Hello, I am the developer of Archean, which just released on Steam today, in Early Access. I've been sent here by u/RMuldoun to make a detailed post about this new game for you guys :)
Archean is an immersive Engineering Sandbox and Space Sim. The game is set on Earth, 3 billion years in the past, in the Archean eon.
This is a challenging sandbox that can be played solo or multiplayer with dedicated servers. It also happens to be a full scale Space Sim but it doesn't force you to do space stuff.

This game (and custom engine) is developed by a single programmer (myself) in a small team of two.

This project is my baby, I've been working on it for more than 13 years, starting over many times, until the technology got to where it needed to actually make it happen.
It's priced at USD 19.99 but there is a 25% discount at the moment for the release!
NOTE: You require an NVIDIA RTX graphics card to be able to play it. It won't run on a GTX or an AMD gpu.
Current Features

• Engineering / build sandbox
• Resource gathering and crafting
• Solo or Multiplayer with dedicated servers
• Open World with full size Earth and Moon
• Space Sim with orbital mechanics
• Aerodynamics simulation
• In-game coding with the XenonCode language
• Workshop integration
• Creative and Adventure modes
• Fully ray-traced graphics

Future Updates

• Survival mode
• Vehicle destruction and PVP
• Pressurization system
• Full scale solar system (with all the planets and moons)
• Weather system
• LOTS more content
• SDK for modders

Immersive Engineering Sandbox

We offer a very advanced, high precision build and engineering system with small resizable blocks from 25 cm to 4 meters. In this game, you have to connect components with actual cables/pipes for power, data and fluids. Build in-game live in an immersive way, not in an editor. Code your own logic in virtual computers, using pure code or a node-based visual programming system.

XenonCode

We have developed a new programming language designed to be easy to learn and optimal for in-game virtual computers. The game has a built-in cooperative editor with syntax highlighting and multi-cursor support, as well as a node-based visual editor to facilitate scripting.

Adventure Mode

In this mode, you begin with nothing in your backpack. You have to gather resources and craft everything you need. You start by hand, picking up rocks, build mining rigs, build automated machines and so on. Some resources are underwater, some are at the highest mountain peaks. It's up to you to build vehicles that can get there. The ultimate goal is to reach the Moon.

Native Ray-Tracing

Our innovative renderer is fully ray-traced with a great performance. This is not a eye-candy, it's actually a necessary feature for this game to even exist, because of its dynamic nature. Since the content will be mostly user-created and it's set to be moddable out-of-the-box, we cannot afford any artist-driven baked lighting, and with the full scale aspects with customizable solar system, we need the sun(s) lighting to be completely dynamic based on the real-time scenario, instead of tweaking shadow maps and reflection probes manually like other games do. The entire scene is rendered in a single ray-tracing pass with many recursive light bounces. This allows for realistic hard shadows, perfectly reflective mirrors and physically correct refractions. Just make sure you have an NVIDIA RTX graphics card and you're good to go.

Space Sim

The final goal of this game is to be a Full Scale Space Sim with the entire solar system. At the moment we have the Earth and the Moon, Orbital Mechanics and Re-Entry effects based on velocity. There is no artificial speed limit, so you can actually orbit realistically at 8 km/s. You can also dock with your friend's ship while in orbit, if you're good.
We have great plans for this game, and we swear by our 5 commandments:

1. Thou shall obey physics

It's NOT arcade-style and we do not underestimate our players. You must understand science or be willing to learn some physics. The game features realistic 6-dof space physics without any artificial speed limit. As far as we know, it's the only multiplayer space sim where you can dock with your friend's space station while in space at Full Orbital Velocity. This game is NOT meant to be a dogfight-style space shooter because that would not be practical with realistic physics.

2. Thou shall not see "Loading..."

Seamless transitions, no loading screens, EVER! From ground to orbit to another planet... it's all seamless. The game also happens to "load" pretty much instantly... For reference, in our Quadcopter video, the recording started BEFORE the game's executable was launched.

3. Thou shall not hit a wall

No fake boundaries. No skyboxes. No predefined paths. IT's a true Open World game, and it's all full scale. If you see a mountain, it's not a texture... You can just walk there and climb it if you have the courage... But I would just build a Rover or some kind of aircraft to get there faster. The moon that you see from the surface of Earth is the actual moon's terrain that you will land on, if you manage to build a good enough rocket, that is. The stars you see are individually rendered points in 3D space. It's not a skybox. But let's be honest you won't ever be able to reach another star.

4. Thou shall not be Thee

Immersive, first person controls and no cutscenes. There will NEVER be a point where the player loses control of their avatar to a cutscene or to some long animation. This game will keep a focus on First Person Immersion. Even though there is a 3rd person view available, it's mostly for taking screenshots, the game is not meant to be played this way.

5: Thou shall make sense

Everything has a realistic purpose based on science. Nothing should be fake, and in-game technologies must be at least plausible with some math behind it. This means that there is no such thing as magical artificial gravity. There are only two ways to have gravity in your spaceship when you're in space:

• Constant Acceleration: Players inside an accelerating ship do feel gravity realistically, and there is no artificial sublight speed limit as opposed to most (if not all) other multiplayer space sims.
• Centrifugal Forces: Yes you can also build a rotating station and you will have realistic "gravity" sensation like you would expect.

Also, there will be no Faster Than Light space travel. The math for a plausible Warp Drive would not allow that, but will let you multiply your acceleration quite a bit, in a way that you can travel up to 99% the speed of light.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2941660/Archean/
I sincerely hope you'll enjoy this game a lot, as I did developing it and will keep enjoying working on it for years to come.

Moin meine Jungs,
Im about to buy a SteamDeck. Buut, I can’t decide. It’s not about the 512 gb or 1TB. I can upgrade this for sure. It’s not about the money, but sure saving a 100€ isn’t that bad. It’s just about the etched or glossy Glas
I hate scratches or dents in my device so for sure I’m gonna add a screen protector and a cover.
Now does it really matter with a screen protector Glas. Is the etched glass even worth it. I red a lot about the etched kills the colors or give a grayish look. But the light reflections on the glossy could bother me. But does it really matter when I use a screen protector anyway? Does it kill the „Oled“-vibe when I use the etched? Is the etched useless when there is a glossy screen protection ?
I hope u can give me some advise Thank you meine Jungs

