i'm currently a rising junior studying ecology. i love it and think it's interesting, and i've been loosely involved with some ornithology research (and hopefully getting more involved when i start in the fall), and am going to a marine bio program this summer, but i'm kinda worried about what job prospects will look like for me. i do think i'll probably go for a master's at minimum, if that helps. can people share their experiences?

Hi I've applied as a biochem premed to both CWRU and UCR.
I've accepted the offer to CWRU under parental pressure and the May 1st deadline but have an email drafted to withdraw to choose UCR.
My biggest and only concern is how will I fit, will I be able to prosper as myself and grow to be the best med school applicant I can be. I'm excited for the various oppertunities and flexible majors at case but as a california resident I'm not sure about adjusting to Cleveland in terms of vegetarian options, starkly different weather, amongst other smaller things. The larger issue is being a spring admit I only join campus in 2025, I've figured out how CC credit works after a week of emailing many faculty and found the most direct way to ensure I don't fall behind and can graduate within 3.5 semesters. If I don't graduate in 3.5 semesters my total tuition cost (estimated 235k) will increase to over 290k easily and that's quite unfeasable if I aspire to also attend med school and we're already likely to take out a lone but my dad is insistent that it's a far better program being 17th in the nation and next to so many hospitals like cleveland clinic.
UCR appears like it would be more comfortable and easier to adjust to. I'm unsure about quarter systems but optimistically despite being fast paced with tests cramped up I think it may help pad up my gpa. The EAP doesn't seem to be easy since they look for apt dedication to the inland empire which seems like they may favor other demographics or like those residents but it;s still worth a shot. I'm happier with a lesser commute and that some friends are there. The LOC's we get placed in seem much easier to socialize iwth compared to a spring semester. BUt then again my priority is maxing chances, will the competition at CWRU overwhelm me? I always took harder classes in hs but feel behind gradually from more so negligence but I have an upward trajectory and just want an envrionment that bests fosters this growth. I'm aware most freshman premeds fizzle out but in this moment I am dedicated. I don't want to contribute to any sort of elitist toxicity or whatnot but I do hear that more associated ucr than cwru, I want a collaborative environment with oppertunities to research and both schools are great at the latter. Advising at case seems greatly structured but overwhelmed wheras I heard bad reviews on HPAC but I called them with a few questions and they were quite helpful. Case does have a student run clinic but so does ucr, in fact 6. Both have ems programs that I intend on joining but discovery week iirc for case is in the fall so I'd miss it. I would like to know the proportion of UCR applicants who got in a med school since I do know that case has 86%, I know that's not a probablity I should bank on but it seems like in the case two people apply to x med school would they be compared by the same undergrad institute or by all applicants. If that's not true I'm just not sure, this feels more like a desperate rant than a comparison, I know ucr is no cakewalk and premed is universally a difficult marathon, do I sound liek someone who would fare better at a liberal arts school and be able to transition to living far (do most kids? My family knows several kids who got sick and had to drop out and I did have pneuomonia 3 years ago but they say I'll be fine idk) I do want to rise up to the challange but I don't want to get crushed by pressure and be in debt before graduating (ucr total is approx 176k and could be less if I rent a cheap house instead).

About The Meaning Of Life And Heaven And Hell:
The secret about the bible, and the passages is that, they were put there for a way to connect us to the stars, which has been lost over time, it was meant to be taken literally and figuratively, For example, Set and Ra in Egypt. Sun Set, and Sun Rise. Every morning Ra defeats set, and every night set defeats Ra. Which means, that there is a hidden meaning in the bible, but it has been altered over time, even the earliest scriptures and carvings that we have today were not accurate enough. I think it was forbidden talking about the others in our galaxy, but we were handed information about biblical characters and passages, which were personified constellations and sun rise and set, and other various astrological events. In the end of times, which is approaching, we will be tested, and if we fail we will be allowed to be extinguished, but not in the way we all think. It's allowing us to be essentially, disintegrated and sucked into a black hole at the center of our galaxy, or if we got to survive, then we can move outwards towards the edge of the accretion disc further and repopulate, re inhabit. Unfortunately, the time for this is almost over though, it was an alignment of planets over deep time that made the difference to our survival. We will never be told how to travel those distances now, even if we could, the turbulence magnitude is too high, to "traverse" as you could put it. They can actually transfer you into their system though from where they are. This is a last ditch effort to save some of our from our desperate fate of falling into Sagittarius A. Like the last of the life rafts are leaving the ship. I hope you were all good people inside, because that really does matter a LOT. It wasn't god we had to impress, it was our neighbours all along. As we see tribes living in south America untouched by technology and modern thought, they see us as that. We were left to develop how we did without interference. We almost achieved high levels of salvation as a civilization, but then this system happened and they want to destroy most of it now anyway. Now only select people will be saved with the last remaining life rafts, and your body will be lost, but if you were good and compatible, your consciousness will be transferred into their system. If you are evil and bad and not compatible with the rest of the others, then you will be left behind, and that is what was meant by heaven and hell. If you were truly good, then "God" will invite you into the heavens, which was being saved by the others all along. If you were bad, then nobody will ever talk to you again, and they plan to sterilize the bad people because it is more humane than letting them create new life, that has potential to be good, trapped in a disintegrating system. It would be suffering. But that is another story all together.

YOLO

• Robert W Christie

Question
Can i trade a game i bought for another game on steam?
Sorry if it sounds dumb, In my currency games are expensive, so i had to choose between last epoch and V Rising.
I chose LE and now regret it..i enjoyed POE so i though id love this but i just fall asleep when ever is start playing, like 20 mins in and boom alseep, unfortunately i fell alseep playing it so it passed the 2 hour mark of my char just standing while i snored.
Any way to get this changed for VRis?
I cant afford to buy it and dont want to pirate it, ( seen videos, i really like it)
Thank you

Got my dusk on the 10th after ordering it on release day, and I have, for the most part, thoroughly enjoyed it. The bass quality is on par with things like the Monarch Mk3, EA1000 and Hype 4, and the tuning is gorgeous. With the DSP cable it is my favorite out-of-the-box tuning I have heard to date, the mids are perfect, the bass rise is perfect, and despite having a lot of energy at 14khz, which I expected to have to EQ down by quite a lot, the cut in the lower treble around 6khz makes it entirely unproblematic in terms of sibilance or harshness. Bass, mids, and treble are very detailed and this IEM does a great job of keeping all of the frequencies sounding coherent and unanimous in timbre and transients' quality. I kept this part short as my impressions fall in line with a lot of others- wonderful price to performance, and one of the best tunings available at any price point.
App problems:
The first issue I had is with the Moondrop Link app - first of all, the app doesn't show up on the Google Play Store for my S23, I had to download it from the website and launch the APK (not that big of a deal, but somewhat inconvenient). The real problem arises when the app requested access to all of my files, and would not work otherwise. I am not one to be superstitious about my information being sold, whatever to that, but this is clearly unnecessary for the app to function, and it screams 'malware' to anyone that is tech literate. Of course I allowed it anyway. To have the app recognize the DSP cable you have to plug it in, then open it. Then it seemed to be about a 50% chance you would have to unplug and replug it anyway, and then if you tap the DSP cable to configure it, there is another 50% chance it will say "no devices found" or something along those lines, unplug and replug again. Once you get past this and get to configure the EQ settings, it works pretty seamlessly with the presets, you can tap to preview each EQ setting and it will change real time as you are listening to music to let you compare them. However, the problems do not end here. If you swap to another application, the app will forget you have the DSP cable in, and you have to replug it. Further, if you want to create your own EQ profile, it is very very clunky. You have a very limited number of bands (which is fine, seeing as the default tuning even without DSP default is fairly smooth), but the main problem is that you can only adjust each band by full integer values, if you enter a decimal value it will round it down, and when you attempt to save it, you have another coin flip of whether or not it saves to the cable.
QC issue:
The app being annoying is somewhat to be expected with Moondrop, but the reason I will be returning my Dusk is because of my unit being defective. The left IEM seems to have something loose inside - whenever I turn up the volume a little and play music, I can hear a horrid vibrating/rattling sound coming from the IEM that is almost as loud as the music itself. It was hardly noticeable at first, but got worse as I have used it more over the past few days. I have heard about Moondrop QC issues before, but something like this is just unnacceptable for something that costs $350. The build quality seems pretty poor for the cost as well - when I look into the resin I see multiple glue/air pockets around where things are sealed off, especially around the edge of the faceplate. The faceplate also isn't entirely flush with the resin, it hangs over slightly in some places and doesn't feel like it was "made for" the resin shell. I can very easily put my fingernail under the faceplate, and while I dont intend to test it, it feels as though I could easily pull it off if I wanted to. The issues I see and have experienced on top of the issues others have had, such as DSP cable artifacts, a 3db channel imbalance being "within moondrop's margin of error" (according to a Headphone Show video), and the consistently poor build quality, I cannot in good conscience recommend anyone purchase Dusk until a new iteration is made, or at least that these problems are fully addressed.

