards trimp combat. He gets it loaded into his pad and studies it. I can do this, it just takes some wood. He returns to the ship to discover that they had already started on a new child before the fighter had even expired in battle. The human concentrates on his research.
4m38s: Mskel in Z1c11 defeated.
The remains of this one seem rather white and shiny. It's titanium! This enemy had titanium bones! He'll store them away. They'll be useful someday, I'm sure.
5m52s: Dagger I in Z1c20.
Where are these data cards coming from? The human wonders as he loads this one into his pad, It's for a weapon it calls a dagger. He blinks. I don't know what a dagger is. I'll take your word for it, data card. Needs metal. He has gathered some, but ore is plentiful. He can just dig and smelt it whenever he wants. For now, I'll continue researching.
6m18s: Arable in Z1c21.
It's an old cave that trimps like to live in. Why weren't they able to live there before? How could these friendly critters be confined to only the exact spot where THAT thing, he looks back where he came from, not remembering that he piloted the wrecked ship to its current resting place, crashed? This is really strange. I'll let them fill up this cave before advancing further. Wait, what about defenses? The hostiles never try to reclaim territory that they've lost, so he stops worrying about that fairly quickly.
8m22s: First hut is 0.3% first ever AP.
The trimps seem fairly easy to please in terms of living quarters. Two move into his first hut and start raising a child. The human has his tent, uniform, and the heater pilfered from his space suit. Not much of a mud fan.
9m59s: Miners in Z1c30.
Oh, what's on this data card? Sl3niw? Oh, I'm holding the pad upside down. Miners. I can teach trimps how to mine ores and smelt met- 200 units of food? Each job is getting more expensive to train a trimp for. He puts his bee nickels to his eyes and spots another data card probably 10 enemies away. "Sc"? Does that means science? I can teach trimps to do science??
13m57s: Scientists in Z1c40.
Due to the expense of training trimps, the human couldn't afford to build them shields until now, he's got Sh1-3 made for the fighter to capture the science training data card. 14m02s: One head went into that turtlimp shell, that of his fighter, but two came out: his fighter still has his head on, and he managed to get the turtlimp's head off. It rushes off after the deadly penguimp in the next cell. The shields are not doing all that much good, actually, but they're better than nothing. The human picks up and loads the science data card and- Holy runny sugar-free fudge crap! 1000 food units, but it'll endow them with the ability to speak. Good. I'm getting bored with no one to talk to.
14m28s: Bloodlust purchased and AutoFight enabled (that delay after getting it is an effect of jacking up the job cost.)
As the human buries this expired little trimp warrior, he comes to the sobering realization that he has more trimp graves in his growing trimp colony than he does live trimps. And yet they seem more hopeful now than before I got to know any of them. They seem to think I'm the solution to all their problems or- Those two look east somberly, then notice that he's watching them and smile back and wave at him. ...one problem that is specific, but very, very huge for them. [The only reason I say 'east' is because that's right on a map, and the game advances right across a row, then up. I might say 'northeast' on occasion for that reason.]
20m47s: Z1c73, Miners taken.
Are you my new mining foreman? The trimp who took to the mining training has dark brown fur that lays flat on its head. It's unusual in not having any bits that stick out from its head, ahoge or whatever. This one is relatively quiet, and while it has assimilated the mining and smelting knowledge, it needs to bulk up to do any mining. Smelting is relatively easy, and getting a strong natural draft going in a furnace is almost trivial with the increased gravity. This trimp builds furnaces like nothing. And likes to nap in holes it digs right on the spot; it's weird that way. [Puchim@s Yukipo, and furnaces are not explicit in Trimps.]
21m58s: Farming in Z1c80.
The resourcing "books" are not data cards but paper scrolls, apparently lost to the trimps. It seems that they were civilized in the recent past and some calamity swept over the planet to reduce them to this. Did I have something to do with it? Amnesia sucks harder than a Dyson- ...what's a Dyson? Whatever, it sucks. This disaster happening just before I crash in the only spot with trimps still alive would be a seriously crazy coincidence! Something is really, really wrong about all this. [The author has not sought or received product placement permission or fee from Dyson Technology Ltd. or any resellers of their stuff, just they literally suck balls and made my favorite vacuum cleaner.]
23m50s: Builder in Z1c90.
They've rescued an, I dunno, gelding trimp? It just started to build a shed around the piled lumber I left to build one. It's really slow compared to me, and just banged its thumb, but it is super cute with that long reddish head fur. That particular trimp is also fascinated with pink ribbons and likes to decorate its head fur with them. Because of its inherent inability to participate in rearing children, it isn't counted in the population. [Puchim@s Io, builder on the basis of Iori seen building in 1x10.]
26m02s: Zone 2, 44 pop, 5.5s RC with Z0/1.
It's some sort of tactical manual - tactical coordination. Coordination! He's starting to sort out some trimpese on the research he has done so far. It needs a lot of metal, so they won't be able to implement it for some time. Hopefully, they're still good one at a time, but these enemies seem to be getting bigger as we go along. Uh oh!
27m33s: Gym in Z2c5.
It's some sort of training dojo or sporting arena. The human examines the ruins, I think I can back-engineer drawings for this, get one built, and see what happens.
29m02s: 1g, 47 pop, 10.8s RC with Z1/2.
The two fighting trimps now with their gym and coordination are dodging and blocking enthusiastically, and making much faster ground against the bad guys then a little while ago when it was just one trimp fighting at a time and unable to avoid the enemy hitting back.
40m46s: Fresh turkimp in Z2c74, 63 pop, 7.9s RC, Sh1-10, Da1-5, Bo1-3, Ma1-3, Hm1-3, 6g.
Oh, wow, the laborers seem really hot after this turkimp. He cooks it up and tries a slice. It's really awesome! I have to work alongside his laboring trimps to share it, but I'm getting used to the gravity now. That scroll we found back in Z2c10 really helped. Trimps' techniques and appliances for handicapped individuals, and I'm really handicapped in this higher gravity. He joins the woodcutters with the turkimp; they're the most numerous resource laborer right now, building more gyms, enough that the block/dodge ability of the fighting trimps is almost caught up to the enemy's ability to cause damage.
43m15s: Zone 3, 63 pop, 7.9s RC with Z1/2.
I'm neglecting my science and trimp scientists are really expensive. Curiously, that grey-haired one can't speak all that well, only says "Tai" and "Shijou", but it can write and draw like nobody's business. It's the only scientist so far. [Puchim@s Takanya: Online references probably still claim that she can utter the first two syllables of any word, but she can actually utter only the first two kana syllables of someone's name, most often the given name of basis human Takane Shijou, who also has that habit. (All the utterances of the puchidoru are based on the speech foibles of their basis humans except maybe Piyopiyo, where I haven't seen anything match up so far.)]
47m32s: Finally, we can make drywall and houses. 59m30s: Z3c77, 94 pop, 7.8s RC.
Oh, those poor things are really struggling up at the front. These trimps are enthusiastic and know no fear, but I still feel like telling them to stop for a while. I don't have the heart to keep them from trying while they're still doing some damage.
1h05m24s: Zone 4, 107 pop, 9.3s RC with Z3/4. 1h15m26s: Zone 5, 120 pop, 8.2s RC with Z3/4.
"What is that?" the human asks. He has three scientists. His first does all the writing, but the other two can actually speak. One of them hops up on a rock spire beside the human to reach his eye level.
At the next ridge line, over the lowest and most passable gap in the terrain, this really mean looking hovering sausage monster.
"I dunno," the scientist trimp shrugs, "But it's making me hungry. Looks like a perfectly cooked frankfurter from here." [John Morell's dubious dirigibles.]
"Oh, yeah," the human nods, "that's a blimp."
"A blimp?" the trimp tilts its head quizzically at the human, "How could you know?"
"I wish I could tell you, little buddy," the human extends his arm braces to descend the pass on the side of the zone boundary in the boss enemy's direction, then grunts, "Let's go kill it."
1h16m11s: Z1c9, 120 pop, 10.3s RC with Z4/5. 1h33m34s: Zone 6, 151 pop, 7.4s RC with Z4/5.
1h33m54s: TP in Z1c3.
"What's this?" the human asks, having picked up the little square document with the curling corners.
"Oh," the hungry scientist looks at it, "It's a garden path, follow me."
"You want to lead me down the garden path?" the human says.
"Yeah," the scientist says.
"Are you kidding?" the human asks.
"No," says the other scientist, "We don't get human humor. Listen, these fighters can't go, let them wear themselves out here, then we'll take the next group through this garden."
"Okay," the human nods, watching two more trimps join the fray as he issues the Z5 coordination orders, "they're doing pretty well after all that block training research we just wrapped up." [That's a common artifact, even in normal games, Z5 Traintacular combines with many gyms, enough population to add several trainers, affording Blockmaster, which is expensive on a run zero, plus a break on Tion Z5, a 40% all-stat increase. I don't think Zach designed it into the game on purpose, it just worked out this way.]