Conner sat listening to music while the history class droned on endlessly. What is the point of learning history? War never changes, right? It seemed tedious. What does history have to do with how powerful and cool a mech is, or how sweet it is to be a mech knight?
"When the darkness came from outside, only the humans knew what was happening. It was war, war from outside the peaceful galaxy. War that had started when the Milky Way first showed the twinkling signs of life. One insane intelligence, old as time, would not tolerate another living galaxy. Each must be consumed by its own weight, and only death may prevail.
Humans instinctively knew this, as the chosen ones, the T-Cells of the galaxy. When their alien friends started getting ravaged and marauded by the scouts of the Dark Beings, humans responded, retaliating with unbridled ferocity and driving the otherwise unstoppable enemies back into the darkness.
It was a frightening time, and it only got worse when the massive cloud of shade was identified as the locust fleet that had sailed for billions of years, the Silent Empty Eternal Darkness Sailors, as they called themselves. They were nothing but dormant hives, sleeping forever, ready to wake and kill and self-destruct, make the galaxy dead. They could have done so, but humans stood in their way, an unpredictable enemy, capable of war.
That is why human worlds were directly targeted by their commandos. Massive singular monsters of ungodly visage were deployed to human worlds, spawning armies of miniature satraps of the horrors, to pillage and assault human worlds, turning them into hellscapes of death and destruction. The alien friends of the humans did not sit entirely idle, they helped by selling powerful new weapons and armor to the humans who kept retaliating against the Dark Beings with ever more powerful and vengeful mech."
Conner perked up at the part about the mech. Various famous chassis flashed across the screen in cool paint and poses with alien worlds in their backdrop and accounting for their neatly colored camouflage plates. He paid attention to the famous battles, where humans had defeated the Dark Beings in honorable combat.
"Conner, do you know what made your clan's father and mother such great mech knights?" his teacher asked.
"They learned from their mistakes." Conner sighed.
"They learned from other people's mistakes. They studied all of our defeats, all the times the Dark Beings annihilated entire battalions or overwhelmed our defenses. It is a much heavier volume. We learn little from victory except that now the enemy will try to better themselves again. When they win, they use the same tactics again - that's when we win. We don't use the same tactics again, for they will be ready when we try. We conceptualize and learn their thoughts, through their actions. They do not understand us. It is our only advantage, for each progression of our tech is met by another evolution of their monsters. Someday we will not be able to make a stronger bullet to match their stronger armor. We must anticipate a limit to this war, and fight accordingly."
"I can only anticipate getting into a mech and fighting bugs!" Conner had said. His teacher had given him that look. Nobody else got that look. Conner got it everywhere. He thought back to those days, he'd really thought he'd see action, in a mech, fighting bugs.
The rest of his class went on to become mech knights. All of them had seen action. Of course, none of them were left alive, and few of their mech were salvaged. Except, Pharlie.
Her mech was the third in a row of ones hit by a single plasma beam of the enemy. While the first two were instantly blown to atomic dust, her mech was only knocked over and set on fire. The ejection seat in the cockpit had the one and a half seconds needed to egress the mech knight safely.
She'd spent some time in relieved-of-duty status on Maranda Beach before she insisted they give her something to do. They quickly evaluated her and decided she wasn't fit for duty in a mech. Something about 'shutting down the Berserker Program' and 'protocols preventing reinstating anyone who qualifies to pilot a Berserker Mech'. Not happening under Admiral Khaspa.
"How's getting into a mech and fighting bugs, Conner? Still anticipating it?" Pharlie asked her old classmate.
"You are under my command. Watch your tone, I run a cruel shift." Conner grumbled.
"Aye, Skipper." Pharlie cringed, realizing the bureaucrat Conner had no sense of humor anymore. She decided to make it her personal mission to work on that. Conner with no humor didn't sound fun.
That scene in the classroom was a long time ago, but it was with Conner like it just happened. He hated Pharlie, because she stood for his humiliation, and wanted to humiliate her, but then he hated himself for feeling that way. He resolved to leave her be because he didn't want to feed his own calloused resentments.
"We've got work to do. We are reassigned to military surplus salvage. This job just keeps getting better. I used to think I would somehow be tested on a battlefield to save the galaxy, but out here I just get tested by boredom. I don't even feel the shame of these janitorial jobs anymore, I'm numb to it." Conner said to Pharlie, the next time they spoke. Pharlie realized he was trying to be nice to her and asked him:
"You'd rather be dead, or be me?" She wondered.
"Yeah. You don't know what it is like flying around delivering stuff and counting crap. I hate it. I could've made an actual difference." Conner complained personally.
Pharlie smiled and said: "You'd have made no more difference than the rest of us did. You don't know what a victory against the bugs costs, do you? You think you just have to stand there bravely shooting back and if you die, oh well, otherwise it's all glory. It's never like that. It hurts, it hurts a lot, because you don't die. Everyone else does. And for what? We just play the same game again next weekend, and it never changes."
"That's war." Conner nodded. "What am I doing? I bring supplies to remote outposts. It's pointless."
"Not anymore, they reassigned us to go pick up supplies, remember?" Pharlie pointed out.
"Oh yeah - don't remind me, just when I though my life couldn't be more tedious or pointless." Conner fell silent, realizing he sounded weak and small, complaining so much. He wished he was stoic, but he had a chance to confide in Pharlie, and he had taken it. Pharlie said:
"You're right. But let's make the most of it." And she smiled, so Conner decided that letting someone know just how miserable he was wasn't entirely a bad thing. He just wished he could somehow just be good with it, without having to use drugs or somesuch. He really felt like his combat skills were going to waste, sitting on a ship for long years, asleep and going around picking up supplies. As Pharlie had pointed out, they weren't even delivering them anymore, new mission, go get all that stuff the aliens made over the centuries for the war effort.
Rhema loomed in the distance. "We are picking up artwork on this world. Are you kidding me? The manifest shows it is categorized as artwork. So this community of variety-hour aliens have compiled some kind of treasure trove of fine art. This is asinine." Pharlie offered.
"That's enough of that." Conner chastised her formally on the deck, but he was smiling as he said it. He loved having her there stating his real feelings. "The mission is to acquire this propaganda, it is deemed useful to the war effort."
The world was like melted orange-cream covered in brown fog, a desolate radiated landscape below testified to the destructive power of the Unknown. The same Dark Beings had taken shots from the darkness with precise aim and killed some of the older aliens, such as the Frendsikeel. Long ago the peaceful otter people had lived happily on Rhema, inviting trade via broadcast.
After meeting an assortment of artist-aliens wearing shimmering dark-colored robes and cowls, the human delegate collecting military surplus accepted the crates of fine art, packed for their shipping across the stars, trusted to nobody except the human military to safely transport it.
"Conner." A call came in from Supply Command Unk Gheldin, Conner's commander. "You just earned me a promotion. The patrons of Rhema have instituted a check as a downpayment on our services. It's enough to build an entire warship. These aliens are loaded and just became our daddy. You're doing good work out there, the war effort thanks you!"
"I'll be sure and handle with care." Conner saluted diligently.
The next world was Arienta, populated by what was left of aliens who looked like huge anthropomorphic tarantulas.
"We've perfected a drug that can induce Star Sleep in humans. They said it was not possible for such belligerent minds to Star Sleep, but our colony of volunteers have allowed us to test every kind of euphoria and pleasure-inducing drug we could on them. Most species wouldn't have such a supply of volunteers, but humans come from far and wide to live as our guests, accepting our hospitality for their entire lives, saying they don't ever want to leave." The high priestess of the Blue Light Watchers, Rhoxa Billi, explained the doped humans lounging around everywhere.
"They look like slackers, sir." Pharlie said loudly.
"That's enough of that." Conner admonished her, but was smiling, glad she said what he was thinking. He faced the high priestess formally and said:
"We'll take this drug, and thank you for your hard work." Conner waved his fingers in the spiritual way to show he knew the sacred gratitude of the Blue Light Watchers. He'd studied how to do it on the way over, practicing it for days until he was confident he could do it right.
The next stop was Basilik, an industrialized wasteland where the Sunder had hundreds of thousands of giant humanoid machines, in loincloths, working tirelessly to drag massive monolithic super metal beams across rollers, up ramps to assemble indestructible mech chassis to sell to the humans.
"Sir, we take shipments from here all the time. What are we here for?" Pharlie asked.
"Not a what, a whom." Conner said.
The casket of the revered Exalted Inquisitor Eshka Layenna was loaded on board, but it was not made by Sunder. No, it was tech from some other society, preserving her eternally in a state of dormancy, a kind of molecular stasis.
"We're taking her back to the ones who put her in there. They have a gift for us. She is our gift for them. The Sunder have agreed to this, in the name of the war effort."
The Desperado star sailed to the nearby Kriesene system where an old gravity cloud that looked like a planet had hundreds of planet-sized moons dancing around it like an insane ballroom.
"The shoals around their world will make this somewhat dangerous to traverse. We have a map, given to us by the Sunder, so we should be fine." Conner told Pharlie.
"Danger, eh? Kinda like it, don't you?" Pharlie teased.
"That's enough of that." Conner said without any real command in it, smiling.
The Skiesene had a moon-sized space station named Thoughtfulness where they conducted much of their trade with each other. They looked like dark-shelled nightmare creatures, some kind of H.R. Giger prophecy had remembered these creatures long before humans had met them.
Conner witnessed their massed warriors, in stasis, embroidered stole draped over them, crouched motionless atop pedestals with twenty-yard tall tapestries depicting their many victories in bloody combat. They sat there in a great hall in their various forms and armors, but always hideous monsters, reminding him of the Dark Beings vaguely, except devoid of insectoid features.
The Skiesene were delighted by the delivery of their goddess, Eshka Layenna. A time without bloodshed was declared, and the Skiesene offered a shipment of their finest warriors, in egg form.
The Skiesene Khan grinned with uncannily human-looking teeth, but in its grin was a sharpened beak that could pierce the solid dome that was their head, with no eyes or ears, at least not in one place, for they had sensory all over their bodies.
"Uh, thanks. We could always use some special, uh, special forces." Conner accepted the eggs, as he was under orders to do. They were preserved until called, using a key to deactivate the stasis they were in. Then they would serve the orders in their minds, to obey their human commanders.
"I hope they don't have to facehug us and chest burst us." Pharlie chuckled.
"That's enough of that." Conner told her, smiling.
The last stop was the world of the Beebee, aliens who looked like cats wearing incredibly fancy clothing.
"We've tailored new uniforms for the human armies. You'll like them." The Master of Design, top official of the Beebee, told Conner, purring as he went.
Conner put one hand on his elbow and one holding his chin, trying to keep a straight face, when he saw the uniforms.
"They are a little small, don't you think?" Conner looked at the feline models in the uniforms meant for human soldiers.
"And kinda derpy with all those frills and colors?" Pharlie offered further criticism.
The Master of Design seemed to think the uniforms were being complimented, anticipating no other response. It took a moment to sink in that the humans were mocking all their hard work.
"All of the specifications for armored clothing were met. These uniforms will preserve your body temperature in very extreme conditions and will slow ballistic projectiles so that they cannot penetrate the cloth, but instead have their kinetics splattered outward and also the colors shift to the mood of the wearer. You can make it camouflage if you like. We worried that human sizes made dispensing millions of these uniforms impractical compared to making an adjustable size. Try one on." The Master of Design was not offended, but stood his ground, his hair puffing up making him look sophisticated and official. His whiskers twitched handsomely at the end and he gave a prolonged blink.
"They still look silly, why so many frills?" Pharlie chuckled.
"That's enough of that." Conner sighed.
The humans were about to leave and board their ship when Conner spotted an ancient mech standing next to the star port.
"What's that?" he asked.
"The tomb of Drastic Conner Mcfarley, the mech knight who defended our world, surprising a lone scout of the Dark Beings and engaging it in single one-on-one combat, saving our world. Drastic Conner Mcfarley died in his mech during the battle. The scout retreated and left us unharmed." The Master of Design said.
"Why'd it leave?" Conner asked, but recalled what his clan father had done. He awaited the answer he knew:
"Drastic Conner Mcfarley disarmed it, but left its capacity to retreat intact. It is believed he deliberately used this measure of engagement, in order to ensure the enemy would not retaliate by bombarding our world. When one of them dies, the world they die on gets destroyed. He might have survived the battle if he'd just killed it when he had the chance. We know this. He sacrificed himself to save us."
"That's right." Conner nodded. He and Pharlie felt solemn, realizing how far their journey had taken them, all the way to where it had began for them. "We're him, and we won't let you down."

Good evening everypony!
With Set 14 starting a new block and forcing a Core rotation, there’s a lot that will change, including many cards that have been staples in decks for years no longer being available. So, what do our well-established archetypes even look like now? What will aggro look like without cards such as Thorax and Swinging Wonders? Does Control have enough tools to adequately slow the opponent down? Does Farm even exist anymore?
Well, with the help of a few new spoilers, we’re going to show you what these archetypes can still do!
Join us this Sunday, May 19th at 7:00 PM Pacific as we take a closer look at a new generation of archetypes!
https://twitch.tv/commentaryismagic

I have long been intrigued by the ideas of technopaganism, I first heard the term over 10 years ago, led to it by a terrible film called "The Manitou" (1978). I don't recall if they used the word, but they did address the innate spirit of technology the way we more commonly acknowledge the spirit of animals, plants, or natural wonders. In the time since my initial research it seems that the movement has hit a roadblock of some kind. in an era where more and more we exist and interact through a digital space we have a failure of spreading the ideology. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that this is simply because those inclined to paganism in the first place would recognize the inherit goodness of nature, and see around them the harm that technology does to people. While this harm is hardly debatable I argue, in the tradition of absurdism, that this is simply how it is going to be. We can cry and scream about anti-social behavior, and poor interpersonal skills, all valid issues, but the equally undeniable fact is that technology and the internet is here and it is not going away.
I have come to see the internet not simply as a wonderous tool with a spirit of its own but the new commons of humanity. The new global village. Technopaganism seems poorly defined and rather aimless in its practice. I feel that a worthy pursuit of technopagans is to make this village worth living in.
The internet must be moderated, not necessarily through bans, and suspensions, but through the same acts that would make a village a pleasing place to live. We should strive to spread uncynical positivity, support, and even aid in the form of labor to people on the internet. We don't have to treat each other with such suspicion behind the anonymity of the screen.
Maybe all of this is old hat and I am late to the party, naive, foolish, or simply ignorant of modern technopaganism, but it feels like this is the age for it. This is the time, and we need something to believe in. I hope you understand my earnestness, if you do not understand my prescriptions.

Opening a Bank of Khartoum Account Online: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

In today's digital age, the convenience of online banking has become increasingly sought after. Bank of Khartoum, a leading financial institution in Sudan, recognizes this trend and offers a seamless online account opening process for its customers. Whether you're a tech-savvy individual or a first-time online banking user, this guide will walk you through the steps involved in opening a Bank of Khartoum account online, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience.

Prerequisites

Before embarking on the online account opening journey, it's crucial to ensure you have the necessary prerequisites in place:
Personal Email Address: A valid email address is essential for receiving account notifications, transaction alerts, and important updates from the bank.
Original Proof of Identity: You will need to provide an original copy of your passport or national ID card to verify your identity. Ensure the document is clear, undamaged, and has not expired.
Initial Deposit: A minimum initial deposit of 10,000 Sudanese pounds is required to activate your account. This amount will cover account opening fees and stamps.
No Existing Bank of Khartoum Account: To proceed with online account opening, you must not have an existing account with Bank of Khartoum.