The Ride is one of the most emotional scenes ever made, for every reason, but there's another element to it that is skipped over or forgotten after the first viewing. It's not absent or incorrect but there's a context to it that's overlooked once you know what happens next.
As stirring and heroic as it is, there is yet one more layer to consider, they had expected to be slaughtered. That possibility is far from our minds but consider it for a moment if you will, they knew this was it, Midway, Scarif, last alliance,the all or nothing gamble with EVERYTHING at stake, and win or lose it's everything you have left, you'll never be stronger or more united so throw yourself at the enemy
In the book Eomer recites to himself:
Out of doubt and out of dark to the day's rising
I came laughing in the sun, sword unsheathing
To hope's end I rode, and to heart's breaking
Now for wrath, now for ruin, and a red nightfall
It's not easy to picture that attitude when you know they board wipe the infantry, but rewatch the scene with the mentality they did, that it was a one way trip. When they cry "Death!" They're not just speaking about the enemy, it's about death itself, for all of them. They know if they fail, middle earth will fall too and they are equally aware that they do not have the numbers to win, they're acknowledging that fact and this is how they respond to it
I tear up watching it already, but it's even more powerful when you watch it through with their perspective in mind, ride for ruin and the world's ending, theirs and sauron's. Nothing could be more heroic, watch it again assuming none of them are coming back, that nothing they do will work, consider that they're sprinting towards annihilation and they all know it. That this literally IS the world's ending, and here's how they're going out, laughing in the sun, the last one there'll ever be
It's such defiance, saying you're going to win, we'll be gone soon but make no mistake, you are going to HEAR us one last time, and you will NEVER forget
Look at their faces, their determination, when you've seen it already you think, this is the part where they smash them, but they were thinking this is the part where we die, defeat is certain, probably should have auto resolved this battle on the campaign screen but I need to be here this needs to be seen
The roar after the third cry of death, no words, I have so few words to describe it properly

What's up all! 4th Wall here! I finally have power returned to my home, and can play a little catch up! This one's a heavy hitter, No NSFW needed (I hope) but if you've got kids, be warned.
First, Previous, Next
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A bright flash of blues and whites spat a greyish black object into normal space a mere one hundred Clicks from physical asteroid cloud that provided a natural barrier into the Lurix system. USN Olyvia’s drives instantly flared to life, and she made for the outer edges of the asteroid field with a purposeful stride. The senior Crew was at hand, having alternated shifts so they were well rested for this endeavor. Captain Correllus Grarzia shifted in his chair slightly, watching with interest as his star helmsman switched from his standard control configuration to a more “analog” twin joystick and pedals. ‘The kid really should be piloting a fighter’ he mused just as the young lad turned to look at him. “Ready, skipper”

“Take us in. All ahead slow.” Cory ordered calmly, before keying up the ship wide broadcasting channel. “This is the captain. We’ve just entered the Lurix system. Rig for silent running. I repeat, rig for silent running.” All across the ship, nonessential systems were shut down; their lack of electronic signature aiding the stealth coating on the bulky former troop transport. In engineering. Patrick, Cammy, and the rest of their section powered down a large portion of the larger systems onboard.

Life support was set to emergency backup, with old school oxygen candles lit in special housings that allowed their life-giving emissions to be circulated throughout the ship. Each major section of the vessel had their own supplies of these low-tech solutions, and Olyvia carried enough of these candles to survive for several days without functioning life support if needed.

Only a few were lit this time, using them as an augmentation to allow for minimal use of their perfectly functioning life support systems; and Cammy returned from the compartment just in time to aid in shutting down two thirds of Olyvia’s fusion reactors. This was not usually part of the silent running protocol, but Cory had added it for this mission. While they knew where their target would be, they still knew very little about what defenses awaited them inside the system.

Patrick keyed up the mic, “Engineering reporting in, silent running.”

*acknowledged* came a voice back. And Patrick leaned back in his chair just as Cammy arrived. “Well, that’s that.” He sighed.

Cammy stepped behind his chair, rubbing his shoulders for a second, “candles are lit. Two per section. At this rate we won’t run out for a year.”

Patrick chuckled, standing before looking over at his team, “sandwiches are in the mess hall. Half go now, half after. We’ll wait and go with second shift.” The team nodded and soon. The room was half as full. “Hurry up, and wait” Patrick mused, and turned to the rest. “Hold’em anyone?”

Over the next several days, shifts were kept short with a high rotation frequency. Olyvia picked her way through the natural minefield created by a destroyed world, slipping between the dead planetary shards with deadly caution. She ran quiet, with all but minimal deflectors shut down, and a single detuned laser online on each of her flanks as a last resort against impacts. Cory, Jesse, Patrick, and Cammy met regularly to keep tabs on the ship’s progress. The admiral’s transmission had reached them in time, and the four of them, plus Jacky when she could pry herself from the infirmary, worked to formulate a plan to get into the freighter without killing everyone. They had Hera and Jacobs reports, but those reports also admitted to a certain degree of incredible luck on their part. Things could have gone very differently, and the murder of the freighter during the admiral’s capture operation hinted at a change in tactics from their foe.

Mackenzie’s Privateers had liberated several freighters since they began operations, keeping to their cover as “pirates” by leaving nothing big enough to betray their secrets behind. A few of the other captains had left pieces of inoperative Unity tech, strategically damaged and jettisoned after the fight, as red herrings to convince both the Vorath, and the Thermians that these “pirates” had somehow gotten ahold of Unity warships.


Cory stepped into the cargo bay to meet Patric and Camorra. They were tinkering, carefully he hoped, with one of Olyvia’s harpoon missiles. It was a project triggered by Cammy’s brilliant, if outlandish, idea. “We know these freighters all ran the same codes, and the same infrastructure in their computer cores. Why can’t we hack it. Human computing should be perfectly capable of it.” Cory remembered her words as he stepped up to the two, “at ease” he waved them away as they threatened to salute him, “how’s out little project coming.”


“See for yourself” Patrick smiled handing him a data pad.

Cory took the offered device, quickly scanning through the data, “All I see is Olyvia’s system logs. Did you give me the wrong one?”

Patric smiled evilly, “that is coming from the missile, we found a common power regulator chip that dam near all Delmar freighters use in their integrated core management. Our mole here mimicked that regulators protocols to get into one we installed in a conduit over there” he pointed to an open panel. “It’s designed to cycle through several common chip sets and protocols to get access.”

“You hacked Olyvia?” Cory asked, eyebrow raised in a combination of amusement and irritation.

“Well, “Cammy said calmly, “we had to test it, and Oly’s the only ship close enough…”

“I see…” Cory mused, “it will have to do, we will be reaching the edge of the field in three days, how many of these can you have ready?”

Patrick scratched the red stubble punctuating his jaw line. “Hmm two, maybe three, including that one.” He winced at his captain’s expression, “took us a minute to get the virus right, sorry.”

Cory sounded to himself like a broken record, “I guess that will have to do as well. I’ll leave it to you.” He turned to return to his office but was interrupted half way there by an urgent request for his presence on the bridge.

Jesse rose to greet him as Cory stepped into Olyvia’s command center, and he nodded towards the ready room off to the side. The two of them quickly stepped inside and Jesse closed the door. “Jesse, what’s this about” Cory asked, settling into his desk chair.

Jesse, his first officer, and battle born brother looked at him seriously, “The first of our stealth probes have made it into the system proper….. It’s not good” He tapped at his data pad before handing it to his captain, “The enemy is doing something big down there, and we don’t know what. What we do know, Is that there are three heavy cruisers in orbit, and three more destroyers in floating patrols around the system.”

Cory scrolled through the pad as his first officer made his report, pausing at the same information on the planet’s surface, “These are military installations. This makes no since. We haven’t had a use for Lurix in millennia. It’s always just been a haven for aquatic and semi aquatic species. Why didn’t our intel warn us of this.”

Jesse nodded grimly, “I don’t know for sure, but I have my suspicions.” He reached over, tapping at the tab to open a particular file Cory had yet to find. “We found these in orbit as well.” He pointed to a pair of Delmar constructed freighters, parked in orbit over the marsh world. “I authorized a single transmission to a single drone, uploading Patrick and Camorra’s hacking program into it, and we sent it to one of those freighters... this is what we found.”

Cory opened the indicated file, and felt bile rise in the back of his throat as he watched. “Ready a tight beam, send it back the way we came, Towards Simo.” Jesse looked at his captain in understanding. The risks of transmitting this close to the enemy was a grave risk. Measured against the information they just witnessed; however, it was an absolute necessity. Jesse took the offered tablet, “The Admirals need to see this…. Both of them.”

————————————————————


Clint Stevens groaned as his communicator beeped from his desk. It was a very early morning on a weekend, and Frie had let Natalie stay at her grandparents for the weekend. He quietly slipped from the entanglements of a profoundly comfortable Delmar goddess he had somehow been gifted with as his wife, and silently cursed the inevitable destruction of his plans. The Com was linked to his computer console, and Clint tapped the file as he sat down.

The file opened, beginning with a grim looking Corellus Grarzia who made an intro statement that froze Clint in his thoughts. Before he could begin to prepare himself, images flooded in that turned grogginess into razors edge consciousness ringing with a white hot fury. Frie was ripped from her slumber instantly, reaching for her biometric pistol safe as a response to the unbridled rage she experienced from her husband. It took her a moment to realize that they were not being attacked, and she rushed from their bed, neglecting even basic decency to be by his side.

The two of them watched the Horrors unfold. Children… small children of multiple different races, stacked in a freighter’s hold like cattle, being thrown food like one would an animal. Massive screens played, promising safety and full bellies should they only but kiss the hand of a severe looking Vorath female. All who had not, were treated to daily ice cold sprays mixed with random beatings. He watched as desperate older siblings attempted to shelter their kin from the abuse, often times paying the ultimate price for their valor.

Clint and Frie were spared a further assault on their senses by a beeping light, indicating an urgent call from Clint’s adopted brother. Frie slipped out of view, reaching for a night gown as a furious Mac, accompanied by an equal parts shocked and livid Lyrian, appeared on screen.


“You’ve seen it” Clint stated. There were no barriers between them, no formalities. Only pure truth.

“I have,” Mac rumbled. “Why is it always kids..”

Clint shook his head, “I can have a battle group there in two weeks. It’s not soon enough, but.”

Mac nodded sharply, “I’m redirecting everyone not on critical missions. Simo and Kid are already there with Olyvia. Wisconsin is enroute. We will await your arrival….. Clint…” Clint’s eyes met Mac’s in a joined promise that reached across time and space.