1h34m07s: 151 pop, 10.5s RC with Z5/7. 1h37m44s: Drop from Z6c39, TP for 3.
"Now we have these access map frags we can use to route through the old trimpopoli," the scientist explains, "Atlimpis for food, Morimpa for gems, Everimp for metal, and Impazon for wood."
"What about the garden?" the human asks.
"Well, we got lucky with Tricky Paradise," the scientist says, "but you can randomize the route and maybe get lucky. What's with that look?"
"Somehow, I'm remembering 'frag' as something that blew up with deadly pieces," the human says. [Different video games - ones with better graphics and worse gameplay Ｏ(>▽<)Ｏ]
1h39m59s: Blues back up to the top on series I...
"Tai, Tai!" the first ever trimp scientist stops the human just before he upgrades the mace and dagger to Mk.6 and Mk. 8 respectively. It has a note for him.
"Why do you keep calling me that?" the human asks, "Do you think that's my name?"
"Shijou, Shijou," it nods as though to indicate, I KNOW it is. Then it proffers its note again. The human takes it and reads, "Don't upgrade the first row equipment right now."
"Why not?" the human asks.
"Shijou," it points at the end of the mapped route, where there's a scroll sticking out of the thistles.
2h24m07s: Zone 8, 224 pop, 12.2s RC with Z7/12.
"Your settlement is getting crowded, there's Trimps in the streets, and you're taking heat. You feel a sudden strong desire to create a map, though you're not quite sure how that would help."
2h49m10s: Zone 9, 357 pop, 9.5s RC with Z8/15.
"You can't shake the feeling that you've been here before. Déjà-vu?"
The trimps really seem to like the new high capacity mansions, and the village has rapidly expanded since they started building them.
"There's something familiar about this," the human says.
"Tai," the grey one that writes clings to his arm and shows him a note that says, "Don't give up now."
"We must persist," says the yellow one has found a foothold it can grab onto and grabs the human's shoulder gently, "If you give up to early, we'll never solve this. You'll be stuck here forever."
The human puts his hand over the trimp's paw on his shoulders, then looks at him, "I can die, too."
"No, you can't," the trimp says quietly, "Please don't test that, tall one."
"Death is just another path..." he remembers.
"Gan," the grey one squeaks. [That's the first two kana syllables of "Gandalf"]
"...one that we all must take," the human continues, "The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass, and then you see it-"
"A green mist," the yellow trimp interrupts, "flash of fire, we're all gone and our progress forgotten. The wandering stars return to that day, and you again crash that ship- ...a little better every time."
"Wait," the human looks around, "have I been here before?"
"I-" the yellow trimp tries in futility to share what little it knows, "...or... somebody got just a little coolant into the-"
"Into the what?"
"This side up," the grey one's note says.
"Into the that," the yellow one points at the note, "It really helped. You- ...I don't think we've ever had mansions before."
Well, of course they didn't have mansions before. That was one of my ship's data cards. How did it get way out here? Will anything start to make sense?
3h02m13s: Zone 10, 387 pop, 8.7s RC with Z8/15; '28s: 11.1s RC with Z9/19. 3h16m41s: Tough snimp after food book, L10 rand dept from lo-hi-med 118/25/96, 4 Items.
"That's twice our frags led us to gem-rich Moria," the human says.
"Morimpa," the new red trimp scientist corrects, there now being 5 scientists. [There'd be more if there were more turkimp.]
"The question is how do we use all these gems?" the human looks at the village zoning plans again, "I like those mansions and all, but they use hardly any gems compared to, well-" he gestures at the pile of over two dozen thousand gems they've gathered, "-that! And still a lot of wood and lumber."
"I think there's something," the yellow one sighs, "I wish I knew more."
Quite some time later, after they're done looting that route for equipment plans, the trimps are again advancing through Zone 10, and he hears it.
"Tai?" the grey one wonders.
"Where are you going?" the yellow one asks.
"To the farm," the human answers.
"Whatever for?" the red one seems exasperated.
"Shijou?" the grey one sighs, then looks at the fighting front. It's been around long enough to remember, "Shijou!"
"You guys already get so much to eat this doesn't do you much good," the human explains.
3h32m33s: L11 112/35/78 rand sea, dropped from Z11c6 with disband, 4.
"What's wrong?" the red one asks.
The human comforts one of the wounded. Once trimps start into a zone fight, they have to finish before they bleed out. He's really bothered making them desert in front of that second turkimp. "They had a lot left in them," he sighs, rubbing his eyes, "but we can't keep that much dead turkimp at once, we have to leave it alive to use up all of this one."
"Shijou," the grey one presents a note, "We need this map right away, anyway. Don't worry about it, Tightniks."
"Tightniks?" he looks at the grey one, "Is that me? How do you know?"
"Tai," the grey one points at the top of the human's left breast pocket.
"Ah, crud," the yellow one curls its tail around in front of itself as trimps do when they're embarrassed, "Is that really a name tag?"
The human hadn't even noticed it since the green flash blew up his memory as he was stepping out of the ship.
4h04m22s: Block (sub-8h AP is only 0.3%), taking it, 504 pop, 9.8s RC with Z10/24.
It's a pretty thick book about using shields for block instead of hit points. The pad has the stats analysis. Sh3-1 is only giving us 9% of our hit points. Turning to his trimp scientists, he says, "It seems to me to be worth it."
"Let's," the yellow one nods.
"Shijou," it hands him a note, "It scales badly, but that won't matter for a long time. I think there's a way to undo it before it matters."
"Doing it." The human takes out his pad and starts scanning.
4h29m05s: L14 rand moun 137/26/80 is really good for a lo-hi-med. 4h30m52s: Hotels.
"Ah," the yellow one says, "I knew there was something. That must be it."
5h08m09s: L15 lo-hi-hi rand gard 129/28/82 (just got explorers). 5h09m32s: Picked up Wall.
"Dam," the human says.
"Damn?" the red one chuckles.
"No," the human says, "Earthen wall dam; it's a thing that makes artificial lakes by holding rivers back."
"Lakes?" the yellow one asks, "Rivers?"
"Oh yeah," the human says, "This planet doesn't have enough rain for those..."
5h48m21: Leaving Wall from about c70 to fetch Tion Z15.
"You can't resume the map from the same point if you start another," the human reads the grey one's note.
"We can go back to the same point on that route if we hold there and finish Zone 15, right?" Tightniks asks.
"Shijou!" it seems to be saying yes.
"Yes," the yellow one adds, "but we're out of Series III upgrades, and you need a fresh map route to start up Series IV."
"We should be okay," Tightniks says, "but if we have to start it over, I don't see that being a big deal." As they advance through the rest of Zone 15, Tightniks resumes his usual duties at the research desk instead building and running traps like he was before.
The trimps seem hopeful at this decision.
5h49m10s: Fresh turkimp. 5h50m16s: Zone 16, 1071 pop, 13.4s RC with Z15/75, 13m43s turkimp (skel in c1.)
"Z:16 Seriously? Another Blimp so soon?"
"So," Tightniks lowers his bee nickels and looks at the red one, "is it going to be boss fights at the end of every zone from now on?"
"Hmm," the red trimp looks up past the human at some random rock spire or cloud.
"Well?" the human persists.
"Yup," he says.
"Hmph," Tightniks grabs a Sw3-1 of the rack and advances towards the front, "Before then, we have another Mister Titanium."
"What does he like about skeletimps?" the red one asks the grey one as the human marches off.
"Shijou?" the grey one seems just as confused by that.
"He's not going back to the ship, and he's not getting himself killed," the yellow one smiles, "so I'll take it."
5h58m32s...
"Hey guys, go for the mortar!" the human suggests to his 75 fighting trimps in the Wall's boss fight.
"I can tell from your bedtime stories that you're used to the artillery in that other place," the yellow one gripes, "but fighting works differently here, there's no artillery."
And the human instantly collapses laughing, the scientists a little worried he might have injured himself in the planet's severe gravity. But he's okay, at least physically, "Mortar is the stuff between the bricks, fellas. That's is a brickimp, right?"
5h59m18s: Wall, 1076 pop, 13.3s RC, 1% AP for sub-8h finish, first L16 roll good 156/35/84 moun, 10 for the metal.
Beyond the Wall was a more edenic section of the trimpolis ruins, doubling the production of the lumberjacks. The trimps are actually really happy with the mode of all of the laborers moving between the three big jobs, along with the turkimp, except for the foremen specialized at leading the job. It isn't enough to boost their productivity, but the human goes to them with trays of sandwiches.
6h06m52s: 50 map run 0.3% AP...
6h19m13s: Zone 17, 1141 pop, 16.0s RC with Z16/94, no turkimp.
"Z:17 You climb a large cliff and look out over the new Zone. Red dirt, scorched ground, and devastation. Is that a Dragimp flying around out there?!"
"Hmm," the human surveys the new zone with his bee nickels, "Looks like crap. Any ideas?"
"You're the idea man," the yellow one groans.
"Set the map flag," he puts his bee nickels away, "We'll run a depth for practice and to load up on gems for more hotels."
"Righto," the red one gets to work.
6h44m34s: First DCP. (Draglimp Care Package; I refuse to call it a tribute.)
"Oh," the human says, "It's tame now, so it brings back gems in exchange for food?" He looks at his gaping scientists, "That's what it looks like, huh? Guys? Yo!"
"Tai..." the grey one sighs.
Draglimp, the dragimp imprinted on Tightniks, lands beside the human, drops some gems at his feet, and accepts some scratching behind its horns before diving into the food bowl.