Opening an Account Using the Bankak App

The Bankak app, developed by Bank of Khartoum, provides a convenient platform for opening an account online. Follow these steps to get started:
Download the Bankak App: Visit the app store on your mobile device and search for "Bankak". Download and install the official Bankak app developed by Bank of Khartoum.
Launch the Bankak App: Once the app is installed, open it on your mobile device.
Initiate New Registration: Locate the "New Registration" option on the app's main menu. Click on it to begin the account opening process.
Select Account Type: Choose the type of account you wish to open from the available options. Common choices include savings accounts, current accounts, and salary accounts.
Complete Registration Form: Carefully fill out the registration form, providing accurate and up-to-date personal information. This includes your name, address, contact details, and employment information.
Attach Required Documents: Use the app's secure document uploading feature to attach clear copies of your original proof of identity and any other supporting documents.
Initial Deposit: Select the "Initial Deposit" option and follow the on-screen instructions to transfer the required 10,000 Sudanese pounds into your new account.
Submit Application: Once all information and documents have been uploaded and the initial deposit has been made, review the details carefully and submit your application.
Review and Verification: Bank of Khartoum will review your application and verify the submitted information. This process may take a few business days.
Account Activation: Upon successful verification, you will receive a notification via email and within the Bankak app informing you that your account has been activated.

Opening an Account Through the Bank of Khartoum Website

For those who prefer a web-based approach, Bank of Khartoum also offers an online account opening option through its official website. Follow these steps to proceed:
Access Bank of Khartoum Website: Open a web browser and navigate to the Bank of Khartoum website: https://bankofkhartoum.com/.
Locate Account Opening Page: On the website's main menu, find and click on the "Open Account" option. This will redirect you to the dedicated account opening page.
Choose Account Type: Select the type of account you wish to open from the available options, similar to the Bankak app process.
Initiate Online Registration: Click on the "Start Online Registration" button to begin the online account opening process.
Complete Registration Form: Fill out the online registration form with accurate and up-to-date personal information, including your name, address, contact details, and employment information.
Attach Required Documents: Upload clear copies of your original proof of identity and any other supporting documents using the secure file upload feature.
Initial Deposit: Select the "Initial Deposit" option and follow the on-screen instructions to transfer the required 10,000 Sudanese pounds into your new account.
Submit Application: Once all information and documents have been uploaded and the initial deposit has been made, review the details carefully and submit your application.
Review and Verification: Bank of Khartoum will review your application and verify the submitted information. This process may take a few business days.
Account Activation: Upon successful verification, you will receive an email notification and a message within

This is in response to a couple of posts from the past week regarding generative AI but long and late enough I figured a separate post makes sense.
I'm a songwritemusic producer who has been pretty deeply involved in these conversations for the past year. Below are insights I've gleaned. You can also join me at artistsresist.org where you will find my more or less monthly articles on generative AI and techsploitation. You can subscribe for free or (if you’re able to and want to support this work) support Artists Resisting Exploitation (ARE) at various tiers.
That said, we don’t actually need a single leader. The scope and reach of Big Tech is so great that no single person can seriously take this issue on and win. Moreover, elected officials like Senator Chuck Schumer have too much of a vested interest in our failure (including too many personal ties to Big Tech). Therefore, despite the fact that most people think stealing from artists to train generative AI on copyrighted work is wrong, the government continues to delay real regulation and to cater to Silicon Valley and Wall Street (fintech).
What’s working, nonetheless, are the efforts of and solidarity between many artists, including visual artists affiliated with the Concept Art Association and Create Don’t Scrape, writers with the Authors Guild, well-known musicians with the Artists Right Alliance, the Recording Academy, the Human Artistry Campaign, and (I like to think) the very grassroots work of Artists Resisting Exploitation (ARE). All of these groups fight for artists’ copyrights.
Note that there are groups like Fight for the Future (which is affiliated with Union of Musicians and Allied Workers (UMAW)), which are actively anti-copyrights but not always upfront about this. (Creative Commons and Electronic Frontier Foundation are also anti-copyrights and have aligned with Big Tech corporations’ “fair use” defense of scraping copyrighted work to train generative AI models.) However, for self-serving reasons, these anti-copyrights organizations are the groups academia (full of pro-scraping, Big Tech-funded researchers), the government, and tech policy groups and think tanks often turn to for “artists’ perspectives.”
In general, I suggest avoiding AI bros and focusing on uniting with likeminded artists. I think this is a better use of time and has more of an impact than attempting to convince those who put profits over people, including those who are paid to promote generative AI, invested in generative AI stocks, or employed by exploitative gen AI companies, to do what is right.
I firmly believe that if the vast majority of artists, who tend to care about protecting copyrights, band together, we can and will get through this. Popular generative AI models could not exist without us. In essence, these corporations and their users are dependent on us. But oppressors have historically (and possibly as a defense mechanism) long disrespected and despised those they’ve exploited. This is no different. Still, they only win if we give them our power by being complacent. I personally love art and artists too much to stand by while something that is so precious to my existence and to that of humanity is grossly devalued. No art form that can be digitized, however unique or innovative, is safe. Groundbreaking work that an artist has devoted years to creating can be pilfered, increasingly, in a matter of minutes.
We need solidarity between artists of all disciplines. For musicians, this means not using AI models that were created by exploiting visual artists (for example, for album art), writers, voice actors, etc. Fairly Trained has ethically created alternatives, and we should use those if we use gen AI at all. We also need to consider ways we, like visual artists, can poison models by supporting the development of tools similar to Glaze and Nightshade.
In the short term, we must speak up on social media, leave comments on articles and videos, and (most importantly) contact elected officials. In-person advocacy is especially effective. You can find your state arts advocacy group and get involved by meeting with or, if that’s not possible, calling or emailing your local and state elected officials. For Californians, these would be Californians for the Arts and its lobbying arm California Arts Advocates. In April, ARE joined other arts groups in meeting with the offices of seven elected officials in Sacramento. Remember, elected officials want to be re-elected.
Californians for the Arts’ and California Art Advocates’ rallying cry this year is #ArtWorkIsRealWork. Spread the word and post this everywhere, please. There is nothing wrong with wanting to make a living from work that you love and that you have devoted years to studying. Moreover, the fact that AI companies need and profit from your work is evidence of its value. There is something wrong with seeking to profit from another human being’s nonconsensual, unpaid, and (therefore) coerced labor.
Again, although there are advocacy groups, this is an all-hands-on-deck moment. Fighting Big Tech corporations that have seemingly unlimited wealth to throw at corrupt government officials all over the world—much of it, ironically, gleaned through exploiting artists—is exhausting extra work nobody asked for. They hope we will tire of it and give up. Those at the forefront of this struggle need to know that there are others who can take the baton when we need a break. I think I can safely say nearly all artists doing advocacy work on this issue would rather be making art. But we see a world in which that will be, increasingly, difficult as our works are stolen to line the pockets of the wealthy and then used against us to force us out of creative industries. So, if you love your art and art, in general, please do your part.

Phone: Oppo Find X3 Pro So I have been using BeReal for about a year, and recently so many bugs have been popping up. First off, if I open BeReal from any notification, the app is a black screen and I get a popup after a few seconds saying that it isn't responding. I then have to close it and open from the app drawer. Secondly, the first BeReal I take never gets posted, it just vanishes and prompts me to take a BeReal, then when I tap on the button to take one, the timer is in negative numbers - as example, "-1:-23". Thirdly, when I tap to go to the custom RealMoji unlock screen, it doesn't show the requirements, hence I can't invite friends to unlock it. Last, scrolling through my feed is laggy and glitchy, and sometimes it just stops scrolling and I have to wait several seconds. Thank you for listening to my rant, and hopefully these get fixed in the future. P.S. none of these bugs existed when I first installed the app, they have all popped up since.

I need to have the vertical supports under the roof/awning over the enclosed portion of my deck replaced due to rot as well as the horizontal pieces (that connect to the vertical supports) that help to hold the screens in place. The deck is probably about 12x10 with screens that go about 8 feet high. I realize this isn’t all the information you might need to provide a precise estimate, but what would you estimate it would cost to replace this wood and re-creen the porch? I’m just trying to get a very rough sense of what to expect before I reach out to contractors. For reference, I’m in NC and not the Bay Area or somewhere else with an astronomical cost of living.

https://www.reachthefinals.com/patchnotes/280
We are hosting a community event in honor of our last week of Terminal Attack! If everyone in the community can pull together to achieve a total of 7 MILLION eliminations in TA this week, everyone who contributed will earn a sweet prize: canvas shoes to add to your cute-mmunity look!
We’ll also host a leaderboard for the event so you can see the top contributors! As always, we’ll give out prizes on Discord during the event.
This update focused on many quality-of-life changes and improvements. Most notably, we have made changes to melee weapons, hoping to improve how they feel to play with in the game. We’ll need your feedback on these changes!
Let’s get into the nitty-gritty:

Content and Bug Fixes

Animation

• Fixed an issue where hand gesture animations were overriding the Mesh Shield animations, resulting in broken character poses
• Fixed an issue where throwing animations would not play while inspecting weapons
• Added an intro animation in terminal attack to improve the round countdown

Audio

• Player Voice lines will now only play for teammates and not opposing players

Gadgets
Anti-gravity Cube

• We made the cube heavier so that it doesn’t get pushed as easily when hit by other objects
• Fixed a bug where objects would lift much faster than intended when they were attached together
  • This also prevents an exploit in which the cube could be carried upwards together with the objects it’s lifting, causing entire structures to traverse upwards into the sky endlessly

Dome Shield

• Fixed an issue where it was not able to be glitched when the center was occluded

Gameplay

• A new carriable object has been added to the Arena: Glitch Barrels -- Dev note: Glitch barrels are carriable objects. Pick them up and throw them to apply their effect in an area, or shoot them to detonate them from afar. The Glitch barrels apply the same effect as Glitch Grenades, removing the target's ability to use their Gadgets and Specializations.
• Fixed an issue where players were able to start opening a Vault during the beginning of an emote
• Fixed an issue where the Cashbox was incorrectly dropped far away from the player if it clipped through the map border
• Interactions such as using a zipline, pressing elevator buttons, and interacting with a revive statue should now be more responsive, especially on console/gamepad
• Improved visibility of barrels in dark and monochrome areas
• Fixed a bug with sliding where auto-sprinting players could get stuck between the crouch and sprint state
• Fixed a bug that allowed players to deal damage to their teammates
• Fixed an issue where players would get stuck in goo when running up to it Dev note: This will only fix the issue outside of moving platforms. We know that goo sometimes behaves strangely on moving platforms and are looking into it for a later patch.