“No, there won’t.” Clint answered, responding to Mac’s unspoken statement.

___________________________________________________________

A week later, The Chancellor Thomas Durrant of the Sol Federation perused the latest transmissions from Unity space. He was due for reelection this coming fall, and it was a close race. His opponent was labelling him a Warmonger, as he was an outspoken proponent of a more active role in the struggle against the Vorath, and it was working. The points were closing in the polls, and The Chancellor had not come out on top with the latest debate results. Humanity simply was not interested in further conflict. For the first time in human history, the vast majority of the Human race was content with peace.

The Chancellor took a sip of his mug as he opened a file from Admiral Stevens marked priority, but not top secret and promptly spit the contents in his mouth back into the mug. It was a complete file on some kind of intelligence operation, and Durrant almost wondered if it had been sent to him in error. The gruesome cover video dispelled that notion as the leader of Humanity itself watched horrors thought long dead play out in front of him. Several minutes later, he closed the file, and opened a message prompt.


“Viktor, are you up.” He typed.

*Yea, Tom. I’m up, the campaign ain’t gonna run itself into the ground.*

Durrant snorted at the dark humor, “Viktor, I was sent something. It changes… everything” he typed, attaching the cover video, and the longer form surveillance recording he had found inside the file from Clint. Several minutes passed in tense silence before…

*Jesus Christ, Tom.*

Tom Durrant took a long slow breath, “Do you still have your man at The Post.” He paused before sending, knowing what he was asking.

*Yea… yea I do, Tom. Are you sure you want to do this. This has ‘it will blow up in my face’ written all over it.*

“I know, but this bigger than me. Do it, and announce a press conference to follow if The Post runs with it.” Durrant typed and sent the last message, closing down his console. He stood slowly, feeling his age for the first time in recent memory, and walked heavily to bed.

The Post ran with the story. In the next 48 hours, the “leaked” scenes of tortured children, some barely more than infants ripped its way into Humanities Psyche. The revelations of what exactly was going on behind Vorath lines assailed Humanity, spurring many to call for blood, and Others to cry hoax. Around and around the political commentators debated, and redebated the shocking footage.

Chancellor Thomas Durrant followed through on his word, and was now stepping up to the platform and the Microphone as promised. He stood there for a full minute, meeting the eyes of as many of the hundreds of reporters before him as he could. The weight of his expression prompted a flurry of flashes as camera drones captured the image. Durrant allowed all of this to happen, waiting until the din of activity settled into a heavy silence. “People of Humanity… By now, you have undoubtedly seen the shocking pictures from the far side of the galaxy. Many of you believe it to be a hoax, a desperate ploy for political points. Allow me to be clear. This is no hoax, I received these disturbing images directly from Admiral Clint Stevens, who is marshalling the forces at his disposal as we speak. He aims to do something about these orbital concentration camps, and I support his actions with the full backing of my authority as Chancellor of the United Sol Federation.”

Durrant paused, letting the information sink in before continuing, “to answer the question as to whether this is a political ploy for points. Let me be perfectly clear, I alone released the footage from inside those torture ships, and I do not care if you believe it to be a political ploy. If Humanity can see the atrocities committed to the young innocents in those images and refuse to stand up for them; I no longer would wish to lead that Humanity. Yes, we are few compared to what we once were, but we have a strength that cannot be fathomed by those who chose to side with pure evil. Make no mistake, any being that is capable of torturing and murdering children deserves the title.” The Chancellor of United Sol skewered the silent crowd with a withering gaze, “All of you here know that I have been an ardent supporter of taking a more active role against this pure evil, and my opponent has made a great many statements regarding my supposed “warmongering”. I believe that to debate him further on this matter is as wasteful as it would be irrelevant. As such, I am suspending my campaign immediately. Pending permission from donors and the campaign review board, I will be donating the totality of my campaign war-chest to the purchase of relief supplies and construction of rehabilitation facilities for these children.” Durrant paused as a wave of gasps swept through the room as a volley of flashes assaulted his eyes. “Holding the position of leader of the Human race seems so insignificant in comparison,” he said softly, almost to himself before scanning the crowd. “The election is 4 months away. If you wish to reelect me, so be it; but know this.” Thomas Durrant rose to his full height, “If you elect me this fall, know that I will use the full weight of this office to unleash the full might of Humanity upon this evil, or I will resign from my post and travel to Unity space myself.”

With that. Chancellor Thomas Durrant spun on his heals and marched off the stage.
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If you made it this far, Thank You! I hope you enjoyed the episode. If this if your first time seeing this series, I hope you will join us from the beginning. I do have a patreon that has extra content that is not main story arc, but still cannon shorts, as well as exclusive content from some of my other series. If you believe I've earned it, feel free to give it a look; but know that just coming to hang is already enough.
Have a wonderful rest of your day.
First, Previous, Next Patreon

I have recently got into the respiratory therapy program at my school which is a huge deal because our RT program is limited to a class of 23 students per year and I go to a university with 40,000 students.
Pursuing RT before PA school is all in an attempt to make sure that I can get into PA school as quickly as possible while also getting the most valuable patient care hours before being thrown into PA school. it’s also something to fall back on if PA doesn’t work out.
However, I honestly feel like I might have a skewed perception on how hard it actually is to get into PA school and I shouldn’t have made the switch from health sciences to respiratory therapy. I mean I’m essentially gearing up for two different careers which just intuitively doesn’t feel right…? For context I’m a rising sophomore in college and I’m giving myself until the end of this year to make my decision on whether I want to stick to the RT to PA route or go down a more simpler but less guaranteed health sciences to PA school.
Does anyone have any advice on what steps I should take to ensure I’m making the right decision ?

sorry it may be kind of long but please help! i got my first positive pregnancy test on may 8th and booked my first hospital appointment (which isn't until june 1st) one night on the 13th i noticed brown spots of blood, looked on google and most people said it's pretty normal and probably old blood (my partner and i also had sex about a day or two prior) the next morning i went for a we and noticed it changed from brown to red, i called my doctors and they told me to go to ade to the early pregnancy unit. i slowly started loosing a little more blood i found out i was 6 weeks and 3 days, they took a urine test and eventually an ultrasound which didn't go very smoothly this is the comment they made about it Comment Transvaginal scan attempted with consent, not tolerated (at the level of introitus) Transabdominal scan with consent, very limited views due to suboptimal bladder filling. Transrectal scan with consent, suboptimal views due to discomfort throughout. they told me they got what they needed from the scan and took me straight to get a blood test and as soon as that was done they told me i could go home and they would call me in the morning when they called me they told me that i lost my baby due to miscarriage the letter said my diagnosis was a pregnancy of unknown location and gave no explanation my test results say that my HCG levels are 10.3 and my progesterone is 1.0 I've been looking online all day and everything contradicts each other, i'm very confused and stressed and don't want to give myself or my partner false hope! also the doctor said i may have to come back in two weeks for another scan but it hasn't been booked I'm not sure if i'm supposed to do that) they also still have my antenatal appointments booked for june

sorry it may be kind of long but please help! i got my first positive pregnancy test on may 8th and booked my first hospital appointment (which isn't until june 1st) one night on the 13th i noticed brown spots of blood, looked on google and most people said it's pretty normal and probably old blood (my partner and i also had sex about a day or two prior) the next morning i went for a we and noticed it changed from brown to red, i called my doctors and they told me to go to ade to the early pregnancy unit. i slowly started loosing a little more blood i found out i was 6 weeks and 3 days, they took a urine test and eventually an ultrasound which didn't go very smoothly this is the comment they made about it Comment Transvaginal scan attempted with consent, not tolerated (at the level of introitus) Transabdominal scan with consent, very limited views due to suboptimal bladder filling. Transrectal scan with consent, suboptimal views due to discomfort throughout. they told me they got what they needed from the scan and took me straight to get a blood test and as soon as that was done they told me i could go home and they would call me in the morning when they called me they told me that i lost my baby due to miscarriage the letter said my diagnosis was a pregnancy of unknown location and gave no explanation my test results say that my HCG levels are 10.3 and my progesterone is 1.0 I've been looking online all day and everything contradicts each other, i'm very confused and stressed and don't want to give myself or my partner false hope! also the doctor said i may have to come back in two weeks for another scan but it hasn't been booked I'm not sure if i'm supposed to do that) they also still have my antenatal appointments booked for june

sorry it may be kind of long but please help! i got my first positive pregnancy test on may 8th and booked my first hospital appointment (which isn't until june 1st) one night on the 13th i noticed brown spots of blood, looked on google and most people said it's pretty normal and probably old blood (my partner and i also had sex about a day or two prior) the next morning i went for a we and noticed it changed from brown to red, i called my doctors and they told me to go to ade to the early pregnancy unit. i slowly started loosing a little more blood i found out i was 6 weeks and 3 days, they took a urine test and eventually an ultrasound which didn't go very smoothly this is the comment they made about it Comment Transvaginal scan attempted with consent, not tolerated (at the level of introitus) Transabdominal scan with consent, very limited views due to suboptimal bladder filling. Transrectal scan with consent, suboptimal views due to discomfort throughout. they told me they got what they needed from the scan and took me straight to get a blood test and as soon as that was done they told me i could go home and they would call me in the morning when they called me they told me that i lost my baby due to miscarriage the letter said my diagnosis was a pregnancy of unknown location and gave no explanation my test results say that my HCG levels are 10.3 and my progesterone is 1.0 I've been looking online all day and everything contradicts each other, i'm very confused and stressed and don't want to give myself or my partner false hope! also the doctor said i may have to come back in two weeks for another scan but it hasn't been booked I'm not sure if i'm supposed to do that) they also still have my antenatal appointments booked for june.