"You tamed a dragimp???" Grey's note says.
"Well," the yellow one huffs, "I guess that happened."
8h18m53s: L20 depth of 154/27/79.
"Mapping up here?" the red one half closes one eye and tilts his head.
"Yeah," the human says while fitting together the depth map fragments, "With the coordination book not right at the end, we have an extra mark of coordination to take advantage of. Let's take our housing up to 2000 or so, shall we?"
"Okay," the yellow one says from a pile of logs, "What's all the wood for?" They had been collecting it for days now.
"The series upgrades follow a rather specific pattern," Tightniks explains, "Just on the other side of this blimp is Zone 21, where we should be able to find the Shield series V, right?"
"Shijou!" the grey one nods.
8h56m17s: 1% AP for 100 map runs, leaving it, 1751 pop, 24.8s RC with Z20/232. 8h56m54s: Zone 21...
"Ooooookay," Tightniks growls, "There is something off about this thing."
"Shijou?" the grey one looks at the yellow one with concern about their human starship pilot friend.
The human stoops, picks up the little green gem on the ridge between Zone 20 and 21, looks at it, huffs, and asks, "Any idea where this comes from?"
"Err..." the red one seems hesitant to say, "I think you made it."
"Really?" the human huffs, "How could that be?" Then he tosses it at Red, "See if anything reacts to it. It might be radioactive, so we should take turns to minimize exposure."
"Really?" Red's holding it now, "What makes you say that?"
"Because I'm pissed off for no reason I can figure out," the human says, "I think it's coming from that."
"Frags," the red one says quickly, "I think it's arranging a route. You're good with maps," it tosses the gem to the grey scientist.
"Shijou," the grey one says hopefully, and has a map drawn within a few minutes. [Whether it looks like the one in Puchim@s 1x61 is anyone's guess. That one annoyed me as well as Chihya.]
9h02m37s: L21 moun first roll was a decent 160/26/84. 9h21m00s: Starting run 5 of that map...
Tightniks had taken his anger out on some food and wood to build about 8000 traps. Now he's leaning against a rock spire in his increasingly tattered uniform. A nap begins, perhaps unintentionally.
Wild trimps are examining the pile, finding it unwelcoming, and also finding no place in the town, just mill about. It looks like they want to help.
"Ku?" it's a blue trimp, probably a farmer waiting for stuff to grow, climbs up on the rock spire the human is leaning against, starts patting him on the head, "Ku. Ku ku." [Puchim@s Chihya.]
9h23m09s: Still working that lap...
Tightniks wakes up from that nap, and the grey one is standing there. "Shijou," it says with a note of concern, although not much of one. The note it holds says, "It wasn't me."
"Oh, what wasn't you, buddy?" He stretches out a bit, feeling somewhat refreshed. It feels like somebody washed his face and hair while he was sleeping.
The grey one is also holding a small mirror, apparently broken off from a larger mirror and with the sharp edges filed down to make the edges safe.
The human takes it from the grey trimp and holds it in front of his face to discover that somebody has bound up all his hair into about twenty little pigtails. He touches them with his other hand to confirm. "Eh, whatever." He hands the mirror back and goes back to sleep. [Puchim@s Koamimami.]
9h30m08s: The following run...
"He's not throwing stuff every which way yet," the yellow one whispers to the red one, watching the human snoozing with his pad on his knee.
"You remember that, too?" the red one asks.
"'Remember'?" the yellow one turns to face the red one, "I s'pose that's better than imagining it."
"I remember it, too," the grey one says via a playing card sized note.
"If we're stuck in a time loop," the yellow one sighs, "maybe this cycle will be different."
"Tai..." the grey one admires him for a moment. Then thumbs in the direction of the mountain, "Heh, Shijou!" it laughs.
9h35m58s: Run 8, c9 of that map.
The scientists nap and take notes, and meditate and take notes, and draw stuff. The grey one often storyboards for the other nine because it's the best at drawing stuff. They have come up with a list, and most probably "order" (they're debating whether their ranking means "order" (sequence of things happening over the various loops) or "frequency" (what proportion of previous loops they have happened in). But they've come up with this, from first (or perhaps most often) to most recent (or perhaps least often):
- The ship crashes (they're pretty sure that happens every loop) - The human builds huts - The human teaches some of his trimps to speak and do science - The human builds houses - The human makes maps - The human builds mansions - The human blows up and gets himself killed somewhere around Z17 to Z21, often on a dragimp - The human only recently/occasionally builds hotels - The human only recently/rarely tamed a dragimp - The human only recently/rarely maps the Dimension of Anger
They're all agreed that that they have never finished the Dimension of Anger. What they are not all agreed on is that they've never done this conference to figure out whether they're in a time loop or what that might mean. [See also Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Cause and Effect" ...which was sort of a time loop but they weren't going back in time. It's very interesting, but its meta makes no sense - no one ever went looking for the Bozeman in 80 years? No one who went looking for the Bozeman also got stuck? No one noticed the passage of time outside the little area of space where the not-quite-a-time-loop was happening? Errr... sci-fi writers, don't be half-assed about your time loops, lmao! Be like Harold Ramis- ...what am I saying?? (That would be Groundhog Day, which grafted a time loop into a romcom; there are no other sci-fi elements. But it was a full-blown time loop and not half-assed like "Cause and Effect".)]
9h54m06s: Dropped from Z21c95...
I think it would be a bad idea to bypass that green area, as much as I'd rather not face it. Both his domesticated trimps, which are breeding up a new group of fighters, and the wild trimps he has decided just now not to open the traps for, stare at him and point in that direction. He shoulders a huge Shield V-3 and grabs an Mace IV-2 as well and announces, "We're doing it." Thus equipped, he marches off into the Dimension of Anger.
10h27m53s: Taking Pi4-2; recently had taken Pa4-2...
The group at the front had expired, and the snimp in DoAc95 glares at the advancing colony of trimps, which had halted only because of it. It refuses to counterattack the vulnerable colony and its human, instead snorting and huffing, waiting for the next bunch of 232 fighting trimps to come in range.
Tightniks runs along the line of traps, releasing the recently tamed trimps, singing a song that he doesn't remember the meaning of, that he doesn't remember was crafted by an ethnically Chinese guy out of an African language, and later mastered by two caucasians over the internet before they ever met in person. "Baba yetu yetu uliye, mbinguni yetu yetu amina..." because it just happened to be stuck in his head. [Because the Doylian author decided on a whim to. Christopher Tin got it into Civilization IV and at the time (2010 July), I made the best video for it on YouTube, which got subsequently blown to shreds when Peter Hollens and Malukah re-recorded the song from scratch in their own voices and instruments in 2014, pity with no English translation, the purpose of my video.]
Noticing the last batch of metal he needs coming out of the furnace, he waves the waiting grey scientist to fire up the forge [to use the term properly and not as the game does], for it was time to wrap up the forging dies for the Spetum IV, Mark 2 pike heads.
"Shijou!" the grey one cheers, setting aside a snack that looks like maybe ramen, and starts jumping up and down on the bellows handle.
It takes a while for the human to chip out the tip in the two halves of the forging die, and then polish it, and then heat it up in the forge, and then quench it, inspect it, and put it into service crafting thousands of new pike heads for the fighting trimps.
But only one second passed on the map frame clock (10h27m54s) four cells behind that snimp, in the case being brooded over by this huge, and if it's honest, rather concerned megablimp.
10h35m45: Portal PB, 45 He, 4.247 He/hr, 1891 pop, 22.7s RC with Z20/232, no turkimp.
The last head of the map's boss monster goes limp as one of the fighting trimps' mace heads bounces of it, and the huge thing settles on its tail, resting on the package that seems to be the prize of this map. And there's a popping sound, and then something mechanical.
Is that a scroll compressor? Tightniks looks at the package. The deflating monster's lifting envelope material drapes over everything underneath it. "Red, Shijou!" he snaps and points, "roll up that side of it. Keep this part from sucking down on the extractor nozzle!"
All ten of the scientists jump in, literally, pushing the gas in the bag towards the compressor. Tightniks as well, rolling up the front.
Until he kicks, and nearly trips over, a smaller package that might be the explanation for the reason why the center of the monster's defense seemed to be a little away from the big package he could see. It's in the right place, he realizes. He gets it uncovered and reads stenciled-and-sprayed block letters on it:
"DT TIME PORTAL / THIS SIDE DOWN"
Perhaps the Dimension of Anger is so named because of the rage suddenly rising up in Tightniks' throat. It isn't so much as the free-floating aggression suddenly has an answer, there is definitely a fresh batch of rage and anger as he grips the nearest Mace IV, Mark 3 with both hands and gets it over his shoulder, its target obviously this object, anger at the realization he screams at the top of his lungs, "We are stuck in a mutha FAH-king time loop!!" His swing begins. [Tightniks almost never cusses, unlike Snugniks.]