Maps
All Maps

• Rooftop reflections have been improved

SYS$HORIZON

• Tweaked the zipline at the Museum entrance so you exit earlier automatically instead of it taking you all the way to the ceiling

Monaco

• Power Shift: Adjusted spawns to balance out the distances to the platform and to reduce how often you have to run after the platform when defending

Modes
Terminal Attack

• Added a distinct sound change on the Terminal when there is only 15 seconds left to stop the decryption
• The icon for the terminal will no longer appear in the center of the screen when decryption starts
• Due to a known issue that could not be resolved in time, players can only swap weapons and gadgets between rounds and not in spectator mode after elimination

UI

• Ping wheel additions and changes
  • Added new ping messages “Breach here” and “Hold this Position”
  • To make room for the two new pings “Hype” and “Danger” have been moved/removed. Hype is added to the expression wheel, replacing “Need Help.” “Danger” is removed from the wheel but still accessible via double-tapping the ping button on any target
  • Support/Social pings are now located at the bottom of the wheel, while tactical options are on the top half
  • “Going here”, “Defending here” and “Attacking here” in the Ping wheel are now called “Go here”, “Defend here”, and “Attack here” to make it clearer that they are requests to your team, and consistent with the character voice lines
• Updated several event log messages related to pinging game mode relevant objects to communicate the context more clearly Dev Note: There are still some events missing their proper messages. They will be added in the future!
  
• When holding the ping wheel on your own ping now we only show the remove option to make it clear that you pinged an existing ping
  
• Fixed an issue that sometimes made it impossible to cancel the ping wheel
  
• Fixed UI elements being drawn on top of the in-game menu in Terminal Attack
  
• Flipped background opacity for dead/alive players in the scoreboard
  
• Updated contestant icons
  
• Fixed an issue in frontend where clicking buttons multiple times in short succession would cause them not to register
  
• Updated required round completion on a terminal attack contract from 10 to the intended 14
  
• Changed the key bind for “Hide UI” from F12 to F10
  
• Changed the order of tiles for Quickplay
  
• Updated the lighting on Player Cards
  

Specializations
Charge'N'Slam

• Can now clear higher obstacles when activated on the ground to reduce instances where players get stuck on geometry

Weapons
Dagger

• Improved backstab validation Dev Note: We've received a lot of feedback about Backstabs not feeling as good. Hopefully, we've rectified that issue in this patch. The only way to tell is to let you try it and then gather your feedback!
• Fixed so that the aim assist for backstabs now synchronizes with the swing, rather than triggering at the start of the charge-up.

All Melee Weapons

• Improved hit validation for all melee weapons
• There is now a setting for turning melee aim assist on/off in the “Gameplay” section
• The aim assist and lunge range are slightly more generous for quick melee
• We have changed the way sprinting gets blocked when attacking with melee weapons and using quick melee, so that sprint is only blocked through parts of a swing, instead of the whole duration of the attack. This is tweaked on a weapon-to-weapon basis
• The sprint toggle no longer gets canceled by melee attacks, so players don’t have to re-toggle spam to efficiently chase their target while attacking

Riot Shield

• The shield can now be raised more quickly after performing an attack

SR-84

• Is now correctly marked as a Marksman Rifle instead of a Melee Weapon in the menus

Security

• Updates and improvements

Known Issues

Heads up! There is an issue with all gamepad presets (except for “Modifier Button Equipping”) which causes players to equip weapons when pressing the “Interact and Equip Weapon” button, which is not intended. This will be resolved in the next patch, but until then, please go into the controller settings and fix it by clearing the “Weapon” bind. Sorry for the inconvenience!

I have been going to a clinic for removal that has been going nicely but that had only Q-switched laser. Nearly all black disappeared from my tattoo so I decided to switch clinics and travel 2 hours for the one that advertised use of a picosure laser. I have only blue and teal left in my tattoo so it was very important that the clinic had that laser. I went for my first meeting and the mashine looked strange, it was much smaller that picosure that I saw in the pictures and had no cynosure logo. The screen also looked different. Since it was my first visit I wasn’t sure about my observations and proceeded with removal. I didn’t see much change in 8 weeks since that session and recently came back for another one. I now focused on the mashine and I am absolutely sure that it is not cynosure. I asked the clinic and they responded that it’s just picosure, not picosure cynosure. Hence my question - does another picosure laser exists or are they falsely adevertising. Of course I’m switching the clinic anyway, just wanted to know if I should be mad at them or myself.

Wondering if anyone can give me advice on a device for a specific use case. I'd like a handheld that I can shove in the pocket of my jeans and carry all the time. It needs to be small, but also robust enough to take a few knocks: I want to put a screen protector on it and nothing else, definitely no case. Weight is also a big factor.
I've got a few devices at the moment (Steam Deck, Miyoo Mini, Anbernic RG351MP, Vita, 3DS) but none of them fit the bill. The size of the MM is perfect but it's so fragile I feel the need to put it in its case and then it's too bulky. All the others are too big. The RG351MP is a little chunky and definitely too heavy
I only really want up to PS1, I'll mostly be playing GBA anyway. I'm leaning towards either an RG280V or an RG351P but both are pretty pricey still for such old machines with relatively poor performance to cost ratio. The RG Nano is too small I think
Is there anything out there that'll take a few knocks without being metal?

Introduction

In today's fast-paced world, prioritizing health has become more crucial than ever. Achieving optimal health encompasses various aspects of physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This comprehensive guide aims to provide you with the tools and knowledge necessary to embark on a journey toward a healthier lifestyle.

Define the Concept of Optimal Health

Optimal health refers to a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. It encompasses lifestyle choices, preventive measures, and proactive healthcare practices aimed at enhancing overall quality of life.

Importance of Prioritizing Health

Incorporating healthy habits into daily routines can lead to numerous benefits, including increased energy levels, improved mood, enhanced productivity, and reduced risk of chronic diseases. Prioritizing health not only benefits individuals but also contributes to a healthier society as a whole.
Types and Categories of Health
Understanding the different classifications and types of health conditions is essential for developing tailored approaches to maintaining well-being.
Physical Health
Physical health relates to the proper functioning of the body and its organs. It involves aspects such as nutrition, exercise, sleep, and regular medical check-ups.
Mental Health
Mental health encompasses emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It involves coping with stress, maintaining positive relationships, and seeking support when needed.
Emotional Health
Emotional health refers to the ability to recognize, express, and manage one's emotions effectively. It involves self-awareness, resilience, and healthy coping mechanisms.
Social Health
Social health pertains to the quality of relationships and interactions with others. It involves communication skills, empathy, and a sense of belonging within a community.

Symptoms and Signs of Poor Health

Recognizing the symptoms and signs of poor health is the first step toward addressing underlying issues and implementing necessary interventions.
Physical Symptoms
Physical symptoms may include fatigue, persistent pain, changes in appetite or weight, and frequent illnesses or infections.
Mental and Emotional Symptoms
Mental and emotional symptoms may manifest as mood swings, persistent sadness or anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and social withdrawal.
Behavioral Signs
Behavioral signs of poor health can include unhealthy coping mechanisms such as substance abuse, excessive screen time, and avoidance of social interactions.

Causes and Risk Factors Contributing to Poor Health

Identifying the underlying causes and risk factors associated with poor health empowers individuals to make informed decisions and adopt preventive measures.
Biological Factors
Biological factors such as genetics, age, and pre-existing medical conditions can influence an individual's susceptibility to certain health issues.
Environmental Factors
Environmental factors including pollution, toxins, and access to healthcare resources can impact overall health outcomes.
Lifestyle Choices
Lifestyle choices such as diet, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption play a significant role in determining one's health status.

Diagnosis and Tests for Health Conditions

Timely diagnosis and appropriate testing are essential for identifying health conditions early and initiating timely interventions.
Medical Tests and Screenings
Medical tests and screenings may include blood tests, imaging studies, physical examinations, and specialized assessments tailored to specific health concerns.
Diagnostic Tools
Diagnostic tools such as medical history evaluations, symptom assessments, and diagnostic criteria are used by healthcare professionals to formulate accurate diagnoses.

Treatment Options for Various Health Conditions

Treatment options for health conditions vary depending on the nature and severity of the issue. They may include medical interventions, therapeutic modalities, and lifestyle modifications.
Medical Treatments
Medical treatments may involve medications, surgeries, or other procedures aimed at addressing underlying health issues and alleviating symptoms.
Therapeutic Interventions
Therapeutic interventions such as physical therapy, psychotherapy, and counseling can help individuals manage symptoms and improve overall well-being.
Lifestyle Adjustments
Lifestyle adjustments encompass changes in diet, exercise routines, stress management techniques, and sleep hygiene practices aimed at promoting optimal health outcomes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, achieving optimal health is a multifaceted journey that requires dedication, commitment, and informed decision-making. By prioritizing physical, mental, and emotional well-being, individuals can enhance their quality of life and thrive in all aspects. Remember to consult with healthcare professionals and prioritize self-care practices to embark on a path toward lifelong health and wellness.
Ready to prioritize your health and embark on a journey toward optimal well-being? Start implementing the strategies outlined in this guide today and take the first step toward a healthier, happier you!

Is it possible to add an edit card button directly to a card template?
I like to use Ankidroid in full screen mode but I add images and notes to my language deck as I study.
To reach the card editor button I have to swipe down from the top of the phone screen. This often results in the phone notifications screen to come down from instead which is a pain.
The ability to add my own edit card button directly on the card would be nice but any other fix to the above problem would help.
The ability to paste images directly into a placeholder on Ankidroid would also be fantastic – I imagine this would involve a similar limitation(?)