sorry it may be kind of long but please help! i got my first positive pregnancy test on may 8th and booked my first hospital appointment (which isn't until june 1st) one night on the 13th i noticed brown spots of blood, looked on google and most people said it's pretty normal and probably old blood (my partner and i also had sex about a day or two prior) the next morning i went for a we and noticed it changed from brown to red, i called my doctors and they told me to go to ade to the early pregnancy unit. i slowly started loosing a little more blood i found out i was 6 weeks and 3 days, they took a urine test and eventually an ultrasound which didn't go very smoothly this is the comment they made about it Comment Transvaginal scan attempted with consent, not tolerated (at the level of introitus) Transabdominal scan with consent, very limited views due to suboptimal bladder filling. Transrectal scan with consent, suboptimal views due to discomfort throughout. they told me they got what they needed from the scan and took me straight to get a blood test and as soon as that was done they told me i could go home and they would call me in the morning when they called me they told me that i lost my baby due to miscarriage the letter said my diagnosis was a pregnancy of unknown location and gave no explanation my test results say that my HCG levels are 10.3 and my progesterone is 1.0 I've been looking online all day and everything contradicts each other, i'm very confused and stressed and don't want to give myself or my partner false hope! also the doctor said i may have to come back in two weeks for another scan but it hasn't been booked I'm not sure if i'm supposed to do that) they also still have my antenatal appointments booked for june

Aenar, Astaraxes, and Naerys had departed on Valyria’s Pride three days past, their retinue of guards and servants alongside them. Leaving Summerhall near empty with only Laena, the man, and Rhaenys herself remaining, their evenings were hardly boring, however quiet the palace was.
As Rhaenys dressed herself for flight, putting on her gloves, she called out into the open sky,

“Meraxes, māzigon naejot issa!”

She could only hope the she-dragon heard the call, or more accurately felt the call. She did not need to speak with her always, some of the magic the ancient Valyrians had employed still flourished, the link between a rider and her dragon something that did not require a physical component.
As Rhaenys turned around to embrace the man, before placing a kiss on his lips, holding it until she was interrupted by the sound of leather in the sky. My sister.
Her head spun from the man’s lips and onto the silver in the skies before she touched down. The thud and subsequent dust sent into the air, surrounding the three in the courtyard. Rhaenys began to walk towards Meraxes before saying, “Ao sagon jurnegēre gevie tubī!” She placed her hand on Meraxes lowered snout before petting it, “It's going to be a long flight, but we're going to be nearer Balerion then. We have that to look forward to.”
Meraxes’ head perked up, before she laid down, ready for Rhaenys and Laena to mount her. “There’s just something else I must do and then we can leave,” Rhaenys said before turning back to the man.
“You are to keep this palace in good order, and I know you will, but I figured I should mention it. Can’t hurt can it?” she said with a smile.
“Of course I will, I’ll be going over the tables for a majority of the time, send a raven if it goes long, I will be rather lonely without both of my women here.”
Laena rolled her eyes at the statement, walking over to Meraxes and mounting her. Rhaenys’ smile intensified, “we’re a bit old for these jokes no? Not like I’d stop you from making them, but we are a bit old are we not?” As she spoke, Rhaenys pulled a vial from her belt and removed the stopper, before pouring the contents into the cup the man held.
Inside it was dreamwine, and the vial had contained poppy that had now mixed in with the dreamwine. “Any for you Laena?” Rhaenys asked, taking the cup in her own hand. Upon seeing the shaking head Rhaenys drank, and deep, before placing the cup back in the man’s hand. She leaned over and stood on her toes, planting a kiss on his lips, leaving him with a few last words, “take care of yourself. And no matter what, if I am dead you serve Aenar. He will need you.”
As the man nodded, Rhaenys walked to Meraxes and mounted her, sitting behind Laena. “A long day of travel and then we will be there. Aenar’s throne is within our grasp.”
“Sōvegon," she whispered as Meraxes stood, the power in her steps nearly shaking the ground below her, gaining speed before her wings struck the air. Once, twice, and they were airborne. The lurch as Meraxes found her stream of air pulled Rhaenys back, as Laena’s back touched her own chest. “Careful now, I’m the one that’s dreamdrunk, not you.”
Rhaenys pulled Laena’s hood to the side as the woman looked behind, Rhaenys pulling down the mask of her hood before planting her lips on Laena’s, her hands which held onto the reins of Meraxes wrapped themselves around the reins, before landing on Laena’s waist, pulling her in closer, and closer still as their lips locked. Their hoods were less secure but with little wind, but that did not much matter to the Queen, her mind slowly succumbing to the dreamwine and poppy mixture.
Her head swam more and more with each moment, before she let her lips separate from Laena’s, barely able to hold onto the reins she shoved them into her belt before managing, “Dārys tegorīr, Merakses,” as she drifted off to a gentle sleep.
As she came to, she could smell the difference in the air. The sun was no longer rising but almost gone, hidden by the horizon until it rose again the following day. Below she could see in the distance the candlelight of King's Landing, thousands of them lighting up the small spot on Blackwater Bay.
Here was where she, Aegon, and Visenya had first touched Westerosi soil to begin their conquest, leaving thousands dead and thousands of years of tradition dead in their wake. They had done what none had for hundreds of years, bend an entire people to their will purely by dragonfire. It was once again the Andals who faced the wrath of the Valyrians, bent to their servitude, though this time it was not slavery, that was a sentiment of a different world, they were quasi-equals now.
As Meraxes flew above the Red Keep, high in the air above the capital, Rhaenys leaned down closer to the head of her sister in arms.

“Ivestragī zirȳ gīmigon iksi kesīr!”

Searing white light along with a roar that woke any unlucky enough to have gone to bed early began above the city, Rhaenys making her presence known.
“That's sure to make you unpopular today,” Laena said as she watched the flame, her eyes closed due to the light.
Rhaenys’ own face was much different, a child-like smile shining from ear to ear. The white hot flames were bright even on the sunniest of days, pure moonlight on the darkest of night. “I don’t care, I have a cause again, they shall remember the old me or die for it. I may no longer be young, but there were three conquerors, and only one of us never forgot what that meant.”
“Tegun, Merakses,” Rhaenys uttered, pointing Meraxes in the direction of the Red Keep, a freshly built new castle for the Targaryen power to impress those who looked up at it. Atop Aegon’s Hill, they built a keep for all to admire. Atop Rhaenys’ Hill, they built a pit for the dragon who had come to conquer Westeros. Atop Visenya’s Hill, they built… a monument to false gods.
Meraxes’ claws gripped the red bricks of the Red Keep as she landed, a few falling down the hill. Rhaenys slid down her wings and waited for Laena to do the same, where Rhaenys waited holding her hand out so that she might grab it, the same as a knight might do with a lady. Beneath the mask of her hood, she smiled before looking at one of the guards, taking the mask and hood off, and letting Laena pull her hair out from the hood.
Rhaenys brushed past the guard as Meraxes leered at the man, she preferred lamb but crownlander would do just fine. As Rhaenys walked down the stairs descending from the walls, she looked to one of the captains, “it seems a few of the bricks off the wall came loose, you might want to look into that. We wouldn’t want the Red Keep to be vulnerable,” as a sinister smile appeared on her face.
“Laena, I’m a bit tired after all of that I believe, maybe I should find myself a seat,” she said, walking up to the throne room, the Iron Throne looming over them. She stood for a moment, looking at the metal monstrosity as images of the Field of Fire displayed themselves in her mind, a good day if still distasteful. The smell of burnt flesh was never quite as fun as seeing the swirling of flame on an open field, and yet one couldn’t have one without the other.
“Place a pillow on the throne, I’ve a sore arse after this travel, send a message that I will arrive at the hunt on the morrow,” Rhaenys let out to one of the servants in the throne room, desolate except for a few guards and servants.
As the man disappeared and reappeared, placing the pillow in its place, before bowing to Rhaenys, she shouted out, “LEAVE! All of you! I need a moment in the memory of my brother.”
As the sound of feet across the stone grew quieter Rhaenys approached the throne, Laena a few steps behind her, before looking up at the throne. She took each step carefully as she ascended, before taking her seat and looking out across the room.
“Come, join me, you’re tired as well after this entire day.”
Each sword was a man, and there were enough swords to make this monstrosity. What they had done would be remembered by the Westerosi for all time, regardless of the dynasty that sat at the top of them all. As Laena sat in her lap she cut her hand ever slightly, the blood disappearing into the creation, almost as if the throne had drunk it. Though she winced, Rhaenys did not notice, too lost in thought, her eyes fixated on a point and yet seeing nothing.
You gave me a son who would have been your heir, yet they took you from me. I may fill my bed with others and fill my belly with wine, but the only one who has ever filled my heart was you, she thought. A tear fell onto Laena’s dress as Rhaenys seemed to be in a world of her own.