I’m 37 years old my breasts have been hurting so bad for about 6-8 weeks. I’m not pregnant and have my tubes tied for over 10 years now. I keep feeling a rushing feeling in my breasts like I did while breastfeeding. I have a clear fluid that comes out of my nipples with a very slight pinch. The fluid is clear with a slight yellow tint to it. My whole breast bone hurts as well as the breast tissue. It hurts the worst around my arm pit and the underside of my breasts. I have what looks like my hair follicles have gotten quite large on the top of my breasts. And I have found 2/3 lumps in the left side of my armpit/breast. I’ve also found 1/2 very tiny smaller than a pea size in my right breasts. I have an appointment with the OBGYN tomorrow morning. But I need you opinions!!! Everything I read on google leads me to believe I probably have cancer. What are your thoughts? I’m so worried 😢

Growing as a Streamer: A Comprehensive Guide

1. Content Creation

Learning Editing

• Skill Development: Learn video editing basics to create engaging and concise content. Use tools like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or DaVinci Resolve. Watch popular videos, analyze them, and remix them.
• Highlight Reels: Create highlight reels from your streams, focusing on exciting moments, funny interactions, and key gameplay achievements.
• Educational Content: Share tutorials or how-to videos related to your niche. This not only attracts viewers but also positions you as an expert.

Crafting Jokes

• Natural Humor: Let humor flow naturally during streams. Engage with your chat, respond to their messages in a fun way, and share your genuine reactions.
• Prepared Content: Prepare a few jokes or funny stories beforehand that you can share during low-action moments in your streams.

2. Humor, Jokes, and Entertainment

Keeping your audience entertained and engaged is crucial for a successful streaming experience. Incorporating humor, jokes, and entertaining elements into your streams can help create a fun and memorable environment for your viewers. Here are some strategies to consider:

Developing a Comedic Persona

• Exaggerated Reactions: Respond to in-game events, viewer comments, or situations with over-the-top, exaggerated reactions that can be humorous for your audience.
• Catchphrases and Running Gags: Develop catchphrases or running gags that your audience can relate to and enjoy. These can become inside jokes within your community.
• Improv and Roleplaying: Embrace improvisational comedy and roleplaying scenarios, whether in-game or during interactions with your viewers.

Incorporating Humor into Your Content

• Comedic Editing: Use video editing techniques to create humorous clips, compilations, or highlight reels from your streams. Effective editing can amplify the comedic moments.
• Sketch Comedy: Prepare and perform short sketch comedy routines or skits during downtimes or transitions in your stream.
• Audience Participation: Involve your audience in creating jokes, participating in comedic segments, or contributing to humorous storytelling.

Maintaining a Fun and Entertaining Atmosphere

• Lighthearted Banter: Engage in friendly, lighthearted banter with your viewers or fellow streamers during collaborations. This can create a lively and entertaining atmosphere.
• Spontaneous Moments: Be prepared to capitalize on spontaneous, unplanned moments that arise during your streams and turn them into humorous or entertaining situations.
• Variety and Unpredictability: Mix up your content and gameplay to keep things fresh and unpredictable. Surprise your audience with new games, challenges, or segments to maintain their interest.

Finding Your Voice and Style

• Authenticity: While incorporating humor, it's essential to stay true to your authentic self. Forced or inauthentic humor can come across as disingenuous to your audience.
• Audience Feedback: Pay attention to the types of humor and entertainment that resonate most with your audience. Encourage feedback and adjust your approach accordingly.
• Continuous Improvement: Continuously work on developing your comedic timing, delivery, and material. Practice, experiment, and refine your skills over time.

3. Audience Engagement

Engaging with your audience is crucial for building a loyal and invested community. Social media platforms provide powerful tools for connecting with viewers, promoting your content, and fostering interactions beyond your live streams.

Active Posting on Social Media

• Platforms: Utilize popular social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook to share updates, clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Your choice of platforms should align with the demographics and preferences of your target audience.
• Consistency: Post regularly and maintain a consistent presence across your chosen platforms. This helps you stay visible and top-of-mind for your audience. Don't be afraid to share memes, thoughts, and engage with trending topics relevant to your niche.
• Interactive Posts: Create interactive posts such as polls, quizzes, or open-ended questions to encourage your followers to engage with your content. This can foster a sense of community and provide valuable insights into your audience's preferences.

Interacting with Others on Platforms

• Community Engagement: Actively engage with your audience on social media by responding to comments, sharing their posts, and participating in conversations. This level of interaction helps strengthen the bond between you and your viewers, fostering a sense of community and loyalty.
• Collaboration: Collaborate with other streamers or content creators in your niche for joint streams, podcasts, events, or even just hanging out in a voice chat together. These collaborations can introduce you to new audiences and provide fresh content for your existing viewers. Remember, other streamers are your co-workers, not your competition; working together can benefit everyone involved.

Effective audience engagement on social media requires a consistent effort and a genuine desire to connect with your viewers. By actively promoting your content, interacting with your community, and collaborating with others, you can build a strong and engaged audience that will support your growth as a streamer.

4. Community Building

Building a strong and engaged community is essential for long-term success as a streamer. A loyal and supportive community not only provides a consistent viewership but also creates a sense of belonging and shared experience for everyone involved.

Support Systems

• Genuine Support: Encourage genuine support within your community by promoting an environment where viewers engage with your content because they genuinely enjoy it, not because of follow-for-follow schemes or incentives.
• Education: Educate your community on the importance of mutual support and how fostering a positive and inclusive environment benefits everyone. Encourage viewers to share each other's content, engage in discussions, and provide constructive feedback.

Discord and Community Events

• Discord Server: Create a dedicated Discord server for your community. This platform allows for real-time communication, organization of channels for different topics, and sharing of exclusive content or behind-the-scenes information.
• Events: Host regular community events such as game nights, watch parties, or Q&A sessions. These events provide opportunities for your viewers to interact with you and each other, fostering a stronger sense of community and belonging.

Moderation and Guidelines

• Community Guidelines: Establish clear community guidelines that outline acceptable behavior, language, and interactions within your community spaces. These guidelines should promote respect, inclusivity, and a positive environment for all members.
• Moderation Team: As your community grows, consider building a team of trusted moderators to help enforce community guidelines, manage discussions, and handle any potential issues that may arise.

5. Personal Development

To achieve long-term success and growth as a streamer, it's essential to focus on personal development and maintaining a healthy mindset. This encompasses not only your on-stream persona but also your overall well-being and resilience.

Mindset and Energy

• Positive Attitude: Maintain a positive and energetic attitude during your streams. Remember, viewers tune in to be entertained and escape their daily stresses. Your positive energy can be contagious and contribute to an enjoyable experience for your audience.
• Avoid Negativity: Refrain from negative talk, self-pity, or complaining about lack of donations or viewer counts. Instead, focus on providing an exceptional experience for those who are present, and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small.