Hi Everyone! I've been getting some DM's after the score release thread yesterday, and it seems like it might be helpful for some to hear my experience with the test, so here we go.
BACKGROUND: I'm a US MD student at a T20 who is not top of the class in anything.
THIRD YEAR: Throughout clerkships, I used a pretty standard way for studying for every shelf exam. I would do all of the anki found within the most up-to-date version of the AnKing step 2 deck, did all the Uworld for the clerkship once, re-did all of my wrongs on uworld, then took as many CMS's for that subject as I could. I'd throw in a couple review videos from Emma Holliday and Divine here and there, but overall this was the setup. Generally scored about 85th percentile or so on those, and ended up scoring 74% on this first pass of uworld.
DEDICATED: Gave myself 5 weeks to study for it just to have a little more flexibility in how hard I went each day. On average I bet I spent around 8 hours studying each day, except for practice test days where it was more like 12ish.
Anki: I reset the step 2 AnKing deck at the very beginning of dedicated and set the due date for two days before my test. This came out to ~800-1200 review cards/day, which I mainly did at the gym while on the treadmill or in between sets. I also made anki cards for my wrong answers on Uworld and NBME's, which came out to about 800 cards total.
Practice Questions: Uworld is still king. I did around 80-120 questions/day on timed testing mode nearly every day that I was not taking a practice test. I would do all of these questions in a row in the morning and review them later in the afternoon at lunch. For reviews, I would honestly skim through the ones I got correct unless there was a knowledge gap, and read through everything on those I got wrong + make an anki card. Ended up getting through 45% and scoring 85% on this. Only other practice questions I relied on were the AMBOSS high yield risk factors, ethics, 200 concepts, and vaccine/screening blocks, which I did during my first week of dedicated.
Practice Tests: Do as many of these as you can. Both UWSA's and NBME's are great, but if you're in a bind and can't do both, I would focus on the NBME's since questions seem more alike to those seen on the test. I also tried my best to take and review the tests on the same day so I had a better recolleciton of my thinking during questions, but idk if this helped that much and it was brutal getting through on some days. Here's the order I did them and my scores:
NBME 9: 244 (35 days out), NBME10: 253 (28 days out), NBME11: 260 (21 days out), UWSA 1: 260 (18 days out), UWSA 3: 255 (13 days out), Old New Free 120: 91% (11 days out), NMBE13: 264 (10 days out), NBME14: 261 (7 days out), UWSA 2: 268 (5 days out).
I did these in this order based off the recommendation of some friends who had taken the exam previously, but I don't think there's a right answer. I also didn't take NBME 12 because I heard horror stories (I'm just a scared little guy) or the old old Free 120 since I heard it wasn't super representative at this point. SUPER IMPORTANT BOLDED POINT - I would normally take 1-2 days following my practice tests doing uworld specifically on the areas that were weaker based on my test result. I think doing this really helped keep things efficient.
Podcasts: Divine Intervention and Emma Holliday are the truth. For DI I listened to the rapid review series (there's a good spotify playlist if you type in "divine intervention rapid review") and the QI episodes. I also listened to all the Emma Holliday episodes by the end of dedicated. I mostly did this passively while exercising or cooking.
Day before test: This video right here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJgjMZk8\_To) is sweet. I followed a lot of the tips and found them helpful. Waking up early at 5 am and exercising helped a lot in terms of sleeping and calming my nerves. I also did NOTHING to study that day and recommend you do too. If you have to do something, try to keep it relatively light.
Day of Test: Got to the testing center half an hour early. I also had plenty of water with me and tons of different protein bars (shoutout kirkland brand protein bars) which I ate from during each break. The video I linked recommends having just a small cup of coffee before the exam to keep nerves stable, but if you're like me and a straight up caffeine junky you can do what I did and take caffeine pills before and during the test. I ended up taking one (200 mg) right before, another (200 mg) after three blocks, and a final (200 mg) after six blocks. Yeah I know that's a lot stop looking at me like that. For breaks I took my first after two blocks, one after the third, a longer one after the fourth, one after the sixth, and a final short one after the seventh. I will bold the following because I think this is what gives people an edge on test day, try to poop before the test begins. Nothing worse than thinking about that while trying to perform. Other than that, just be nice to the testing center folks.
OTHER STUFF: Try your best not to burn yourself out studying. Only you know what your capacity is, so strive towards maxing that out and no more than that no matter what those around you say. Also, try your best to eat healthy and exercise at least 3 days a week. Doesn't matter how you exercise, but just getting some movement is super helpful. I found going to the gym and mixing in anki was effective and efficient, but you do what's best for you. Last thing, try to find a hobby you can do at night after you're done studying. Mine was video games and seeing friends, but you do whatever makes you happy.
FINAL THOUGHTS: This test sucks man. It's long, the questions can be vague, and its stressful. That said it's also doable (especially compared to Step 1). The most important part is just doing your studying consistently and keeping yourself sane. That's easier said than done, but its definitely possible to do it. In the end, a lot of what happened in my case was just the form I got falling into my strengths, but being consistent with your studying and working on your weak areas through Uworld sets you up to be lucky.
tl;dr: 80-120 uworld questions/day, reset step 2 anking and set due date to near test date, take NBME's and UWSA's, hit weak areas, find a stress reliever, be cool to yourself, poop before test.
Put the word out that we all back up. Hope this helps someone.

Grax stared out the viewing screen as the massive Phoenix darted among the drifting debris that was all the remained of his once mighty armada. Dozens of Vrax ships, some still with atmosphere and artificial gravity, drifted listlessly like tombstones under the broken moon's pale light.
Despite his rage, Grax felt a cold sense of finality steal over him. The battle was truly lost. His subcommander stepped up trembling, awaiting orders. But Grax knew the only choice left. With a furious growl, he slammed a claw onto the comm panel. "All ships, power down weapons and cease hostilities."
The bridge crew looked on cautiously as Grax straightened. "Human vessels, this is Ambassador Grax of the Vrax Empire. You have destroyed our armada and made your power clear. We...surrender unconditionally." The words burned like acid on his tongue, but Grax had sworn an oath to protect his people above all else.
Moments dragged by in tense silence before a female voice replied. "This is Commander Aoki of the ESN Phoenix. Your surrender is accepted, Ambassador Grax. Stand down all weapons and prepare to be boarded. No further harm will come to you or your crew."
Aoki's promise of mercy did little to console Grax as he watched sensor readings show Phoenix launching shuttles towards the nearest hulks. His officers moved nervously, eyeing their restraints with trepidation. Boarding parties would no doubt confiscate any means of resistance or escape.
The arrival of human soldiers aboard the cruiser sent a hush over the crew on the command deck. Towering in unfamiliar powered armor, the soldiers spread out efficiently while keeping weapons trained. Though outmatched, a proud Vrax snarled as energy cuffs bound his wrists.
Grax stared coldly at the humans, meeting their impassive gaze through polarized visors. "Your victory is absolute, but know that the Empire will not forget this humiliation. One day, we will return with power enough to repay this debt tenfold." A soldier laughed derisively. "Save your threats, insect. You're prisoners now."
The insult made Grax bristle, but further defiance was pointless. As if realizing this, the soldier deactivated her mask to reveal brown eyes that studied the aliens with detached curiosity. "We mean your kind no harm. Cooperate, and you'll be treated fairly." Her promise did little to reassure Grax's raging pride, but he submitted silently.
Transporting the surviving crew took hours under the watchful eyes of armed escorts. Grax watched through viewports as the immense Phoenix loomed ahead, eclipsing the pockmarked moonscape. How did these creatures command such power while his Empire spanned worlds? The questions ate at him during processing into separate holding bays.
Finally, Grax was brought before a sealed hatch where a human stood calmly awaiting, jet black hair cut short in strange angles. Recognition dawned as her intense gaze met his. "Commander Aoki, I presume. You have robbed me of victory and left my Empire wounded. What purpose have you brought us here?"
To his frustration, Aoki merely nodded. "All will be explained. For now, know that your lives and citizenship remain intact, so long as peaceful relations are established. The past is regretted, but a new future can be forged." Her tone allowed no argument as soldiers led Grax's delegation away, sealing him in metallic solitude with only his swirling thoughts for company.
Hours passed before the hatch slid open once more to admit a familiar figure. Ambassador Jonah surveyed Grax and the others pensively. "I have argued for leniency and understanding. Your people will be safely returned to your territory once arrangements are made." The human's calm manner surprised Grax, who had expected condemnation after all that had occurred.
"Why show mercy to those who came to conquer?" Grax asked cautiously, probing for the alien mindset. Jonah softened slightly. "We wish no escalation, only peace. Though power dynamics have shifted, cooperation benefits all." His optimism sounded foolish to Grax's bitter pride, but some practical logic prevailed as well. War offered no guarantee of victory on either side now.
Jonah took Grax's contemplative silence as acceptance. "Rest now, Ambassador. Tomorrow we will convene talks to forge a new understanding between our peoples." The human departed, leaving Grax to sit brooding as the stale manufactured air cycled endlessly. His fleet had fought bravely if not wisely, and now their lives were forfeit to human whims. Yet Grax knew defiance would solve nothing - for the Vrax to recover their honor, new strategies must be devised.
As night cycle began, Grax stared into the darkness, filtering Jonah's idealistic words. The human clearly underestimated his Empire's will to restore lost pride by any means. And while open war invite mutually assured destruction now, subtler methods remained. Given time, opportunities would arise, and the Vrax would reap a bitter harvest from the seeds this defeat had sown... The shuttle trembled as magnetic clamps disengaged from the Phoenix. Through clouded windows, Grax glared at the blue-green orb growing ahead, pondering the fate that awaited him and his people on the human home world.
Beside him, Jonah reviewed incoming messages, worrying his lip. The victory celebrations had tapered off as reality set in. An alien invasion force had assaulted Earth's doorstep and needed to be dealt with. Harsh retribution versus rehabilitation would dominate the emergency session.
The shuttle touched down with a jolt, airlocks pressurizing. Security escorted Grax and the Vrax commanders off, mag-cuffs binding their movements. A bristling crowd had gathered, shouting varied insults and demands for justice. Grax saw fear, anger, but hope glimmering in some eyes as well.
World leaders' holograms flickered within the expansive Lunar chamber. Emotions ran high as each delegation demanded to be heard. "These creatures attacked our sovereign soil and people!" bellowed China's Premier. Nods and cries of agreement followed.
"Revenge breeds only further conflict," spoke India's Prime Minister more delicately. "If they pose no future threat, wisdom says deal with them constructively."
Hours dragged on. At every turn, Jonah presented rehabilitation programs emphasizing education, limited communications and oversight. "Showing mercy where possible could yield long term cooperation, not further enmity."
Russia's President countered harshly. "We cannot appease an imperialist power so willing to use brute force. They understand only strength."
The heated debate raged without resolution. Then the elderly Secretary General spoke. "While security remains paramount, reacting from anger helps no one. I say we craft safeguards ensuring accountability on all sides, then we negotiate over imprisonment."
Reluctantly, a compromise took shape - the Vrax would face oversight on a secure facility, with strict controls on information and technologies. If proving genuinely willing to negotiate, some leniency would follow in time. But any breach meant permanent incarceration.
That evening, Jonah met privately with Grax within the detention center. "This was the sole agreement preventing worse outcomes. I will continue advocating on your behalf, but changes must come from within as well."
Grax replied coldly. "You speak of mercy, yet we are prisoners. Do not forget - my people's pride and strength are far from broken. This conflict is only beginning." His frigid eyes sent a chill through Jonah's core as he departed, doubtful any understanding could overcome such enmity.