II. The Narcissistic Personality of Our Time
...
Social Influences on Narcissism
Every age develops its own peculiar forms of pathology, which express in exaggerated form its underlying character structure. In Freud’s time, hysteria and obsessional neurosis carried to extremes the personality traits associated with the capitalist order at an earlier stage in its development - acquisitiveness, fanatical devotion to work, and a fierce repression of sexuality. In our time, the preschizophrenic, borderline, or personality disorders have attracted increasing attention, along with schizophrenia itself. This “change in the form of neuroses has been observed and described since World War II by an ever-increasing number of psychiatrists.” According to Peter L. Giovacchini, “Clinicians are constantly faced with the seemingly increasing number of patients who do not fit current diagnostic categories” and who suffer not from “definitive symptoms” but from “vague, ill-defined complaints.” “When I refer to ‘this type of patient,’” he writes, “practically everyone knows to whom I am referring.” The growing prominence of “character disorders” seems to signify an underlying change in the organization of personality, from what has been called inner-direction to narcissism.
Allen Wheelis argued in 1958 that the change in the “patterns of neuroses” fell “within the personal experience of older psychoanalysts,” while younger ones “become aware of it from the discrepancy between the older descriptions of neuroses and the problems presented by the patients who come daily to their offices. The change is from symptom neuroses to character disorders.” Heinz Lichtenstein, who questioned the additional assertion that it reflected a change in personality structure, nevertheless wrote in 1963 that the “change in neurotic patterns” already constituted a “well-known fact.” In the seventies, such reports have become increasingly common. “It is not accident,” Herbert Hendin notes, “that at the present time the dominant events in psychoanalysis are the rediscovery of narcissism and the new emphasis on the psychological significance of death.” “What hysteria and the obsessive neuroses were to Freud and his early colleagues…at the beginning of this century,” writes Michael Beldoch, “the narcissistic disorders are to the workaday analyst in these last few decades before the next millennium. Today’s patients by and large do not suffer from hysterical paralyses of the legs or hand-washing compulsions; instead it is their very psychic selves that have gone numb or that they must scrub and rescrub in an exhausting and unending effort to come clean.” These patients suffer from “pervasive feelings of emptiness and a deep disturbance of self-esteem.” Burness E. Moore notes that narcissistic disorders have become more and more common. According to Sheldon Bach, “You used to see people coming in with hand-washing compulsions, phobias, and familiar neuroses. Now you see mostly narcissists.” Gilbert J. Rose maintains that the psychoanalytic outlook, “inappropriately transplanted from analytic practice” to everyday life, has contributed to “global permissiveness” and the “over-domestication of instinct,” which in turn contributes to the proliferation of “narcissistic identity disorders.” According to Joel Kovel, the stimulation of infantile cravings by advertising, the usurpation of parental authority by the media and the school, and the rationalization of inner life accompanied by the false promise of personal fulfillment, have created a new type of “social individual.” “The result is not the classical neuroses where an infantile impulse is suppressed by patriarchal authority, but a modern version in which impulse is stimulated, perverted and given neither an adequate object upon which to satisfy itself nor coherent forms of control…. The entire complex, played out in a setting of alienation rather than direct control, loses the classical form of symptom - and the classical therapeutic opportunity of simply restoring an impulse to consciousness.”
The reported increase in the number of narcissistic patients does not necessarily indicate that narcissistic disorders are more common than they used to be, in the population as a whole, or that they have become more common than the classical conversion neurosis. Perhaps they simply come more quickly to psychiatric attention. Ilza Veith contends that “with the increasing awareness of conversion reactions and the popularization of psychiatric literature, the ‘old-fashioned’ somatic expressions of hysteria have become suspect among the more sophisticated classes, and hence most physicians observe that obvious conversion symptoms are now rarely encountered and, if at all, only among the uneducated.” The attention given to character disorders in recent clinical literature probably makes psychiatrists more alert to their presence. But this possibility by no means diminishes the importance of psychiatric testimony about the prevalence of narcissism, especially when this testimony appears at the same time that journalists begin to speculate about the new narcissism and the unhealthy trend toward self-absorption. The narcissist comes to the attention of psychiatrists for some of the same reasons that he rises to positions of prominence not only in awareness movements and other cults but in business corporations, political organizations, and government bureaucracies. For all his inner suffering, the narcissist has many traits that make for success in bureaucratic institutions, which put a premium on the manipulation of interpersonal relations, discourage the formation of deep personal attachments, and at the same time provide the narcissist with the approval he needs in order to validate his self-esteem. Although he may resort to therapies that promise to give meaning to life and to overcome his sense of emptiness, in his professional career the narcissist often enjoys considerable success. The management of personal impressions comes naturally to him, and his mastery of its intricacies serves him well in political and business organizations where performance now counts for less than “visibility,” “momentum,” and a winning record. As the “organization man” gives way to the bureaucratic “gamesman” - the “loyalty era” of American business to the age of the “executive success game” - the narcissist comes into his own.
In a study of 250 managers from twelve major companies, Michael Maccoby describes the new corporate leader, not altogether unsympathetically, as a person who works with people rather than with materials and who seeks not to build an empire or accumulate wealth but to experience “the exhilaration of running his team and of gaining victories.” He wants to “be known as a winner, and his deepest fear is to be labeled a loser.” Instead of pitting himself against a material task or a problem demanding solution, he puts himself against others, out of a “need to be in control.” As a recent textbook for managers puts it, success today means “not simply getting ahead” but “getting ahead of others.” The new executive, boyish, playful, and “seductive,” wants in Maccoby’s words “to maintain an illusion of limitless options.” He has little capacity for “personal intimacy and social commitment.” He feels little loyalty even to the company for which he works. One executive says he experiences power “as not being pushed around by the company.” In his upward climb, this man cultivates powerful customers and attempts to use them against his own company. “You need a very big customer,” according to his calculations, “who is always in trouble and demands changes from the company. That way you automatically have power in the company, and with the customer too. I like to keep my options open.” A professor of management endorses this strategy. “Overidentification” with the company, in his view, “produces a corporation with enormous power over the careers and destinies of its true believers.” The bigger the company, the more important he thinks it is for executes “to manage their careers in terms of their own…free choices” and to “maintain the widest set of options possible.”
According to Maccoby, the gamesman “is open to new ideas, but he lacks convictions.” He will do business with any regime, even if he disapproves of its principles. More independent and resourceful than the company man, he tries to use the company for his own ends, fearing that otherwise he will be “totally emasculated by the corporation.” He avoids intimacy as a trap, preferring the “exciting, sexy atmosphere” with which the modern executive surrounds himself at work, “where adoring, mini-skirted secretaries constantly flirt with him.” In all his personal relations, the gamesman depends on the admiration or fear he inspires in others to certify his credentials as a “winner.” As he gets older, he finds it more and more difficult to command the kind of attention on which he thrives. He reaches a plateau beyond which he does not advance in his job, perhaps because the very highest positions, as Maccoby notes, still go to “those able to renounce adolescent rebelliousness and become at least to some extent believers in the organization.” The job begins to lose its savor. Having little interest in craftsmanship, the new-style executive takes no pleasure in his achievements once he begins to lose the adolescent charm on which they rest. Middle age hits him with the force of a disaster: “Once his youth, vigor, and even the thrill in winning are lost, he becomes depressed and goalless, questioning the purpose of his life. No longer energized by the team struggle and unable to dedicate himself to something he believes in beyond himself, … he finds himself starkly alone.” It is not surprising, given the prevalence of this career pattern, that popular psychology returns so often to the “midlife crisis” and to ways of combating it.
In Wilfrid Sheed’s novel Office Politics, a wife asks, “There are real issues, aren’t there, between Mr. Fine and Mr. Tyler?” Her husband answers that the issues are trivial; “the jockeying of ego is the real story.” Eugene Emerson Jennings’s study of management, which celebrates the demise of the organization man and the advent of the new “era of mobility,” insists that corporate “mobility is more than mere job performance.” What counts is “style…panache…the ability to say and do almost anything without antagonizing others.” The upwardly mobile executive, according to Jennings, knows how to handle the people around him - the “shelf-sitter” who suffers from “arrested mobility” and envies success; the “fast learner”; the “mobile superior.” The “mobility-bright executive” has learned to “read” the power relations in his office and “to see the less visible and less audible side of his superiors, chiefly their standing with their peers and superiors.” He “Can infer from a minimum of cues who are the centers of power, and he seeks to have high visibility and exposure with them. He will assiduously cultivate his standing and opportunities with them and seize every opportunity to learn from them. He will utilize his opportunities in social world to size up the men who are centers of sponsorship in the corporate world.”
Constantly comparing the “executive success game” to an athletic contest or a game of chess, Jennings treats the substance of executive life as if it were just as arbitrarily and irrelevant to success as the task of kicking a ball through a net or of moving pieces over a chessboard. He never mentions the social and economic repercussions of managerial decisions or the power that managers exercise over society as a whole. For the corporate manager on the make, power consists not of money and influence but of “momentum,” a “winning image,” a reputation as a winner . Power lies in the eye of the beholder and thus has no objective reference at all.
The manager’s view of the world, as described by Jennings, Maccoby, and by the managers themselves, is that of the narcissist, who sees the world as a mirror of himself and has no interest in external events except as they throw back a reflection of his own image. The dense interpersonal environment of modern bureaucracy, in which work assumes an abstract quality almost wholly divorced from performance, by its very nature elicits and often rewards a narcissistic response. Bureaucracy, however, is only one of a number of social influences that are bringing a narcissistic type of personality organization into greater and greater prominence. Another such influence is the mechanical reproduction of culture, the proliferation of visual and audial images in the “society of the spectacle.” We live in a swirl of images and echoes that arrest experience and play it back in slow motion. Cameras and recording machines not only transcribe experience but alter its quality, giving to much of modern life that character of an enormous echo chamber, a hall of mirrors. Life presents itself as a succession of images of electronic signals, of impressions recorded and reproduced by means of photography, motion pictures, television, and sophisticated recording devices. Modern life is thoroughly mediated by electronic images that we cannot help responding to others as if their actions - and our own - were being recorded and simultaneously transmitted to an unseen audience or stored up for close scrutiny at some later time. “Smile, you’re on candid camera!” The intrusion into everyday life of this all-seeing eye no longer takes us by surprise or catches us with our defenses down. We need no reminder to smile. A smile is permanently graven on our features, and we already known from which of several angles its photographs to best advantage.
The proliferation of recorded images undermines our sense of reality. As Susan Sontag observes in her study of photography, “Reality has come to seem more and more like what we are shown by cameras.” We distrust our perceptions until the camera verifies them. Photographic images provide us with the proof of our existence, without which we would find it difficult even to reconstruct a personal history. Bourgeois families in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Sontag points out, posed for portraits in order to proclaim the family’s status, whereas today the family album of photographs verifies the individual’s existence: its documentary record of his development from infancy onward provides him with the only evidence of his life that he recognizes as altogether valid. Among the “many narcissistic uses” that Sontag attributes to the camera, “self-surveillance” ranks among the most important, not only because it provides the technical means of ceaseless self-scrutiny but because it renders the sense of selfhood dependent on the consumption of images of the self, at the same time calling into question the reality of the external world.
By preserving images of the self at various stages of development, the camera helps to weaken the older idea of development as moral education and to promote a more passive idea according to which development consists of passing through the stages of life at the right time and in the right order. Current fascination with the life cycle embodies an awareness that success in politics or business depends on reaching certain goals on schedule; but it also reflects the ease with which developments can be electronically recorded. This brings us to another cultural change that elicits a widespread narcissistic response and, in this case, gives it a philosophical sanction: the emergence of a therapeutic ideology that upholds a normative schedule of psychosocial development and thus gives further encouragement to anxious self-scrutiny. The idea of normative development creates the fear that any deviation from the norm has a pathological source. Doctors have made a cult of periodic checkup - an investigation carried out once again by means of cameras and other recording instruments - and have implanted in their clients the notion that health depends on eternal watchfulness and the early detection of symptoms, as verified by medical technology. The client no longer feels physically or psychologically secure until his X-rays confirm a “clean bill of health.”
Medicine and psychiatry - more generally, the therapeutic outlook and sensibility that pervade modern society - reinforce the pattern created by other cultural influences, in which the individual endlessly examines himself for signs of aging and ill health, for tell-tale symptoms of psychic stress, for blemishes and flaws that might diminish his attractiveness, or on the other hand for reassuring indications that his life is proceeding according to schedule. Modern medicine has conquered the plagues and epidemics that once made life so precarious, only to create new forms of insecurity. In the same way, bureaucracy has made life predictable and even boring while reviving, in a new form, the war of all against all. Our overorganized society, in which large-scale organizations predominate but have lost the capacity to command allegiance, in some respects more nearly approximates a condition of universal animosity than did the primitive capitalism on which Hobbes managed his state of nature. Social conditions today encourage a survival mentality, expressed in its crudest form in disaster movies or in fantasies of space travel, which allow vicarious escape from a doomed planet. People no longer dream of overcoming difficulties but merely of surviving them. In business, according to Jennings, “The struggle is to survive emotionally” -to “preserve or enhance one’s identity or ego.” The normative concept of developmental stages promotes a view of life as an obstacle course: the aim is simply to get through the course with a minimum of trouble and pain. The ability to manipulate what Gail Sheehy refers to, using a medical metaphor, as “life-support systems” now appears to represent the highest form of wisdom: the knowledge that gets us through, as she puts it, without panic. Those who master Sheehy’s “no-panic approach to aging” and to the traumas of the life cycle will be able to say, in the words of one of her subjects, “I know I can survive… I don’t panic any more.” This is hardly an exalted form of satisfaction, however. “The current ideology,” Sheehy writes, “seems a mix of personal survivalism, revivalism, and cynicism”; yet her enormously popular guide to the “predictable crises of adult life,” with its superficially optimistic hymn to growth, development, and “self-actualization,” does not challenge this ideology, merely restates it in more “humanistic” form. “Growth” has become a euphemism for survival.
The World View of the Resigned
New social forms require new forms of personality, new modes of socialization, new ways of organizing experience. The concept of narcissism provides us not with a ready-made psychological determinism but with a way of understanding the psychological impact of recent social changes - assuming that we bear in mind not only its clinical origins but the continuum between pathology and normality. It provides us, in other words, with a tolerably accurate portrait of the “liberated” personality of our time, with his charm, his pseudo-awareness of his own condition, his promiscuous pansexuality, his fascination with oral sex, his fear of the castrating mother (Mrs. Portnoy), his hypochondria, his protective shallowness, his avoidance of dependence, his inability to mourn, his dread of old age and death.
Narcissism appears realistically to represent the best way of coping with the tensions and anxieties of modern life, and the prevailing social conditions therefore tend to bring out narcissistic traits that are present, in varying degrees, in everyone. These condition have also transformed the family, which in turn shapes the underlying structure of personality. A society that dears it has no future is not likely to give much attention to the needs of the next generation, and the ever-present sense of historical discontinuity - the blight of our society - falls with particularly devastating effect on the family. The modern parent’s attempt to make children feel loved and wanted does not conceal an underlying coolness - the remoteness of those who have little to pass on the next generation and who in any case give priority to their own right to self-fulfillment. The combination of emotional detachment with attempts to convince a child of his favored position in the family is a good prescription for a narcissistic personality structure.
Through the intermediary of the family, social patterns reproduce themselves in personality. Social arrangements live on in the individual, buried in the mind below the level of consciousness, even after they have become objectively undesirable and unnecessary - as many of our present arrangements are now widely acknowledged to have become. The perception of the world as a dangerous and forbidding place, though it originates in a realistic awareness of the insecurity of contemporary social life, receives reinforcement from the narcissistic projection of aggressive impulses outward. The belief that society has no future, while it rests on a certain realism about the dangers ahead, also incorporates a narcissistic inability to identify with posterity or to feel one self part of a historical stream.
The weakening of social ties, which originates in the prevailing state of social warfare, at the same time reflects a narcissistic defense against dependence. A warlike society tends to produce men and women who are at heart antisocial. It should therefore not surprise us to find that although the narcissist conforms to social norms for fear of external retribution, he often thinks of himself as an outlaw and sees others in the same way, “as basically dishonest and unreliable, or only reliable because of external pressures.” “The value systems of narcissistic personalities are generally corruptible,” writes Kernberg, “in contrast to the rigid morality of the obsessive personality.”
The ethic of self-preservation and psychic survival is rooted, then, not merely in objective conditions of economic warfare, rising rates of crime, and social chaos but in the subjective experience of emptiness and isolation. It reflects the conviction - as much a projection of inner anxieties as a perception of the way things are - that envy and exploitation dominate even the most intimate relations. The cult of personal relations, which becomes increasingly intense as the hope of political solutions recedes, conceals a thoroughgoing disenchantment with personal relations, just as the cult of sensuality implies a repudiation of sensuality in all but its most primitive forms. The ideology of personal growth, superficially optimistic, radiates a profound despair and resignation. It is the faith of those without faith.