No Envy

• Focus on Growth: Avoid comparing yourself to other streamers or dwelling on their successes. Every streamer's journey is unique, and the key is to focus on your own growth and improvement.
• Celebrate Others: Celebrate the accomplishments and milestones of your fellow streamers. A supportive and collaborative mindset can create a positive community and keep you motivated on your own path.

Continuous Learning

• Stay Up-to-Date: The streaming landscape is constantly evolving, with new platforms, technologies, and trends emerging regularly. Stay up-to-date with the latest developments in your niche by following industry news, attending events, or participating in online communities.
• Skill Development: Continuously work on developing skills that can enhance your streams, such as video editing, graphic design, or even public speaking. Investing in your skills can lead to better content and a more polished overall presentation.

Work-Life Balance

• Time Management: Effective time management is crucial for balancing your streaming commitments with other aspects of your life. Set realistic schedules and priorities to avoid burnout.
• Self-Care: Make time for self-care activities that promote your physical and mental well-being, such as exercise, hobbies, or spending time with loved ones. A healthy work-life balance can help you maintain a positive mindset and avoid burnout.

Personal development is an ongoing journey that requires self-awareness, discipline, and a growth mindset. By cultivating a positive attitude, avoiding envy, continuously learning, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance, you can position yourself for sustainable growth and success as a streamer.

6. Practical Tips

In addition to the broader strategies and mindsets outlined earlier, there are several practical tips and best practices that can contribute to your growth and success as a streamer.

Streaming Setup

• Quality Equipment: Invest in quality audio and video equipment to ensure a professional-looking and sounding stream. This includes a good microphone, webcam, lighting, and a reliable internet connection.
• Optimized Settings: Take the time to optimize your streaming software and hardware settings for the best performance and quality. This may involve adjusting bitrates, resolutions, and other settings based on your internet speed and hardware capabilities.

Stream Presentation

• Professional Overlays: Create visually appealing and consistent overlays, alerts, and graphics that align with your branding and enhance the overall viewing experience.
• Engaging Webcam Presence: Position your webcam in a way that allows for natural and engaging interactions with your audience, while also ensuring good lighting and framing.

Content Repurposing and Discoverability

• Video Clips and Highlights: Regularly create and share video clips, highlights, or compilations from your streams on social media and video platforms. This can help attract new viewers and increase discoverability.
• Searchable Titles and Descriptions: Use relevant and descriptive titles, tags, and descriptions for your streams and video content to improve discoverability through search engines and platform algorithms.

Analytics and Feedback

• Data Analysis: Regularly analyze your stream analytics, such as viewer counts, engagement metrics, and demographic data, to understand your audience better and identify areas for improvement.
• Audience Feedback: Actively seek feedback from your viewers through polls, surveys, or direct communication. This valuable input can help you tailor your content and adjust your approach to better meet their needs and preferences.

Networking and Collaboration

• Industry Connections: Attend or participate in online events, conferences, or communities related to streaming and content creation. This can help you establish connections, learn from others, and potentially find collaboration opportunities.
• Cross-Promotion: Collaborate with other streamers or content creators in your niche for cross-promotion, joint streams, or guest appearances. This can expose you to new audiences and provide fresh content for your existing viewers.

By implementing these practical tips and best practices, you can enhance the overall quality and presentation of your streams, increase discoverability, gather valuable insights, and foster connections within the streaming community – all of which can contribute to your growth and success as a content creator.

7. Long-Term Goals

As you progress on your journey as a streamer, it's important to set long-term goals that align with your vision and aspirations. These goals can serve as guideposts, providing direction and motivation for your growth and development.

Expanding Your Content Offerings

• Diversify Your Content: Consider gradually expanding your content range beyond your primary focus to explore new genres, formats, or topics that resonate with your audience. This could include vlogs, podcasts, or delving into additional gaming genres or categories.
• Multimedia Content Creation: Explore opportunities to create multimedia content, such as video essays, documentaries, or even written materials like guides or e-books related to your niche. This diversification can attract new audiences and reinforce your expertise.

Building a Team and Infrastructure

• Assemble a Support Team: As your audience and workload grow, consider building a support team to assist with various aspects of content creation, community management, and administrative tasks. This could include hiring editors, moderators, or virtual assistants.
• Establish a Dedicated Workspace: Create a dedicated workspace or studio optimized for streaming and content creation. This could involve soundproofing, professional lighting setups, and investing in high-quality equipment and software.

Additional Insights

• Remember, streaming for excessively long hours (e.g., 10+ hours) can be counterproductive. It doesn't give your audience enough time to miss you and anticipate your next stream.
• Set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) goals for your growth as a streamer. This could include targets for viewer counts, subscriber numbers, or content creation milestones.
• Stay Ahead of the Curve: The streaming and content creation landscape is constantly evolving, with new technologies and platforms emerging regularly. Stay informed about emerging trends, such as virtual reality, augmented reality, or cloud gaming, and be open to exploring and adapting to these new technologies.
• Experiment with New Features: Many streaming platforms introduce new features or tools regularly. Don't be afraid to experiment with these new features and find creative ways to incorporate them into your content, potentially offering a fresh experience for your viewers.
• Analyze Audience Data: Regularly analyze data and metrics related to your audience, such as demographics, viewing habits, and engagement patterns. Use this information to tailor your content and strategies to better align with their preferences and interests.
• Engage in Audience Outreach: Actively seek feedback and suggestions from your audience through surveys, polls, or direct communication channels. This input can provide valuable insights into what resonates with them and what areas you can improve or expand upon.
• Develop a Growth Mindset: Cultivate a growth mindset that embraces continuous learning and self-improvement. Be open to constructive feedback, and view challenges or setbacks as opportunities for growth and development.
• Set Achievable Milestones: Break down your long-term goals into achievable milestones or smaller steps. Celebrating these milestones along the way can provide a sense of accomplishment and motivation to keep pushing forward.

Perseverance and Resilience

• Manage Expectations: Understand that building a successful streaming career takes time, dedication, and perseverance. Set realistic expectations and be prepared for setbacks or periods of slow growth.
• Maintain a Positive Attitude: Cultivate a positive and resilient attitude, even in the face of challenges or disappointments. Your mindset and enthusiasm can be contagious and contribute to the overall experience for your viewers.

By embracing emerging technologies, fostering industry connections, adapting to audience preferences, embracing self-improvement, and developing perseverance and resilience, you can position yourself for long-term growth and success in the ever-evolving world of streaming and content creation.

2020 I had top surgery and asked to be completely flat. Ik every male has some tissue and I'd look concave but I accepted that. Surgeon agreed and said that's what he did....
I am unhappy with my results. My chest and nipples/areolas are too big. 6 months ago I saw my surgeon and asked for a revision. He briefly saw me and gave me a $5.5k quote for liposuction and chest contouring. (I didn't get the chance to bring up nipples/areolas.) I was confused because I'm skinny, but I trusted him that it was just chest fat. He said I'd need to be under general anesthesia for him to get it all so I figured he had a very aggressive plan.
He said lipo is cosmetic so no insurance. I wanted to get a second opinion but I was too stupid to call around. I scheduled for end of May so I had 6 fucking months but I didn't do shit cus of consult prices and I assumed "the wait lists are too long" without even asking. Idek. I'm an hour from LA so there are options.
Last month I got prescribed Finasteride. Gynecomastia is a potential side effect so I messaged my surgeon. He said since he left some breast tissue it can regrow/get bigger. I was upset, shocked that he admitted there's still tissue and sad even though I knew already. Tried to be hopeful for my "revision".
Just had my pre-op today and my surgeon told me that surgery will make no difference and I will look exactly the same. He had me pose in multiple positions while he felt my chest and he kept telling me that there was no fat and it was just a lot of skin. He repeated that and asked me if I wanted to go through with it so many times it was like he was telling me to cancel. I was in shock, I just said ok thats fine... paid and left. Been freaking out at home and started crying now that it's starting to hit.
I don't know WHY he chose lipo as the operation when it'll do nothing. Idk why I have so much skin and tissue left. Fuck I just want to be flat. Its not just that Im not fully flat and have to worry about gyno, but I'm not even normal guy flat. And my "revision" is fake and will do nothing. And it costs 5.5k that I worked so hard to save up. And I waited 6 months. I just dont know what to do from here. I think I'm just more stupid than everyone else.