Grax stared out the viewing screen as the massive Phoenix darted among the drifting debris that was all the remained of his once mighty armada. Dozens of Vrax ships, some still with atmosphere and artificial gravity, drifted listlessly like tombstones under the broken moon's pale light.
Despite his rage, Grax felt a cold sense of finality steal over him. The battle was truly lost. His subcommander stepped up trembling, awaiting orders. But Grax knew the only choice left. With a furious growl, he slammed a claw onto the comm panel. "All ships, power down weapons and cease hostilities."
The bridge crew looked on cautiously as Grax straightened. "Human vessels, this is Ambassador Grax of the Vrax Empire. You have destroyed our armada and made your power clear. We...surrender unconditionally." The words burned like acid on his tongue, but Grax had sworn an oath to protect his people above all else.
Moments dragged by in tense silence before a female voice replied. "This is Commander Aoki of the ESN Phoenix. Your surrender is accepted, Ambassador Grax. Stand down all weapons and prepare to be boarded. No further harm will come to you or your crew."
Aoki's promise of mercy did little to console Grax as he watched sensor readings show Phoenix launching shuttles towards the nearest hulks. His officers moved nervously, eyeing their restraints with trepidation. Boarding parties would no doubt confiscate any means of resistance or escape.
The arrival of human soldiers aboard the cruiser sent a hush over the crew on the command deck. Towering in unfamiliar powered armor, the soldiers spread out efficiently while keeping weapons trained. Though outmatched, a proud Vrax snarled as energy cuffs bound his wrists.
Grax stared coldly at the humans, meeting their impassive gaze through polarized visors. "Your victory is absolute, but know that the Empire will not forget this humiliation. One day, we will return with power enough to repay this debt tenfold." A soldier laughed derisively. "Save your threats, insect. You're prisoners now."
The insult made Grax bristle, but further defiance was pointless. As if realizing this, the soldier deactivated her mask to reveal brown eyes that studied the aliens with detached curiosity. "We mean your kind no harm. Cooperate, and you'll be treated fairly." Her promise did little to reassure Grax's raging pride, but he submitted silently.
Transporting the surviving crew took hours under the watchful eyes of armed escorts. Grax watched through viewports as the immense Phoenix loomed ahead, eclipsing the pockmarked moonscape. How did these creatures command such power while his Empire spanned worlds? The questions ate at him during processing into separate holding bays.
Finally, Grax was brought before a sealed hatch where a human stood calmly awaiting, jet black hair cut short in strange angles. Recognition dawned as her intense gaze met his. "Commander Aoki, I presume. You have robbed me of victory and left my Empire wounded. What purpose have you brought us here?"
To his frustration, Aoki merely nodded. "All will be explained. For now, know that your lives and citizenship remain intact, so long as peaceful relations are established. The past is regretted, but a new future can be forged." Her tone allowed no argument as soldiers led Grax's delegation away, sealing him in metallic solitude with only his swirling thoughts for company.
Hours passed before the hatch slid open once more to admit a familiar figure. Ambassador Jonah surveyed Grax and the others pensively. "I have argued for leniency and understanding. Your people will be safely returned to your territory once arrangements are made." The human's calm manner surprised Grax, who had expected condemnation after all that had occurred.
"Why show mercy to those who came to conquer?" Grax asked cautiously, probing for the alien mindset. Jonah softened slightly. "We wish no escalation, only peace. Though power dynamics have shifted, cooperation benefits all." His optimism sounded foolish to Grax's bitter pride, but some practical logic prevailed as well. War offered no guarantee of victory on either side now.
Jonah took Grax's contemplative silence as acceptance. "Rest now, Ambassador. Tomorrow we will convene talks to forge a new understanding between our peoples." The human departed, leaving Grax to sit brooding as the stale manufactured air cycled endlessly. His fleet had fought bravely if not wisely, and now their lives were forfeit to human whims. Yet Grax knew defiance would solve nothing - for the Vrax to recover their honor, new strategies must be devised.
As night cycle began, Grax stared into the darkness, filtering Jonah's idealistic words. The human clearly underestimated his Empire's will to restore lost pride by any means. And while open war invite mutually assured destruction now, subtler methods remained. Given time, opportunities would arise, and the Vrax would reap a bitter harvest from the seeds this defeat had sown... The shuttle trembled as magnetic clamps disengaged from the Phoenix. Through clouded windows, Grax glared at the blue-green orb growing ahead, pondering the fate that awaited him and his people on the human home world.
Beside him, Jonah reviewed incoming messages, worrying his lip. The victory celebrations had tapered off as reality set in. An alien invasion force had assaulted Earth's doorstep and needed to be dealt with. Harsh retribution versus rehabilitation would dominate the emergency session.
The shuttle touched down with a jolt, airlocks pressurizing. Security escorted Grax and the Vrax commanders off, mag-cuffs binding their movements. A bristling crowd had gathered, shouting varied insults and demands for justice. Grax saw fear, anger, but hope glimmering in some eyes as well.
World leaders' holograms flickered within the expansive Lunar chamber. Emotions ran high as each delegation demanded to be heard. "These creatures attacked our sovereign soil and people!" bellowed China's Premier. Nods and cries of agreement followed.
"Revenge breeds only further conflict," spoke India's Prime Minister more delicately. "If they pose no future threat, wisdom says deal with them constructively."
Hours dragged on. At every turn, Jonah presented rehabilitation programs emphasizing education, limited communications and oversight. "Showing mercy where possible could yield long term cooperation, not further enmity."
Russia's President countered harshly. "We cannot appease an imperialist power so willing to use brute force. They understand only strength."
The heated debate raged without resolution. Then the elderly Secretary General spoke. "While security remains paramount, reacting from anger helps no one. I say we craft safeguards ensuring accountability on all sides, then we negotiate over imprisonment."
Reluctantly, a compromise took shape - the Vrax would face oversight on a secure facility, with strict controls on information and technologies. If proving genuinely willing to negotiate, some leniency would follow in time. But any breach meant permanent incarceration.
That evening, Jonah met privately with Grax within the detention center. "This was the sole agreement preventing worse outcomes. I will continue advocating on your behalf, but changes must come from within as well."
Grax replied coldly. "You speak of mercy, yet we are prisoners. Do not forget - my people's pride and strength are far from broken. This conflict is only beginning." His frigid eyes sent a chill through Jonah's core as he departed, doubtful any understanding could overcome such enmity.

BoxOfficeTheory Presale Tracking
USA Showtimes As of May 10
Presales Data (Google Sheets Link)
BoxOfficeReport Previews
DOMESTIC PRESALES
Back to Black Thursday Comps/Predictions: $0.35M/$0.37M

• abracadabra1998 ($0.35M Thursday comp. Probably looking at EA around $100k from these numbers, it's limited to Dolby only though so it's quite tiny (May 15). Yikes bikes (May 12).)
  
• crazymoviekid ($0.39M Thursday and $1.21M Friday comp. We're back up to $.3M-$.5M Thursday while Friday is pretty consistent, still around $1.15M-$1.4M. Estimated OW: $4.5M-$5.5M (May 16). Knocking this down to $.25M Thursday. Despite relatively strong sales, comps are low around $1.25M for Friday (May 15). Not great. Let's say $.3M (May 14).)
  
• el sid ($0.38M Thursday comp. Average tomorrow will probably be around 400k (May 15).)
  
• filmlover (Looking at the sales even for the early shows on Wednesday it's on the anemic side (and nothing that's likely to boost it over the next days). Feels like we're about to see how low a biopic about a famous musician can go (May 10).)
  
• katnisscinnaplex ($0.38M Thursday comp.)
  
• Relevation ($0.26M Thursday comp. And for how shitty IF did, Back to Black cratered even harder, and likely would've been the worst selling movie I've ever tracked had I not run numbers a little late. Sub-$300K THU and a $2.5-4M OW (May 15).)
  
• Rorschach (Zero tickets sold on Thursday and only four on Friday. I don't think I'll be missing much (May 13).)
  

IF Thursday Comps/Predictions: $1.72M/$1.80M

• abracadabra1998 ($1.5M Thursday comp. Really good update here, FINALLY! Been waiting for this. This is encouraging for sure. With this growth now maybe shooting for a finish near 1.75 or maybe even approach 2. Eek. Zero sales day only a few days before previews, when you're dealing with a very low baseline. I'm not sure what's happening here (May 15). Most comps did move the right direction. If it keeps trending up perhaps I can see a finish around $1.5M Thursday. One thing to peep at: the MTC1 ratio (59%) is unusually large compared to other family releases. At T-2, other releases' MTC1 % was at: KFP4: 51%, Migration: 34%, Wonka: 59%, Wish: 35%, Trolls: 24%. So much more comparable to Wonka and KFP4; maybe something to think about when looking at keyser's numbers and thinking of the ratio there (May 14). My model has been pretty good for animated/family releases in the past, hence why every comp is so eerily similar. Still, looking at others' numbers and how much lower mine are, I am wondering if summer break might be something to consider here; from what I am aware, here in Minnesota most school districts don't start break until June (May 13). Hoping for some real acceleration this last week but not looking good (May 12). One week out, not impressed in the slightest (May 9). Rising against comps as expected, due to the short release window, but I am still failing to see anything that suggests the numbers given by some other outlets (May 5).)
  
• AniNate (All I can say is if you look at Tinseltown Canton presales the IF projections ($30M+) seem pretty reasonable. I will grant they might've booked more screens than necessary for it (May 16). I'm gonna guess that Nick IP spot for IF this morning ratcheted up interest, Fri-Sun sales at Canton now close to 200. Also of those 200 about 50 were for XD. Not the usual overwhelming presale split but not insignificant for a kids movie also playing on two standard screens (May 13). 45 sold at the five nearest Cinemarks for Thursday previews so far, so yeah there's evidently some kind of regional variation (May 13). I definitely haven't seen as much of a rush here with Garfield as with IF (May 11). I dunno, I have no comps but I feel like local presales is a pretty sizable haul a week in advance for an original non-Disney kids movie (May 9).)
  
• crazymoviekid ($2.43M Thursday and $8.49M Friday comp. Not a great day. Back down to $1.75M-$2M Thursday but pretty good day for Friday, bumping up to $7M-$7.5M. Estimate OW: $27M-$29M (May 16). Comps mostly are up. Adjusting up to around $2M-$2.25M Thursday. Unless this plays like Elemental, we're aiming around $6.5M-$7M Friday. Estimated OW: $25M-$27M (May 15). Definitely looking around $1.75M Thursday for now (May 14).
  
• DAJK (Selling pretty well so far here (May 4).)
  
• el sid ($2.4M Thursday comp. Friday up so-so 116% since last Monday. I chose Jungle Cruise, Dolittle, Elemental, Minions 2 and Sonic 2 as comps (always counted on Monday of the release week for Friday) and the true Friday number for IF would be 6.6M at the moment. In this case the comparison numbers were very similar, around 6-7M. Overall it was a boring counting today which lasted too long for so few action. And judging from some random samples Garfield also saw no significant jumps (I also didn't expect much, it's still too early IMO). Thursday up 92% since last Monday. I hoped for a bit better jump till today :( but it's also not too bad. So for Friday no big numbers but up 75% since last Monday (and the jump must have happened pretty recently) (May 13). Up 73.5% since Monday (where it had 143 sold tickets). Best sales in California, not doing too bad between the coasts. The number today is ok to me (May 12). Not really signs for a breakout for Friday so far, but very solid. It will not really get 4-6M Thursday e.g. compared to Migration but from most comps the number could be pretty decent (May 7). Looked good for the film, both on Thursday and on Friday (May 6).)
  