A Modern Rallying Cry

Friends, we stand at a pivotal moment in history.
For too long, the forces of greed and oppression have kept us down, draining our livelihoods and crushing our spirits.
Today, we have a unique opportunity to rise up and strike back against those who think they can control our destiny!

The Time for Action is Now

The powerful have tried to dominate the markets, believing they could manipulate and oppress without consequence.
But they've underestimated our strength and resolve. Today, we face a stock that is shaking the very foundations of Wall Street.

DD

1. Unprecedented Trading Volume:

• Volume Spike: $FFIE has seen an extraordinary trading volume of 1.2 billion shares in a single day.
• What This Means: Trading volume represents the total number of shares bought and sold. A volume this high, for a stock this cheap, indicates significant market interest and activity, suggesting that many investors are rallying behind this stock.

2. 1700% Gain in Two Days:

• Price Increase: From $0.06 to an astounding $0.96 peak in just two days, this stock has shown the potential for unprecedented growth. This is a direct result of lots of people like you and me buying in, driving the price up, and forcing the people who sold short to cut their losses and buy back in. With a little rinsing and repetition, a $50 price-per-share is not impossible
• Explanation: This dramatic increase, a 1500% rise, is a clear indicator of strong buying pressure and market momentum. It means that the stock is in high demand, driving the price up rapidly.

3. Sky-High Short Interest

• Short Interest Ratio: 95% of the float is sold short.
• Explanation: When a large percentage of shares are sold short, it means that many investors are betting against the stock, expecting the price to fall. However, if the price rises instead, these short sellers are forced to buy back the stock to cover their positions, driving the price even higher. This creates a short squeeze.

4. Potential for a REAL Short Squeeze:

• Days to Cover: We've gotten a small taste of what this stock is capable of. A sample. It would take only 0.11 days for short sellers to cover their positions.
• Explanation: This metric shows the number of days required for all short sellers to buy back shares, given the current trading volume. A low number indicates that short sellers are under pressure to cover quickly, which can lead to rapid, 2021 $GME-esque price increases.

5. Media Attention:

• News Coverage: Multiple articles are highlighting the potential for a historic short squeeze.
  • https://eletric-vehicles.com/faraday-future/faraday-future-shares-skyrocket-300-as-the-ev-startup-tries-to-avoid-delisting/
  • https://investorplace.com/2024/05/why-is-faraday-future-ffie-stock-up-380-today/
  • https://www.barrons.com/articles/faraday-future-intelligent-electric-stock-27cd2c2a
• Explanation: Media coverage draws more attention to the stock, attracting more investors and increasing buying pressure. This further fuels the price rise and strengthens the movement. Post on X, TikTok, and Instagram about the stock. Call your grandma. Everybody needs to know.

Imagine a world where the common man can rise up and claim his share of prosperity. Picture a future where your investment is not just a financial transaction, but a stand against the fortress of Wall Street.
Now is your moment to join this revolution.
The stock is soaring, and the potential for gains is monumental. Don't stand on the sidelines while others take action. Every dollar you invest is a vote against the oppressive powers that seek to control us. Join us and be part of history in the making!