I'm from a very complicated family, everyone contributes to this weirdest family relationships.
Long story short, parents been separated for 15-20yrs, Mother is 'NPD' controlling freak who hates me and wishes me dead, but slightly changed how she treats since I've been working. My elder brother is not close to me at all, thanks to Mother's manipulation that turned him against me. Father, oh, Father is just... I don't know how to talk about him, I'll try to not put too much emotional stuff in this.
Father worked really hard to raise us two kids. I used to be so sad just watching him going through daily hard labor work, day after day. As you can imagine, he does not make much.
My brother has caused lots of trouble, starting with before I even got to school, families would constantly tell him, his life was degraded because of my birth, which is probably true. Mother would say, look how much your brother sacrificed for me and whatever I ate, my brother spared for me, etc. ever since I was a baby.
While we were still in school, my brother tried to rob some taxi driver and got into lots of trouble. I watched Father’s hair turn grey overnight. Then he got a girl pregnant, and her parents threatened to sue him ‘raping the girl’. Father’s hair went almost completely grey that year.
Father looked so much older during those few years. I feel so terrible cause I was not helping much.
Parents fought every year, especially around festivals. I hate festivals and family reunions as bad as you can imagine.
Even years later now, it sets me in this dramatically desperately sad mode even just talking with them. At least a whole week would be super messed up and then slowly adjusting myself back to be a normal person.
See I really appreciate how Father has done for us and he even got me through college. I witnessed all the pain and hard work he put done for this.
I was close to him but in a weird way, I often hate him too, trying to keep my distance. I didn’t understand why.
Until the 3^rd year in college, one of my friends was really depressed for a while, one day she was talking about some really difficult stuff she was going through with her dad, I was trying to listen and help her through that period.
And suddenly it hit me so hard, shit, think my dad did the same thing to me as well.
That day opened up a gap in that forced to be closed slowly healed rough ugly scar from family traumas, all those left behind memories flooded back to me. Ever since then, I have been in an even worse condition. All the sadness, oh boy, even today, I’m in tears just typing these words.
My uncle is a rapist. Before he was sent to jail, he pulled my pants as well, he didn’t do anything further besides watching, at least that one time that know of, nothing else happened. I was about maybe 5yrs old, I didn’t know what it meant. The year he was arrested, I was already in elementary school and starting to know that was, maybe, not right. When I told my parents about it, and they said, well just shut up about it and don’t mention it to anyone else, you should be ashamed.
When I was about 10yrs old, I started to be sent to semi foster type of families, mainly neighbors, because parents had to work somewhere else, and brother started boarding school. My foster family are generally nice to me, treated me well, fed me 3 meals a day. Food makes people happy.
I was also happy because Father wasn’t around.
The first time I sensed danger I was about 9yrs old.
Again, Mother had never ever told me anything about what is like being a girl, how to deal with period, breast may start to have some changes, wear underwear, wash and clean lady parts, etc. nothing.
I didn’t exist in that house unless she needed someone to vent. As you can see, I was smart, I made myself invisible as much as I could.
Around 4^th grade I had to do some performance for children’s day, our headmaster accidentally realized I was not wearing any undergarments, so she kindly gave me some of her granddaughter’s. After that performance, I started to wear those every day. They look more like little cami top shirts.
One day I woke up, I was already late for school. I got so scared, and I started crying. Father was often more patient with me. He was comforting me and told me to get off bed and get ready for school. I was crying and I wasn’t paying much attention to what he said. And suddenly I realized he stopped talking. I looked up and watched him staring at me, he looked so strange and oddly scary at that moment, not like he was beat me or anything, like a … predator. I tried to figure out what caught his attention and then I realized, half of my breast was showing because the undergarments were too big for me, and I moved when sitting up in bed.
I immediately stopped crying and pulled it up. But I would never forget his eyes, the way he stared at my breasts. It often makes me sick whenever thinking about it even today. I was confused and a bit scared, and I guess ever since then it sort of startled me, the love for my father. But again, I was too young to understand what happened and I did not have anyone around me to tell me girls’ changes around certain age.
Father soon left for a few years, and I was really relived. I don’t know how to describe this feeling and I could only understand myself better till years later.
After Father left, I started going around semi foster families, including my grandparents’ place. Around summertime, I realized the bathroom lock broke, so I just blocked it from inside with chairs every time taking a shower. Still one day, my grandfather forced in and claimed he needed something from the inside. I stood there naked for a second, then rushed to get my clothing and rushed out of the bathroom.
Ever since then, I tried everything to lock that door even more solidly and it worked. The problem is, even today, living thousands of miles away from where I grew up with, I am still extremely insecure with door locks, I buy all sorts of locks to double lock every door, using door stoppers as well.
Then one day, Father just showed up in my school again. He was back. I was happy but deep down something also quietly but terribly disturbed my peace.
One afternoon, while taking a shower, I suddenly felt weird. I started looking around and didn’t find anything odd. But that feeling keeps coming back. So, I looked around again; this time, I saw Father’s face and his eyes were by the window and staring at me, he was so concentrated and didn’t even realize I already saw him. I had to ask him what he was doing there, and he told me he was checking if I finished taking a shower. He looked panicked just like years ago when I busted him staring at my breasts when I was still in 4^th grade.
There were so many little things that happened when I was a kid, but I did not have the knowledge to distinguish what that meant.
I remember starting from one day, my grandmother started to guard me right outside the bathroom every time I took a shower. I didn’t know what that was for, she never mentioned anything, also because she was never that close to me, and I was the least favorite kid.
It’s like a puzzle. So many things started to connect, so many memories I buried deep down started to come back to me. I was so depressed for the first few years after I realized what happened to me when I was a kid. My friend’s memory somewhat triggered my memory valve as well.
About the time I started looking for internships, I was really busy, and it was stressful. One early morning, on the way to work I picked up a call from Father. He told me he was going to commit suicide but didn’t do it because of me.
Mother is really toxic which was not news to me, and they had separated for so many years and I really pity him. I had lots of terrible memories regarding Mother, I thought about suicide so many times every day for many many years ever since I learned the word ‘death’. I just never thought Father was gonna say it out first. It really shocked me, and I was really terrified. But again, death was never an extreme word for me, it was like a relief from my parents. See confused and scared, never knew what’s really going in my mind. I had so much to deal with and I felt I was going to explode but I didn’t have time for that, I was graduating college that year.
But since that, my previous thoughts about confronting Father about his perverting behaviors when I was kid, it just could not be done.
Now for years, I was torn again and again with thoughts about confronting him also worrying it might humiliate him and caused his suicidal thoughts again. I couldn’t tell if he was just trying to manipulate me or was really desperate.
Father worked hard raising my brother and me, and I got into college.
I have been depressed for years, struggling all the time, cutting myself at times when super extremely desperate and couldn’t do anything about it. I would buy tickets traveling all over the world and put parents’ names in my travel insurance, hoping that would pay them back if anything happened.
When I was about 30yrs old, finally one day I confronted him, twice, in person and on the phone, and he denied of course.
Again, I didn’t want to say anything and get him killed, so I stayed quiet for quite a few years again.
But in recent years, I couldn’t help it. I started screaming at him in my dreams and it kept me awake for days after such dreams.
A few days ago, I texted him about it and wanted an apology. I need closure. I desperately need it. I wasn’t planning to go any further than that and I was ready to let it go if he just admits it and just apologize.
After all, for many people, it might not even be considered as such an evil thing to do, right? I don’t know, I am super exhausted and confused.
He soon replied, of course he denied again and saying I was humiliating him, and he said if I still do not believe him, I should consider him dead. Also, he said, you two are my kids, what is there that I have never seen on you two anyways?
I cried for the whole night.
It is so disgusting that he really tried to manipulate me to accept what he said with suicidal/ death threatening, also how he tried to justify his behaviors.
I wished him well and promised to send money when I can, but also told him I won’t be talking to him anymore.
This is as much as I could have done for that little kid when I look back, that little me. It was not as expected but I have to let it go now.
I so wish someone could tell me how someone can be a father also a monster. I don’t know if I am being dramatic about these ‘little things’. I am so worried about he might kill himself because I wouldn’t know how to cure myself with that strike.
But I am in so much pain inside and as always I want to save myself. Every time talking to him is like sharpening this knife to cut open this giant ugly roughly almost healed scar. It’s so ugly and painful.

Hey everyone!
With the score releases today I sort of went into a spiral with my application and I wanted some feedback on what I can reasonable expect moving forward.
I have a 3.96 and 510 MCAT that's very uneven (131/125/128/126)
I don't have the exact hours listed for everything however:
Research: 700+ 3 publications in review, 7 presentations, 2 presentation awards (Biomechanics)
Shadowing: 40+ Mostly primary care and orthopaedics (wanted to increase this)
Volunteering: 20+ Mostly through my clubs, also want to increase this as I now have the time to do so
Clinical: 600+ In skilled nursing and emergency medicine
I also am the president of a club and the secretary of another with some pretty good LORs and other things. I really am just concerned that my score is going to get my application screened out and I wanted help.
My school list isn't complete however this is what I have:
Northeast Ohio Medical University
Ohio State University College of Medicine (Top Choice: this is the one I am most concerned about getting in)
The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
University of Michigan Medical School (Was going to be my reach if I had scored on the real thing what I was scoring on the practice tests)
Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
I really am pushing for an MD school, I need advice especially with OSUCOM on what I should do moving forward. As we speak I started studying again for a (06/27) test date. Thank you!