• jeffthehat ($1.90M Thursday comp. Slipped a little vs. comps. Sub-20% growth seems bad at this stage and opening size for a family film. But maybe walkups are better than presales suggest. Thinking $1.8m +/- $0.2m tomorrow (May 15).)
  
• katnisscinnaplex ($1.62M Combined SizeAdjusted+GrowthModel Thursday comp. $1.50M Santikos Thursday comp. Sticking to the 1.5m - 1.75m range. I'm looking for a +40% final day that would finish at 1.8m avg comps and 1.62m growth forecast. I'm not ruling out 2m, but it would need to have a very good day (May 16). Raising my expectations to 1.5 - 1.75m range. I don't really have a good feel for what age this is playing to (May 15). Thinking somewhere in the 1.2m-1.5m Thursday range despite a couple of higher comps (May 14).)
  
• keysersoze123 (Friday pace is promising (May 16). Dont think even if it doubles the gross, 2m is locked. But even if it does, it would barely do that much. Let us see how walkups go tomorrow. Pace is really meh for T-2. $1.75m ish for previews. OW should be similar to what I saw yesterday for now (May 15). I would say it should hit 2m previews or even more if walkups are strong. OW probably in mid to high 20s for now. Its Friday sales are not that much higher than thursday for crazy IM like say Panda 4 (May 14).)
  
• Relevation ($1.18M Thursday comp. IF completely tanked here, brutal comp average with no good comparisons at all. $1.2-1.5M THU and something in the ballpark of an $18-24M OW? (May 15).)
  
• RichWS (15 screen theater near me is giving IF peak Marvel number of showings. I know it's short and the market is quiet, but damn (May 14).)
  
• Rorschach (Good growth for IF, especially after Tuesday's abysmal sales (May 15). Even with no comps to go off, this growth seems pretty weaksauce. I guess we'll see how it goes tomorrow (May 14).)
  
• Shawn Robbins (The pre-sales I'm seeing in multiple markets are little better than I think some expect here. I wouldn't be shocked with a number between 2 and 2.5 for Thursday, as well as big jumps on Friday and Saturday. The flip side of that coin is the reviews... although kids won't care. Could see 40 happening if this plays super strong in family markets and outside coastal cities like I suspect it could, but I'm surprised the studio didn't low ball it a little more to be safe... especially since we had been very publicly keeping our range in the high 20s/low 30s from the bottom end (May 15).)
  
• TheFlatLannister ($2.39M Thursday comp. Really not much going on. Don't think walkups will be super strong either (May 13). Not much growth (May 10). Pace is collapsing a bit. Continues its downward trend (May 7). After a strong start, this has cooled off quite a bit (May 4).)
  
• Tinalera (Pretty quiet Vancouver and Calgary area (May 13).)
  
• vafrow ($0.6M Thursday comp. Well, we finally got something. It still lags behind comps, and if I could be bothered to track walk ups, I'm guessing this will do okay. But it's still lagging some very reasonable comps by a large margin here (May 16). It's going up, but slowly. The thing that hit me looking at the numbers is that the most popular format so far is the VIP theatres, which are 19+. With such low sales, you can't read too much into anything, but it kind of speaks to how this isn't grabbing the family crowd (May 14). Some marginal movement, but we're running out of time for this. At this stage, I expect my market is an anomaly, but I still hope and expect it will close the gap in the final few days (May 13). Still nothing (May 12). Still nothing happening. I did check Friday sales, and it was a lot stronger with 51 tickets sold. That's better, but still not tremendous. I also checked the wider radius, where it's pretty much exactly where Haunted Mansion was, which hit $3.1M opening (May 11). Still nothing really happening here (May 10). Since the last update, they released full showtime sets, and it actually lost two showtimes rather than gain. From the sound of it, it might be doing better in other Canadian markets, particularly BC (May 8). Numbers are still really low, making the standard track fairly useless. I did do a larger 100km radius track, encompassing the broader southern Ontaro market (~8M population, MTC4 being about 70-80% of the market). Even against Haunted Mansion, which underindexed here, it's not doing well (May 4).)
  
• YM! (So far in the four Wisconsin theaters I’ve tracked, IF is at about 45% of where Wish was at in the two theaters I’ve tracked 30 minutes before previews. Think it could get to something similar before preview time (May 16).)
  

The Strangers: Chapter 1 Thursday Comps/Predictions: $1.49M/$1.37M

• abracadabra1998 ($1M Thursday comp. Perhaps this will follow the Nun and the Exorcist comps, but I am not fully convinced. I'll just go with the average here and call it a day with my prediction: $1 Million, +/- 0.2. Not much movement here (May 15). Not a good update at all but I am wondering about the summer break deal here as well. For Back to Black it shouldn't affect it much I would think (May 13).)
  
• crazymoviekid ($1.24M Thursday and $4.35M Friday comp. Decent day. Feeling an inch past $1.25M Thursday but much better comps for Friday, aiming now between $4M-$5M. Estimated OW: $14M-$17M (May 16). Comps leveling off. Adjusting up to $1M Thursday and wouldn't trust Friday comp ($10.05M) (May 15). Weird comps. Let's go for $.5M-$.75M Thursday comp.)
  
• el sid ($1.9M Thursday comp. Nice surprise. Up very nice 67.5% since Monday (May 15). From what I saw, it had an ok jump till today but the jump till Wednesday will be way more important. But so far, decent presales (May 14).)
  
• katnisscinnaplex ($1.54M Combined SizeAdjusted+GrowthModel Thursday comp. $1.82M Santikos Thursday comp. Keeping on track to match IF tonight (May 16). We could have a preview battle on our hands! (May 14).)
  
• Relevation ($1.85M Thursday comp. The Strangers: Chapter One sold surprisingly well here, even somehow knocking IF for best selling movie of the weekend. Comps are hovering in the $1.5-2.2M range and I don't have a clue how walkups play here, but I suppose the $1.85M THU average my comps spit out sounds pretty right, combined with a $15Mish OW (May 15).)
  
• Rorschach ($1.09M/$4.68M/$5.23M Thursday/Friday/Thursday+Friday comp. Decent day for Strangers. Didn't quite continue off yesterday's big bump, but still holding well against the Tarot comp (May 15). More than double from yesterday's count. Curious to see if it keeps up the momentum going forward (May 14). Tarot had more tickets sold for Thursday compared to its Friday showings when I checked the Monday before it came out; hence, why the comps are so all over the place at the moment. The Thurs + Fri comp does appear to be a reasonable middle ground (May 13).)
  
• TwoMisfits (TMobile deal for May - $5 ticket to The Strangers Chapter 1 next Tuesday (May 9).)
  

Furiosa Thursday Comp: $4.31M

• abracadabra1998 ($5.46M Thursday comp. GxK obviously really propping the average up but for now I could see that settling at around $5 Million, still good pace! (May 12). Really good stuff in this market (May 9). Reallyyyyyy good day 1 here. I want to note that: NO I do NOT think preview numbers will be that high; it's just highlighting the fact that this is likely a movie that will be running hot in my market, as cinephile blockbusters usually do. Next update I will have T-14 comps, which will be a lot lower due to the short release window (May 8).)
  
• AniNate (Encouraging to see the weekend fill out a bit. Been seeing a lot of promotion during the basketball playoffs so general awareness has to be getting there now. (May 15). Skimmed through ThuFri and Valley View (Cleveland vicinity) has sold roughly 60 Furiosa tix so far while Tinseltown (Canton) has sold 40. I'm guessing the upfront audience does lean more toward the urban/cosmopolitan sensibilities (May 9). Presales show there's definitely some hype for this. Regal gonna irritate trackers again, offering no upcharge IMAX for Furiosa (May 8).)
  
• Charlie Jatinder ($3.05M Thursday comp.)
  
• el sid ($5.8M average Thursday comp (without Exorcist 2) (May 12). Furiosa continues its strong performance in "my" theaters. The movie yesterday had already 1.310 sold tickets (for Thursday, May 23). Up 15% in ca. 24 hours which isn't bad at all after the first rush. Already comfortably in front of The Fall Guy's final sales (it had 1.071 counted on Thursday for Thursday) and almost on par with Civil War's final sales (1.357) and also the Apes finally had not more than 1.657 sold tickets in my theaters (May 11). I also can't complain about Furiosa's presales in my theaters, not at all. Already 1,138 sold tickets (in all of "my" 7 theaters) for May 23. 14 days left. Promising start. Civil War on Thursday of the release week for Thursday had 1,357 sold tickets and The Fall Guy finally had 1,071 sold tickets (May 9).)
  
• katnisscinnaplex ($3.51M Thursday comp.)
  
• keysersoze123 (Definitely chugging along. I am feeling good about 5m+ previews (May 15). It has way stronger sales than Garfield and that is expected. I am thinking of 5m previews for now (May 14). I think this is a solid OD presales. With a short PS window its probably looking at 5m+ previews (May 9).)
  
• TheFlatLannister ($4.44M Thursday comp. Keeps climbing at a strong pace (May 11). This continues to grow at an excellent rate (May 10). Really strong day 2. The short presales is for sure a factor (May 9). Not seeing much of a breakout. Still pretty solid start to presales (May 8).)
  
• vafrow ($2.9M Thursday comp. Comps are showing as steady since the last update, but it actually dipped quite a bit this week before rebounding today. Advance ticket buying has been so off in this market recently for some reason. Holding pace with Apes is a good sign (May 16). It had a good day (May 12). Mediocre day 2 (May 10). Not the hottest start. IMAX is the format of choice though, so, ATP will be high (May 9).)
  

Hit Man

• vafrow (Getting a theatrical release up here in Canada, and early signs are that it might get a pretty decent screen count. Not super wide or anything, but a pretty decent amount for a weekend that has a lot of other releases (May 14).)

The Garfield Movie EA+Thursday Comp: $2.24M

• abracadabra1998 ($0.76M EA comp and $1.19M Thursday comp. Still not really accelerating, and the EA is falling against comps (May 12). Good EA numbers, but many of these comps were PLF-only EA, which this is not, so I think the ATP will be quite lower and that should be adjusted for (May 9).)
  
• AniNate (EA sales look decent now, but this does feel rather weak compared to the IF presales. Not 100% certain what's going on here but based on this I buy the trades' opening estimates over the forum vibes (May 15). I definitely haven't seen as much of a rush here with Garfield as with IF (May 11).)
  
• el sid (The very even sales are a good sign (May 7). For Sunday, May 19, I can already report that also in my theaters it looks very good for Garfield. They will for sure add shows soon. It has so far only 1 show/theater and the shows are almost sold out, between 1 and 4 seats are still available. So my guess still is that this movie if it's not totally bad (and first reviews here were quite positive) will become a (big) hit. Seems not much on Thursday but it's a step in the right direction (May 6).)
  