To Those Who Are Thinking of Selling:

Hold the line. The only things that stand in our way are: every hedge fund in the world, every institutional bank, the CIA, our government, and the entire media matrix except Barstool Sports, oh and most of the tech world.
Nobody wants you to win.
As soon as the average man starts playing the game, they lock you out of the game.
Are you going to settle for bill-paying money? Selling now means giving in to the very forces we are fighting against. You've seen the gains; imagine the potential if we all hold together. This is life-changing money. This is not the time to waver—it's the time to stand strong.
Want to cash out small profits to pay for your car payment this month? What if you could pay off YOUR ENTIRE CAR LOAN?! THEN HOLD!
Want to cash out small profits to pay for your mortgage month? Wouldn’t you rather pay off YOUR ENTIRE MORTGAGE?! THEN HOLD!
We all bought in for different amount’s. We all have different stories that got us here. But we are all in this TOGETHER!

To Those Who Are Holding:

Your resolve is our strength. Your commitment is our power. Hold the line and continue to stand firm. The potential for life-changing gains is within our grasp, but only if we maintain our unity and resolve. We don't want bill-paying money; we want life-changing money. Together, we can achieve it.

The Cost of Inaction

Friends, consider the alternative. Imagine standing idly by while others seize this moment, while others take the stand that could have been yours. The regret of missed opportunity, the sting of inaction, will linger far longer than any financial risk. This is not just about money; it is about justice, about reclaiming what is rightfully ours.
You could be sitting on a beach motorboating Latina titties all day.
Don't miss out

Seize the Day

The time is now, the opportunity is before us. Let us rise together, united in purpose and resolve, to reclaim our power and secure our future. Invest in this stock, not just for the potential gains, but for the chance to be part of something greater, something historic.
Rise up, invest, and join the revolution. The future is ours to shape!

Hey All,
I am a little stumped. I have been on TRT for about 10 years. Levels have always been within good ranges from 700-900. I went off of it for a year while taking chlomid and hcg as my wife and I were trying to have our biological baby. I have been back on TRT for about 2 months and received my bloodwork and my T levels were over 1500. Free T was 22.6 (6.8-21.5). E is obviously a little elevated at 44 (7.6-44.2). SHBG is on the high end of normal.
Protocol is the same being .28 M/W/F. Only differences are now being down about 10 lbs due to loosing my appetite while off of TRT. Taking 50mg of Vyvanse at 7am and 20 mg Adderall at around 12pm.
Other outliers are Prolactin at 45.9 (3.9-22.7), BUN/Creatinine ratio 6 (9-20) but them by themselves are within normal ranges so my Doctor is not concerned.
I am not concerned about the outliers as I believe they will fall inline when T gets down.
My Doctor and I are stumped on why my levels are so much higher taking the same amount at the same frequency. We are decreasing the injection amount by .08.
Has anyone have had any experience like this, or know why I am having such a different reaction this time? TIA.

The origin of the Ecoracles can be traced back to a planet called Earth. Earth was a small, beautiful planet, adorned with lush forests, vast oceans, and towering mountains. The humans that inhabited the planet reigned for thousands of years. Their advancement in technology was truly impressive, however, with their great power came great irresponsibility.
As fascinating as their technology was, many of their practices were slowly deteriorating their planet. The sky, once a clear, bright blue, turned a dull gray from pollution. Rivers, once teeming with life, flowed with hazardous toxins. Forests were cut down to make way for sprawling cities and factories. Despite the growing evidence of their harm, humans continued on their path, driven by a desire for convenience and profit.
Over the years, a plethora of movements rose and fell, each striving to combat the pollution of Earth. Passionate individuals gathered in protest, scientists presented alarming data, and environmentalists pleaded for change. But their messages often fell on deaf ears. Those in power were more concerned with their own wealth and influence than the well-being of the planet.
Among these movements was a small, obscure organization called Ecoracle. They were thought of as a quaint bunch. The leaders of Ecoracle claimed they could communicate with nature itself. Each of them said they had a specific aspect of nature they communicated with. Some spoke to the trees, others conversed with the rivers, there were those who spoke to the clouds.
The Ecoracles sought to be the bridge between humans and the natural world. However, their message, like so many others before them, did not bring forth the change they desired. The leaders and influencers of society dismissed the Ecoracles as eccentrics. They had no interest in what the Ecoracles or any other movement had to say, only focused on producing profits for themselves by any means necessary. Factories continued to belch smoke into the air, rivers continued to be polluted, and forests continued to fall.
It was only when Earth was near the end of its lifespan that those with power were ready to hear what the Ecoracles and many like them had to say. But it was too late by then; the harm they had done to Earth was irreversible. The once-vibrant planet was now on the brink of collapse.
All hope appeared to be lost, but the drive of the human spirit should never be underestimated. As if it were a miracle, humans attained interstellar travel. They created massive spacecrafts that could carry a country’s worth of people at once. These spacecrafts were equipped with everything necessary to sustain life for generations. They became floating worlds, homes for humans and animals alike.
Humans and animals boarded these spacecrafts, leaving the dying Earth behind. Generations upon countless generations lived their entire lives aboard these vessels, drifting through the vast expanse of space in search of a new home.
One of the few things that remained constant were the Ecoracles. They continued to spread their teachings, emphasizing the importance of living in harmony with nature, respecting the balance of ecosystems, and cherishing the resources they had.
Life on the spacecrafts was a difficult challenge, but humanity adapted. Gardens flourished under artificial lights, animals roamed in carefully designed habitats, and communities formed. The Ecoracles played a crucial role, guiding the people in sustainable practices and fostering a deep connection with the environment, even in the artificial confines of the spacecrafts.
After an immeasurable amount of time, they finally reached their destination: a habitable planet outside of their solar system. The planet was a lush, vibrant world, teeming with life. As they began to cultivate this new planet, the teachings of the Ecoracles had become so ingrained into their culture that it was second nature to them.
The people of this planet worked diligently to build a society that lived in harmony with nature. They built homes that blended seamlessly into the landscape, cultivated crops using sustainable methods, and ensured that the natural habitats of animals were preserved. They used their advanced technology not to dominate the environment, but to protect and enhance it.
The memory of Earth had been lost, but the newest inhabitants of this planet knew that they mustn’t pollute the place they called home. The lessons of the Ecoracles had now become a core part of the humans.
Eventually, humans' interstellar travel capabilities evolved to the point where they could traverse beyond their galaxy and find habitable planets within a single lifetime. No matter where they went, their objective remained the same, to populate planets while preserving nature.
At this point, the term "Ecoracle" had grown beyond its original meaning. It now referred to someone possessing supernatural abilities that allowed them to harness the power of nature itself. These new Ecoracles could communicate with the elements, each specializing in a different aspect of nature. They were revered and respected, seen as the protectors of balance and harmony in every new world they settled.
Alongside the emergence of the recent rendition of Ecoracles, came strange creatures that began to appear. These beings couldn't be explained through natural means. They were not animals, but more akin to supernatural entities that embodied specific aspects of nature. Some were beautiful and awe-inspiring. Others were grotesque and malevolent.
These malevolent beings sought to pollute and destroy everything humans and Ecoracles fought so hard to protect. They could poison rivers, wither crops, and deteriorate forests with a mere touch. Their existence posed a grave threat to the universe if they went unchecked.
The Ecoracles took it upon themselves to protect their new homes from these malicious beings. They formed a dedicated order, trained to combat their forces that threatened to destroy everything.
These destructive beings were too powerful for normal humans to handle. Only Ecoracles, equipped with abilities specifically attuned to combating these entities, had any hope of defeating them. Their unique set of powers made them the only ones capable of facing the supernatural threats head-on.
They served as a constant reminder of what could happen if humans were reckless with their new homes. However, humanity possessed something greater: their ability to adapt and rise above any challenge. This resilience was their greatest strength, a trait that had allowed them to survive and thrive, even after the pollution of Earth.
Some speculated that the sudden emergence of supernatural beings was born from the universe itself. The idea that the universe had sentience seemed absurd, but it was the only conclusion that could somewhat be rationalized.
Through humanity’s spirit and determination to defend their new homes, it seemed as if the universe had manifested a way to communicate with them. This theory suggested that the Ecoracles, with their burning desire to protect the universe, were bestowed their powers.
The Ecoracles are regarded as heroes, figures of immense admiration and respect. They have become legends, their deeds immortalized in the Tales of the Ecoracles. These tales are shared across generations as a source of inspiration and guidance for all. The stories are not just about their supernatural powers, but also about their bravery, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to preserving the balance of nature.