Arena has a lot of good things going for it and it is good to see riot ready to push out some more updates and balancing to augments, champions, and items.
With that being said though... HOW IS ALISTAR NOT ON THE NERF LIST? dude is literally s+ tier perma pick or ban, always top 3. He is literally the most unfun matchup in the entire game for anyone to deal with. Shaco you can use the trinket or burst him down, but alistar? can build ap or tank, and just ult to not die and negate your cc, and will just permanently cc you the entire fight with no counterplay.
honestly, i swear don't even attempt to balance change him, just permanently ban him from the mode. NOBODY enjoys playing vs alistar. NOBODY. He is unskilled, unfun, and always broken. I LOVE the nerfs in the patch notes like illaoi brand and zed, since they are very high pick and strong. But HOW IN THE WORLD was alistar NOT added to the list of nerfs? its actually astonishing, he has ALWAYS broke the game since the first iteration of it.
as far as everything else goes though i am liking a lot of the changes being made so far. Alistar is just my one annoyance here, and before people say "just ban him" you only have one ban for 160 champions, if a champion HAS to be permanently banned, that is not healthy for them.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinions of the matter of course. But this is my feedback for riot. Nerf ali thanks, or give us more bans

hey!! so i’m masc leaning nonbinary, and i struggle a lot with my chest. i was just wondering if anyone had some tips or suggestions on how to deal with the heat in the summer time and swimming? i have rather large breasts and i really don’t like wearing the usual bikini tops any advice is welcome!! thanks a bunch yall

So, before I get into the detail of what I'm trying to ask, I want to kind of set my expectations. My post does kind of centre around me being a trans woman. And I realise that a lot of people here may not be super familiar with the ins and outs of trans people, but I don't think that matters super much. At the end of the day I'm just looking for some friendly advice from mature people on how to handle myself in a somewhat vulnerable situation - please don't let me being trans dissuade you from answering because you're not sure about trans stuff specifically!
Anyway. Long story short, I'm a 28 year old trans woman, and my parents *hate* it. I transitioned when I was younger for a few years, they treated me with a ton of hostility. Life got really bad and I detransitioned and went back in the closet, then a few years later I started transitioning again. Cut to today - I don't look great, but I've been on HRT roughly two years now. I don't look amazing, but strangers are gendering me as a woman pretty often, while I'm still not out at work, and haven't had any sort of conversation with my parents yet to let them know that I'm going to be transitioning again.
I think I'm at a cliff edge where it's becoming a bit frustrating, and a little bit precarious, not being out at work. I've been lightly SA'd on a night out by a man I work with, recently on a few nights out and at meals with work people I was being referred to as miss and she by strangers in front of my colleagues, and I'm very close with a lot of people I work with, so it's just.. odd. Besides that, I've been forcing myself to get comfortable with light makeup and less androgynous clothing recently, and I'm worried about meeting someone I work with in public or on a night out with friends. Besides that, I have to undress for work to go into clean rooms, and I have small, but kind of obvious, breasts - it's awkward being in the mens changing room, and I've noticed people looking, despite my best efforts. On top of that, I'm getting closer to a position where I might be able to take advantage of getting cosmetic facial surgery, and bottom surgery, so it'll be impossible *not* to be out, or for a difference to be noted.
The issue is that I work with my dad. And we work in departments where our work is fairly closely related, and since I got a bit of a promotion, I'm in even more contact with him than before.
Therefore: I need to come out, and probably somewhat soon, so I don't flashbang people with like "btw I'm trans and now I'll be out of office for a bit and going straight into surgery." But, I work with someone who I *know* will be actively hostile to me about it.
I've spoken with my manager, HR, and have a bunch of closer friends who know (either I've told them, or they've been part of a group who were there when work dude felt me up, and know through that). In Ireland I should be protected under our laws from discrimination based on gender. So I have some protection, and backing, at work. But I'm not sure when to pull the trigger on speaking to my parents. I feel like I'm pretty much as "ready" as I'm going to be, and I feel like the frustration at holding back on speaking to them is building. But I'm also terrified that it'll significantly affect my job, and impact my performance, my mental health, and/or my earning potential/ability to keep saving at the rate I currently am (if it got bad enough to necessitate a role change, I might be taken off my current shift role, which would result in me losing a ~20% shift bonus).
I guess the question boils down to whether it's a wiser choice to wait as long as possible, to protect myself for as long as possible, and just find a way to live with being curtailed in some behaviours outside of work (for fear of being seen by someone and word filtering back to work or my family) and with trying to maintain a distant-but-civil relationship with my parents where I see them and feel miserable once a week? Or whether it's probably safe to have that conversation with them now, and give myself time to understand how I'll be impacted by their reaction to the conversation, and give myself a little more freedom in terms of not having to feel so cloistered by the relationship with my parents, and just a little mental health relief overall.
It's probably a question I'd love to discuss with a parental figure, but obviously that option isn't available to me right now. If anyone has any advice or thoughts, I'd really reaaaally appreciate you taking the time to send them.

1. Belly fat is out of control, at least 15 pounds gained there, plus an extra 10 everywhere else.
2. Hair texture has changed, breaking off and falling out. I am a hairstylist and have seen this, but no answers and I am on minoxidil, but it’s only been 8 weeks.
3. I sleep about 4 hours a night, not consecutively.
4. Hot, Hot flashes🔥
5. I can either be extremely mean or don’t give a shit
6. Had a breast cancer scare, but all good, going for my 6 month ultra sound in a few days and thinking HRT will be the answer but can’t find a DR to prescribe…. I’m in southeast Michigan I just want to be back to my 40-48 year old self … turning 51 this year

Hi! I need help with sizing and bra recommendations. Calculator gave me 34F/FF in UK size.
ABTF Measurements: Loose underbust: 34.5 inches
Snug underbust: 33 inches
Tight underbust: 31.75 inches
Standing bust: 40 inches
Leaning bust: 42.5 inches
Lying bust: 39 inches
The bras I’ve tried are: Panache Envy in both 34F and 34FF. There’s some gap where the straps meet the cup in both size. The side wire in 34FF went up more in my armpit fat, 34F was comfortable in that area.
Freya Fancies 34F: Some gap where the straps meet the cup. The cup looks small on my left breast. Just realized that my breast are assymetric 😅
Freya Viva Side Support 34FF: Actually feels the most comfortable. Though, there’s wrinkling on the bottom and it looks like my right breast isn’t filling the top.
All the straps in the above bras I had to slant a bit or it feels like they’ll fall off my shoulder. Slanting also minimizes the gap on the straps to the cup.
I scoop and swoop while trying them on. I tried them on first with the loosest closure and I realized I can go all the way to the tighest also.
Should I try a smaller band? Would that help fill the top? If so, what cup would it be? Or, would different style bra fit better?
I think my breast shape is wide pendulous with very soft tissue. Maybe short roots. In regards with fullness, FOT(?) or even? When I lean 90 degree, bottom is straight line and top is curved. But, since I’m not filling up the top on the bras I tried on. I’m confused 😅. When lying down, breast tissue leans towards the side.
I’m based in the US and I got the above bras from Amazon.
I would appreciate some direction 😅 I’ll have to return the 4 bras I got before I can purchase some more.