• katnisscinnaplex ($2.52M EA+Thursday comp.)
  
• keysersoze123 (Its definitely weaker than even Elemental. That said these movies tend to finish strong and so I am not writing it off so early. Just that the long PS window is irrelevant for them. They could rather start presales like a week before release and it would be all the same. Meh. We have to wait until next week to gauge where its going to finish. It has very low ATP as well and actual would be even lower as its going to see tons of kids tickets (May 14). Early shows are regular digital shows at 1PM this sunday. So ATP will be very low. I think 500k ish at best. Preview let us see how things go in the final week. Presales at this point are almost non existent (May 13).)
  
• TheFlatLannister ($2.14M Thursday comp.)
  
• vafrow ($0.4M Thursday comp. Comps don't paint a pretty picture though. EA shows are doing okay (May 11). Still no sales for my core sample for previews. But I did the larger sweep, which shows the interest right now is the Sunday early access shows. Looking at sales patterns, it's mainly blocks of 3/4 tickets, so likely families grabbing some. It's worth noting that the May holiday in Canada is the weekend of May 17-20th, not the weekend after with Memorial Day. I can see families prioritizing getting out the holiday weekend when they have more time (May 4).)
  

The Lord of the Rings Extended Edition Re-Releases (June 8-10)

• BoxOfficePro (Fathom Events has also announced that select Regal Cinemas will present the films in 4DX on June 22/23/24 for Fellowship/Towers/Return respectively (May 14).)
  
• katnisscinnaplex (Up to ~1,400 shows now with new locations picking it up and others adding a second showing. LotR1 has sold 831 seats OD, LotR2 sold 715 seats OD, and LotR3 sold 735 seats OD. For comparison, Phantom Menace didn't break 800 tickets until T-3 and we're still over a month out. JW3 comp is currently around 9m (it was at 1,670 tickets sold at this point!) (May 6).)
  

Inside Out 2 Average Thursday Comp: $8.14M

• abracadabra1998 ($3.67M Thursday comp. Holy numbers of shows and seats! Multiplexes are really expecting a lot here. Sales off the bat not amazing here sadly, but we shall see where it goes (May 15).)
  
• AniNate (It is encouraging that Canton is already giving me something to work with with 12 Thursday preview sales. Same number for Fri-Sun. I do see nine sales for first Thursday at Canton now and I think that's a pretty solid start (May 15). I do see a few 1-2 spots for Inside Out on Saturday. Think some M-F workweek adult fans might be putting down money for that (May 14).)
  
• charlie Jatinder ($11.84M Thursday comp at MTC2. $16M Thursday comp for Kung Fu Panda 4 (May 15).)
  
• katnisscinnaplex (Already at 180 shows for previews in my areas and still has a few theaters left to post. For comparison, Godzilla x Kong finished with 197, Kingdom of Apes 190, and Kung Fu Panda 205 (May 14).)
  
• keysersoze123 (At least the show counts show Plexes are expecting a big OW. I dont remember when we last had a animation movie start with so many shows. I wont count Mario as that was a fan driven movie. Definitely not great presales but this is not a fan driven movie. Let us see where things are in the final week (May 15). Too early to judge presales as ticket sales just started early this morning. Families dont book tickets on weekday mornings. Wait until evening today to judge it. From a release perspective its way bigger than all animation movies seen recently including Panda 4. Easily the biggest I have seen in a long time. Only movie which is not comparable is Mario but that was not just a family flick (May 14).)
  
• Porthos (VERY BAD COMPS: $8.83M Thursday comp. I really do not have good comps for this movie. Like, at all. Especially for D1. With that in mind, I did some digging and did manage to get the Elemental D1 numbers out of the old Tracking thread: IO2 = 5.45946x Elemental on D1 [13.10m]. Now will Inside Out 2 be as backloaded as Elemental? Well it's tough to literally sell 5.5x times the amount of tickets on the final couple of days that Elemental did, so perhaps not. But it does show how fracking backloaded purely kids animation is. Anyway, this is 30 days out and it isn't a CBM film (like AtSV) or CBM-adjacent film (like Incredibles 2). The Sonic 2 comp is perhaps a little concerning. On the other hand, nearly a weeks more of pre-sales so not exactly a great comp. 3.5% of presales are 3D and 40.1% are PLF (May 15). On the Saturday of release weekend (ie NOT EA) there is a special event screening for IO2: INSIDE OUT 2: FUNKO FAMILY EVENT! (2024) Sat June 15th. Might boost the OW slightly, depending on how wide this event is and how much more these tickets will presumably cost (May 11).)
  
• TheFlatLannister ($8.20M Thursday comp. This is a super super strong day 2. Probably just Orlando overindexing, but yeah starting to lean towards something big brewing. Florida presales are somehow even crazier. Sold 2357 seats and is getting a blockbuster rollout in terms of showing allocations. Kung Fu panda comp day 2: gives me $8.50M (May 15). Well, I can't really tell if this is a breakout or not yet. Looks very good especially in the first few hours. These are probably terrible comps, but might as well try something (May 14).)
  
• TwoMisfits (I'm kinda shocked at the opening set from my Cinemarks... 2 screens (1 PLF, 1 not) and 6 showings at my PLF 14 for Thursday (and 11 showings on the same screens once it runs full day - 7 PLF b/c 1 is 3d on the reg screen, 4 not)... 3 screens (.75 3d, 2.25 not) and 9 showings at the non-PLF 12 for Thursday (and 12 showings on 2.25 screens once it runs full day)... So, 2 and 2.25 screens for the weekend presale sets... Disney must be charging a huge % for themselves b/c this is an Elemental opening set at my PLF...a little more generous for Thursday at my non-PLF, but then they too drop to an Elemental opening set after the adult Disney base Thursday rush... (May 14).)
  
• vafrow (No new sales. Whatever glitches in the system on day 1 didn't push sales to day 2. I still think the lack of base ticket options will push families to wait. Cineplex has jacked up the cost of premium formats, plus they're throwing in an increase for opening weekend of major releases. It adds up quickly for families (May 16). With the site glitching yesterday, it might account for the slow start. But, what's interesting is the format breakdown. Nothing is being made available in anything close to a regular showtime. The one non 3D showing in Dolby is a matinee showing. Everything else is carrying a hefty premium. They'll likely release regular showtimes closer to release, but right now, it's priced to get eager fans to pay the premium formats (May 15).)
  
• YM! (In fairness it's only been an hour but yeah sales are softer than I expected. However, it is a month out and will largely skew more towards kids than say TLM/Across so wasn't expecting a blitz like them. Here at Marcus theaters are going all out for IO2 with it having the lion share of PLFs with it getting both screens when there is two PLFs with tentpole like levels of screens (May 14). Was taking a look at Marcus Cinemas to see that they have preloaded Inside Out 2 showtimes which seem to start at 3:00 pm on a Thursday. It seems like Marcus is going all out on it as judging from showtimes it's taking away all of Bad Boys’ PLFs in that theaters that have two+ PLFs are giving all to IO2 (May 11).)
  

Domestic Calendar Dates (last updated May 3):
MAY

• (May 16) Presales Start [Bad Boys Ride or Die]
  
• (May 16) Thursday Previews [Babes + Back to Black + If + The Strangers: Chapter 1 + The Blue Angels IMAX]
  
• (May 17) Presales Start [Ezra]
  
• (May 19) Review Embargo Lifts [Garfield 9 PM EST]
  
• (May 20) Opening Day [Monday: Spider-Man Homecoming Re-Release]
  
• (May 22) Presales Start [The Watchers]
  
• (May 23) Thursday Previews [Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga + Hit Man + The Garfield Movie + Sight]
  
• (May 26) Presales Start [Bikeriders]
  
• (May 27) Opening Day [Monday: Spider-Man Far From Home Re-Release]
  
• (May 30) Thursday Previews [Ezra + Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle + Robot Dreams + The Young Woman and the Sea]
  

JUNE

• (June 3) Opening Day [Monday: Spider-Man No Way Home Re-Release]
  
• (June 5) Presales Start [Despicable Me 4]
  
• (June 6) Thursday Previews [Bad Boys: Ride or Die + The Watchers]
  
• (June 8) 1-Saturday Re-Release (1st day) [The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Extended Edition]
  
• (June 9) 1-Sunday Re-Release (1st day) [The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Extended Edition]
  
• (June 10) 1-Monday Re-Release (1st day) [The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King Extended Edition]
  
• (June 13) Thursday Previews [Inside Out 2]
  
• (June 15) 1-Saturday Re-Release (2nd day) [The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Extended Edition]
  
• (June 16) 1-Sunday Re-Release (2nd day) [The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Extended Edition]
  
• (June 17) 1-Monday Re-Release (2nd day) [The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King Extended Edition]
  
• (June 20) Thursday Previews [The Bikeriders + Janet Planet]
  
• (June 27) Thursday Previews [Blue Lock The Movie -Episode Nagi- + Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1 + A Quiet Place: Day One]
  

JULY

• (July 2) Opening Day [Wednesday: Despicable Me 4]
  
• (July 4) Opening Day [Thursday: Possum Trot]
  
• (July 4) Thursday Previews [MaXXXine]
  
• (July 11) Thursday Previews [Fly Me to the Moon + Untitled New Line Horror movie]
  
• (July 18) Thursday Previews [Twisters]
  
• (July 25) Thursday Previews [Deadpool and Wolverine + Didi + Fabulous Four]
  

AUGUST

• (August 1) Thursday Previews [Harold and the Purple Crayon]
  
• (August 8) Thursday Previews [Borderlands + Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us + Cuckoo + The Fire Inside + Trap]
  
• (August 15) Thursday Previews [Alien: Romulus + Horizon An American Saga Chapter 2 + Ryan’s World the Movie: Titan Universe Adventure]
  
• (August 22) Thursday Previews [Blink Twice + The Crow + The Forge + Slingshot]
  
• (August 29) Thursday Previews [City of Dreams + Reagan + They Listen]
  

Presale Tracking Posts:
April 23
April 25
April 27
April 30
May 2
May 4
May 7
May 9
May 11
May 14
Note: I have removed most tracking data that has not been updated for 2 weeks. I think there is value in keeping data for a week or two but at a certain point they start to lose their value and should not be treated the same as more recent tracking data.

Hello, I don't have a steam deck (yet), but I am curious how well the on screen keyboard works for using it in something like an ingame chatbox? or when you gotta give something a name?
I already have lots of experience making custom configs with Steam Input so I know how I would set it up, and I know I'll definitely enjoy the dual trackpad typing.
However I've read people having problems using the on screen keyboard sometimes. They tend to say it's laggy/buggy and that sometimes they can't get it to pop out when needed. I've also read something about the virtual keyboard itself having its fps locked to 24 fps?
I am curious how using it has really been for anyone.