If you ‘DAMN’ Pastor Quiboloy, you ‘DAMN’ Duterte, you ‘DAMN’ the country.
A few days ago, I came across this book, 'How to Destroy A Man Now (DAMN): A Handbook' by Angela Confidential. Just from its title, you can easily tell that this is a guide to ruining a man's reputation or life.Basically, this book gives practical tactics on how ‘Allegations,’ the ‘Media,’ and the ‘Authority’ work together to dethrone a man from influence and power.
I would like to use this perspective as we navigate the issues concerning Pastor Apollo.If you want to DAMN, start with making allegations. That is the first weapon. Merriam-Webster defines allegations as ‘an assertion unsupported and by implication regarded as unsupportable.’
This means anyone who makes an allegation against any man is free from the burden of facts. So, the devils made sure he crafted piles of serious allegations to ruin Pastor Apollo’s reputation on a global scale.
The following were made since 2018, roughly six years in the making:Allegations in the United States. The perpetrators here, according to the camp of Pastor Apollo, were in connivance with former workers who had supposedly committed grave crimes in the KOJC and fled to the U.S.
The allegations include conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking, sex trafficking of children, sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, conspiracy, and bulk cash smuggling.Until now none of these allegations have been proven true in court, yet the U.S. government agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation, put Pastor Apollo's name on the Most Wanted List. In the Philippines, it’s more complicated.
Cases of alleged sexual abuse of a minor and qualified human trafficking were filed against Pastor Apollo but were easily dismissed by Philippine courts. However, recently, the Justice Department overturned the decision and Pastor Apollo is once again facing scrutiny.
The legislature, tasked with making laws, targeted Pastor Apollo through hearings. In the Senate, Senator Risa Hontiveros launched a probe against Pastor Apollo for alleged human trafficking, labor violations, and sex-related offenses. In the lower house, headed by Speaker Martin Romualdez, who is the cousin of President Bongbong Marcos, they targeted the media arm of KOJC - the Sonshine Media Network International, alleging franchise violations and implicating Pastor Apollo as the owner, thus compelling his presence at the hearing.
Notably, the House Speaker generously gave the known CPP-NPA operatives France Castro, Arlene Brosas, and Raoul Manuel the floor to launch ad hominem attacks against Pastor Apollo. They have become one of the mouthpieces of the devils.
Moreover, the House also weaponized the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to impose an indefinite suspension on SMNI, as well as the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to suspend two programs, including former President Duterte’s 'Gikan sa Masa Para sa Masa' and 'Laban Kasama ang Bayan,' due to alleged franchise violations. This is clearly to silence SMNI. They want to disarm the people of truth, especially about the Dutertes and about the terrorist organization CPP-NPA-NDF.
With all the missiles and bombs of allegations against Pastor Apollo, the devils now need a 'Media' platform to proliferate. If the allegation is the bullet, then the media is the gun. This is the second weapon of the Devil.Use the Power of Media.
You’ve probably heard the philosophical question, “If a tree falls in the woods, and no one hears it, did it make a sound?” The more people who know about an allegation, the more powerful it becomes.
Admit it, we're drawn to the drama, especially Filipinos, which is why you'll notice more scandalous stories in the news and media these days—everyone loves a bit of gossip!"Sex sells,” they say. When it comes to allegations against a holy or religious figure like Pastor Apollo, especially those related to flesh, it can shatter their reputation and can be particularly devastating, regardless of the truth.In a court of law, a man is presumed innocent until proven guilty. But in the court of public opinion manipulated by the media, a man “serially accused” of a scandal is guilty until proven innocent.In this scenario, an allegation doesn't need evidence to DAMN someone because media manipulation turns it into its own proof.
Thousands, even millions, of people can unite against one man.Look at the mainstream media, even the alternative that wants to gain popularity, makes Pastor Apollo their headlines because they profit from it. However, they bear little responsibility for doing it. Apparently, as long as the media labels the scandal as an "allegation," they are somewhat protected from legal consequences.
Moreover, the media can claim they are merely reporting the allegation, not making it. However, the way they report it often contributes to shaping the allegation itself.But we're not only referring to traditional media. With the rise of social media, the realm of trolls and paid vloggers/bloggers, the spread of allegations has become faster and more potent.The "evidence" and public perception of guilt crafted by allegations and the media's collaboration can grow so significant and influential that the third weapon of the Devil, 'Authority,' is compelled to intervene.Authority. In the case of Pastor Apollo, the authority being used by the devils is the US-PH government and its instrumentalities. And their mission is to fully destroy him now.According to the handbook, “Ultimately, it’s authority that plays the final role in condemning a man.
As ‘Daddy Knight’ he takes pride in his role as guardian and savior, especially of the weak, mistreated, violated, and so on. He strives to be the hero who saves the damsel in distress. In other words, authority caters to victims, and nothing gets [Authority]’s attention more than a call to action to save victims.”“Also, keep in mind that with the media’s help, allegations against authorities can be used to motivate authority to take action. Just about any widespread allegation about an authority being remiss, ineffectual, or negligent in its “guardian and savior” role will suffice.”And this is so evident with what Hontiveros is doing as well as Castro, Brosas and Manuel are doing. Listen to their words. It’s almost the same! They want to play the savior role.
They want to pretend heroes but never really give justice to the supposed victims.They are lawmakers but they act as judges. And they want justice for the supposed victims, why don’t they bring it to the proper forum which is the court? Because they’re not after justice; they’re after destroying the person of Pastor Apollo.
Hontiveros, alongside leftist lawmakers and their enablers, have shown disrespect for the sanctity of the institutions they represent.I recently came across a statement from Hontiveros, where she said in Filipino, “I also call on Quiboloy not to resort to drama.” But who's the real drama queen here? Isn’t it Hontiveros?Her bogus witnesses, as members of KOJC call them, joined the drama in the hearing.
Obviously, the script was made. What's more fascinating is that one of the 'witnesses' claimed to have seen Pastor giving a bag of guns to former President Duterte and his daughter, VP Inday Sara Duterte.Both of them denied it. The former president called it ‘silly’ and Sara Duterte has never been to Glory Mountain. It was an error in the script of the devils that they didn’t see coming.Well, if Hontiveros really wanted to stop the drama, then the alleged crimes should be brought to court.
The Senate, especially her, has no power to serve justice; its role is to make laws.The hearing was supposed to aid legislation. So, what law is she trying to make? The Philippines has one of the most laws in the world to combat human trafficking and sexual abuse cases. Did Hontiveros do her research? Or is it just in-aid of re-election?And it’s no secret that leftist lawmakers have been unmasked many times on SMNI through its program Laban Kasama ang Bayan, where former cadres unmasked who they truly are.
These individuals are often referred to as 'wolves in sheep's clothing' by these former members.It's crucial to understand the atrocities committed by the communist-terrorist groups CPP-NPA-NDF over the past five decades of insurgency, resulting in the deaths of thousands of innocent lives, including promising youth leaders, indigenous peoples, women, farmers, and individuals from all sectors affected by their deceptions.
Their objective within the government? To undermine and destroy it.
Only SMNI, of which Pastor Apollo is an honorary chair, has the courage to undertake this task: defending the government and the nation by giving enlightenment to the people.Recently, Castro said that the warrant of arrest issued against Pastor Apollo is "an important step" in obtaining justice for his victims.
Poor Castro, she lost her moral ascendancy a long time ago. I hope Castro will remember that she was charged, together with Satur Ocampo and 16 others for kidnapping and human trafficking over the transport of 14 children from Talaingod town in Davao del NorteIt's not surprising, then, that they are so eager and willing to destroy Pastor Apollo in this manner, especially when the current administration has allowed them to become the attack dogs against the good pastor.
They thirst for vengeance for the near-demise of the CPP-NPA-NDF that suffered a major blow during the Duterte presidency.
They seek to recover under the Marcos regime. This is one of the most alarming issues now that the nation must address: the 'unholy alliance' between the terrorist organization and their friends, and the government.
For now, we will pause here. We’ve given you a glimpse of the people in ‘authority’ that are part of the Devil’s playbook against Pastor Apollo.
In the upcoming parts, we will delve into the alliance dubbed as the "Unholy Trinity" involving the collusion of the US, Marcos, and the CPP, aimed at dismantling Pastor Apollo and the Dutertes.
We will explore why this has now become a matter of national significance. And why the fight of Pastor Apollo is a fight for every Filipino.
Read Part 1https://www.facebook.com/prestrackeposts/1035462161478486

I'm thinking about developing an ongoing Polytopia tournament where the top rise through the ranks, the bottom fall, and the middle get to maintain their position
ELO is great but I want to be able to see my positioning against other players more tangibly. I want to play Polytopia in a competitive way that gives me a chance to "rank up"
We would need at least 22 interested players to maintain 3 levels
It would be much more fun if there were ~668 active members as we could sustain 7 levels. The first level would be 16 player games, and games would decrease in size as you rank up. Top levels would be 3 or 4 player games (the arena would have to be dynamic to prevent long wait times between games)
I'm well aware that this isn't very descriptive but it will probably be several months before I put effort into developing this so for now I just want to collect phone numbers of seriously interested people. People who have been playing for years and KNOW they are going to keep playing.
If you are interested, if this sounds like something you'd enjoy, DM me your phone number. I'll text you once to confirm your number and I won't message you again until it's game time. This isn't some sleazy effort to capture your info so I can sell you shit, I just want another level of fun added to my favorite game.
---------- If you want more details, read on ---------- This will outline how King-of-the-Hill with over 600 active players would work. Don't argue with my math, these numbers aren't concrete as this would HAVE to be flexible.
As you move up levels, progression gets more difficult.
Level 1: 16 player games. The top 8 progress to level two. The bottom 8 stay in level 1
Level 2: ~13 player games. The top 3 progress to level 3. 4-6th place hold rank. 7-13th place fall back to level 1
Level 3: ~6 player games. The top 2 players advance to Level 4. 3-4th place hold rank. 5-6th place fall to level 2.
Level 4: ~4 player games. Top player advances to L5. 2nd place remains in L4. 3rd drops to L3. 4th falls back to L2
Levels 5 & 6 would look very similar to Level 4
Level 7: The winner is crowned King 👑. Everyone else falls your place -1 levels (3rd falls 2 levels. 4th falls 3 levels back if it's a 4 player game)

• Very good players would dominate levels 4-7.
• Solid players would spend a lot of time in Levels 2&3
• Newbs would have a tough time escaping Levels 1-2

This structure would give players more reason to keep fighting and learning even after it's clear they will not win. It gives larger games more stakes because currently, if you ain't first you're last but I find multiple more fun than 1V1.
------------- RULES ------------ 1. You cannot resign if you have 2 or more cities. 2. Players who take over 24hrs are to be immediately skipped (not kicked)
Known rule breakers will be ejected back to Level 1 irregardless of what level they currently hold.
I think this would be really badass. Give it an up vote so more people can see it because it really doesn't start to get fun until there are at least 100 active participants. 22 would technically work, but it wouldn't be remotely near its potential.
Thoughts, questions, & critical feedback are all encouraged. Thank you for your time. I hope to one day meet you at the top of the hill so I can whoop your ass 😉