Demographics:

• Gender: Male
• Race: White
• Residence: Suburbs outside of Philadelphia, PA
• Income bracket: Upper Middle Class
• Intended Majors: Chemical or Mechanical Engineering

Academics:

• 4.0 unweighted GPA (4.23 on a 4.5 scale where honors are +0.25 and AP is +0.5)
• My school doesn't do class rankings
• 1560 SAT (800 Math)
• Will finish high school with 12 APs although I'm only in my Junior year so I'm only taking/have taken 7
• All 5s on the 3 AP exams I've taken
• Unless I choked probably another 3 5's and a 4 after how my current exams went

Extracurriculars:

• FBLA: Made it to states twice for FBLA in Mobile App Development, placed 9th last year and 3rd this year and am now attending nationals where I probably will not place top 10 but who knows maybe I'm the goat. I am running for PR this year (No clue if I'm winning)
• Student Council: I was a chair for our school charity drive and a chair for a school dance we held and have 40+ volunteer hours in the club and am running for Historian this year (No clue if I'm winning once again)
• Tutoring Club: I am currently PR in our schools tutoring club so I run a social media although not much has been posted on it and also look through application on who to accept or deny as a tutor
• STEM Club: A little weaker since it's mostly just in house competitions but I am an active member and also am running for an officer position since a lot of officers are graduating and I'm one of the most active members but I probably won't win.
• Track and Field: I ran indoor and outdoor track and field my freshman and sophomore years and only did not run this year due to a knee injury that I've been going to physical therapy for
• NHS: I have literally done nothing in this club yet other than my 10 hours that were required.
• MiniTHON: My school hosts their own version of Penn State's "THON" where we stand for 10 hours and raise awareness for pediatric cancer. I was a part of the Business Outreach Management committee and went door to door to businesses in order to get businesses to sponsor our event as well as raising over $100 for the event outside of just businesses
• Part Time Job: I work at MOD Pizza and have worked there for roughly a year now where I've had to train numerous new employees. In the summer I work 4 days a week and in the school year I work 1-2 a week.
• German NHS (Basically nothing)

Awards:

• 9th place at Pennsylvania FBLA's State Leadership Conference in Mobile Application Development
• 3rd place at Pennsylvania FBLA's State Leadership Conference in Mobile Application Development
• Student of the Month (IK this doesn't mean a lot I just have few awards unfortunately)
• 1 time Thanksgiving football champion as starting running back (Strongest EC)

Letters of Rec:

• I asked for one from my English teacher who should write some gas and then I'm between my math and bio teacher because they both know me well and I feel like my math teacher likes me more but my bio teacher might write a better one but then again the math teacher might spend more time on one because he gets asked less for them but yeah.

Essay:

• I've only drafted my essay and not many people have looked at it but it certainly isn't bad so ill give it a 5-6/10 for now but hopefully I can make it not ass cuz otherwise I'm cooked

Schools that stick out for me that I'd want to apply to of many different difficulties and that are in no particular order:

1. Drexel
2. University of Michigan
3. GA Tech (I realize that this is a big reach)
4. University of Maryland, College Park
5. Notre Dame
6. UT Austin
7. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Grainger)

The list is very incomplete and I have yet to visit some of these campuses but I was wondering as of now what my odds would be at some of these schools and what I might have to do in the future in order to have a better shot at getting into these places

I was sexually abused by my friend’s brother. He died today after being unconscious for days after a vehicular accident.
I am usually the empathetic kind of friend but since his accident happened I couldn’t get myself to even check on my friend. My friend is the sweetest, funniest, and one of the hardest working persons I’ve known. A breadwinner. I can only imagine the financial, emotional burden she’s going through right now. But also, all I could think about is what happened that night..
I woke up with a hand on top of my belly. Thought it is just one of my friends probably unintentionally hugging me. Until the hand found its way to my breast, and caressed it. I froze, trying to figure out who it was. Not knowing what to do and trying not to cause a scene, I opened my phone so that person would know that I’m awake and is aware what he’s trying to do. I faced the other side and swayed his hand. He continued to touch my butt - this time I was already booking a ride home - he put his hand inside my pants and tried navigating it towards the front. That’s when I immediately stormed out of the room still lights off and headed outside of their house to wait for my ride.
My entire body was still shaking trying to wrap my head around about what just happened. Suddenly I heard the gate opened and there he was, my predator showed his face - my friend’s brother. I rushed back and stayed in their garage where I found my friend sleeping. Ready to wake her up in case her brother approaches me. Luckily he didn’t, but I can feel his gaze towards me as he passed by to go back inside the house. I arrived home and bursted out crying.
Learning about his accident, all it reminded me was how scared I was that night. Until now I can’t accept that the last guy who touched me did so without my consent. I am still very disgusted with myself.
I never got to tell my friend about what happened. But I am hopeful that his death will finally give me my peace. I’m still finding the courage to visit the wake, I’m just not sure if I can.
To you, may you burn in hell and not rest in peace.

I’ve seen some incredible advice being shared here in the last few months and thought I’d join in the list of questions.
Joined the club 2 days ago, and my daughter seems like she’s mostly doing okay. The only significant thing that’s going on is she’s latching okay, but doesn’t seem to suck when on the breast. So it’s mostly been this process of trying on the breast for 10 minutes and then moving onto the finger method (upside down finger, moving back and forth on top of mouth which then has her start sucking, syringe extracted milk into mouth)
Just wondering if this is something that you other dads have seen and if it resolves itself eventually, or perhaps methods, or even expectations or what this could mean for us in the short term?
Anywho, this whole child rearing thing has had me way more emotional than I’ve been in the past, so appreciate ya reading through regardless.

I'm a dual citizen of the U.S., but I've primarily lived and studied outside the States in a school that doesn’t offer AP or IB courses. My unweighted GPA is 3.9 out of 4.3. I haven't yet taken the SAT or TOEFL but I am targeting a score above 1450 for the SAT. My class ranking is 5/171.
I am planning to major in engineering, with a focus on aerospace and electrical engineering. I lead the engineering group for our school’s FRC team, which is the first-ranked team in our country and holds a global rank in the top 60 for the 2024 season. Additionally, I founded our school’s SDGS club, which recently won two titles, and I serve as the head academic in our school’s MUN club, earning several best and outstanding delegate awards.
My country doesn't offer many opportunities for community service or internships, so most of my extracurricular involvement has been through an online tutoring program where I've contributed around 200 hours helping elementary students in rural areas. In terms of academic competitions, I have several national science fair honorable mentions and similar recognitions in short thesis competitions. I also have a background in music which I've played the violin for ten years and have been a national champion twice in orchestra competitions, champion of several national and international violin solo competitions, and served as concert master for five consecutive years across three different school orchestras.
I’m afraid that not having taken any APs would affect my application, and also i don’t think I’ve made that of a massive impact on the society (for example i didn’t establish a nonprofit and help 3000 applicants or stuff) plus i don’t have an excellent research program with any college professors.

• New York University Abu Dhabi
• New York University
• Columbia University
• Carnegie Mellon University
• Georgia Institute of Technology
• University of Michigan
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Purdue University
• John Hopkins University
• Harvey Mudd College
• University of Wisconsin-Madison
• UCLA, UC Berkeley
• University of Toronto
• University of British Columbia

These are the schools that I’m applying to. Can anyone please give someone comments on this application (from admission offices’ perspective) and advices on what i can improve in my common app, or what i should focus on in my essays?

First year in-ground pool owner. Previous owners painted the concrete that surrounds the pool. Looked nice last fall when we bought the place. This spring, it is peeling in a lot of places. I assume they didn't prep the old painted concrete before applying the layer on top. I know I'll have to scrape and remove any loose paint before applying a new coat. Do you guys have any suggestions on a good paint to use?
I live in Michigan, so I figure we have about 3 months we can use the pool, so I need to get it done quickly.

I get agonising cramps every month or so for 2 weeks before my period and I actually can't cope with this anymore, the pain is horrific, I can't stop crying, I can't walk and can barely sit up during them. They're so bad that it feels like its going to cause me to soil myself. I get irregular bleeding all the time and it makes me feel so gross on top of feeling the most needy, miserable person to be around when I'm in pain so much
I haven't been tested for endo yet because they don't believe me, I've demanded scans or pelvic exams, anything, and they tell me "they don't offer this here" or that it doesn't matter because I'm a trans man (born as female) so when I begin HRT it'll fix the problem and the diagnosis won't matter, but unfortunately for me, going on HRT feels like it might be never at this point because the waiting list is so long and I can't afford to go private right now
I lost my job earlier this year, been desperately looking for ANYTHING that will take me and even trying side hustles and startups, im even doing wedding photography for a family friend next week for the first time ever to make some income. (im a hobbiest photographer) i can't get any unemployment/benefits, my applications keep getting rejected so I actually can't even afford painkillers right now, even if ibuprofen helped with these pains, I can't afford it right now, I actually have 0 in my bank account. My partners paid for my painkillers and perscriptions and any sanitary products needed but he suddenly got let off his job a week ago too and he's struggling financially
I'm at my wits end, I suffer from sciatica too and have had a horrible flareup recently, my ovulation this month has caused awful breast pain and I'm losing the will to power on at this point. From back & leg pain to severe cramps, it doesn't feel worth getting out of bed some days
Honestly I don't know what I expect from writing this post, it's keeping my mind off the pain and I'm just so sick of my situation and need somewhere to rant
I'm sick of the pain of what could be endo and I'm sick of being fobbed off by doctors, the NHS is god awful and i'm just so tired