I am a lifelong Patagonia customer and probably own 40 pieces between bags, clothing, and accessories. I try my hardest to support companies (regardless of their country of origin) where I know the products I am using are free from abuse of those who made them. As I got older and became more conscious of these causes, I began to study as much as I could on Yvon Chouinard and the efforts he has made to have Patagonia be a company completely free from any inhumane and unethical treatment of children, workers, animals, etc. I truly want to believe the heart of the company and its mission is in the right place. I know for a fact Patagonia pays all it's U.S. workers very well; retail, wholesale, corporate/admin, etc.
But one thing I cannot get past is why Patagonia products *must* be made in 3rd world countries. I have read Patagonias stock response they send to anyone who inquires about their goods being made overseas. According to Patagonia, the bottom line seems to hinge on the fact that the textiles used to make Patagonias products are all created in 3rd world countries, therefore the garments must be produced wherever the textiles are. Here's what I don't understand and my apologies if I am over-simplifying it. If Patagonia was truly dedicated to ensuring both ethical production and safe working conditions, where they can monitor their factories and factory workers daily, weekly, etc., and their obligation to use 3^rd world factories is strictly due to textile locale and not as a cost saver (as they insist it isn't), then why wouldn't they just import the textiles to the U.S. and have U.S. workers assemble the garments, as opposed to having completed garments imported here? I know Patagonia insists they don't use inhumane factories, but according to Follow The Money (an investigative journalism organization), Patagonia do, in fact, use the same sweatshops as Nike, Adidas, and many other verified human rights violaters. Patagonia claims they visit the factories once a year to ensure safe and humane working conditions, but what factory owner can't tuck his shirt in for one day a year to pass inspection? (and Follow the Money still cited numerous infractions)
And worse case scenario, if they truly cannot import the textiles, why doesn't Patagonia simply open their own dedicated factory in Sri Lanka that they can monitor 24/7 and ensure 100% humane treatment of all workers? Patagonia grosses over $1B per year in sales. Billion, with a "B". Surely there is enough product being sold and capitol being generated to justify this ?
I don't want to cite a laundry list of companies to pit Patagonia against but I will name Darn Tough Socks, who make the finest socks I've ever owned, as an example a of a company producing top of the line garments 100% in the U.S. (Vermont), and yet their sock prices are on par with Patagonias. I also read where they are now importing certain proprietary threads from overseas in order to create certain specialty socks. So why can't Patagonia do that? I also own numerous shirts produced in the U.S. using 100% American grown organic cotton, and they are not any pricier than Patagonias basic tees.
Sorry if this post seems facetious. Not my intention. But every time I go down the rabbit hole on my favorite brand, I come back with more questions than answers.

! ALL OFFERS ARE WELCOME WORST I CAN SAY IS NO !
✓ Open To Bundle Deals ✓
BASED IN EU (Shipping to USA takes 3-5 Days)
• https://imgur.com/gallery/F88TnqD
Size 10 fits up to tts 11
Full 925 2 mm plated hardware set (cost me about 165€ + shipping + the cost to install by a tailor)
Genuine timbs (retail 220€ these are the fur lined ones for extra comfort)
I spent approx 500€ on these + like 2 months waiting time for the customisation. Virtually identical to the real thing, saves you about 2000 bucks to buy off me instead of grailed. Selling because I need cash. Literally tried on once didn’t even undo the laces.
OG box & everything included. Once upoon a lifetime find.
Asking: 350 + shipping (possibility to have express delivery for these in <72 hours to ur door)
SHIPS tracked and signed within 1H AFTER PAYMENT
Tag & timestamp: https://imgur.com/gallery/BdsjWYp. Paypal invoice only.
IGNORE TAGS!!!
balenciaga rick owens maison margiela ifsixwasnine number nine future dior luster denim destroy lonely playboi carti ken carson young thug dior givenchy tn corteiz waxed jeans marni boots mules slides summer haul alyx opium erd enfants riches déprimés nike adidas chrome hearts hysteric glamour hoo buy pandabuy reps gats suicoke tee shirt flared baggy skinny steroid boots bulldozer boots strike boots tracks bracelet maison margiela futures cheap high quality deeds vovo ramones geo baskets cargos cargo baskets essentials spider hoodie track suits polos pink black blue white green

! ALL OFFERS ARE WELCOME WORST I CAN SAY IS NO !
✓ Open To Bundle Deals ✓
BASED IN EU (Shipping to USA takes 3-5 Days)
• https://imgur.com/gallery/F88TnqD
Size 10 fits up to tts 11
Full 925 2 mm plated hardware set (cost me about 165€ + shipping + the cost to install by a tailor)
Genuine timbs (retail 220€ these are the fur lined ones for extra comfort)
I spent approx 500€ on these + like 2 months waiting time for the customisation. Virtually identical to the real thing, saves you about 2000 bucks to buy off me instead of grailed. Selling because I need cash. Literally tried on once didn’t even undo the laces.
OG box & everything included. Once upoon a lifetime find.
Asking: 350 + shipping (possibility to have express delivery for these in <72 hours to ur door)
SHIPS tracked and signed within 1H AFTER PAYMENT
Tag & timestamp: https://imgur.com/gallery/BdsjWYp. Paypal invoice only.
IGNORE TAGS!!!
balenciaga rick owens maison margiela ifsixwasnine number nine future dior luster denim destroy lonely playboi carti ken carson young thug dior givenchy tn corteiz waxed jeans marni boots mules slides summer haul alyx opium erd enfants riches déprimés nike adidas chrome hearts hysteric glamour hoo buy pandabuy reps gats suicoke tee shirt flared baggy skinny steroid boots bulldozer boots strike boots tracks bracelet maison margiela futures cheap high quality deeds vovo ramones geo baskets cargos cargo baskets essentials spider hoodie track suits polos pink black blue white green

! ALL OFFERS ARE WELCOME WORST I CAN SAY IS NO !
✓ Open To Bundle Deals ✓
BASED IN EU (Shipping to USA takes 3-5 Days)
• https://imgur.com/gallery/F88TnqD
Size 10 fits up to tts 11
Full 925 2 mm plated hardware set (cost me about 165€ + shipping + the cost to install by a tailor)
Genuine timbs (retail 220€ these are the fur lined ones for extra comfort)
I spent approx 500€ on these + like 2 months waiting time for the customisation. Virtually identical to the real thing, saves you about 2000 bucks to buy off me instead of grailed. Selling because I need cash. Literally tried on once didn’t even undo the laces.
OG box & everything included. Once upoon a lifetime find.
Asking: 350 + shipping (possibility to have express delivery for these in <72 hours to ur door)
SHIPS tracked and signed within 1H AFTER PAYMENT
Tag & timestamp: https://imgur.com/gallery/BdsjWYp. Paypal invoice only.
IGNORE TAGS!!!
balenciaga rick owens maison margiela ifsixwasnine number nine future dior luster denim destroy lonely playboi carti ken carson young thug dior givenchy tn corteiz waxed jeans marni boots mules slides summer haul alyx opium erd enfants riches déprimés nike adidas chrome hearts hysteric glamour hoo buy pandabuy reps gats suicoke tee shirt flared baggy skinny steroid boots bulldozer boots strike boots tracks bracelet maison margiela futures cheap high quality deeds vovo ramones geo baskets cargos cargo baskets essentials spider hoodie track suits polos pink black blue white green

My experience with Michelin in a complicated one. Having gone to one, two, and three Michelin star restaurants across the globe, I've seen Michelin do some great things for restaurants, but I've also seen them bring the demise of others.
Because it's quite apparent what good things come from being highlighted by Michelin, this post is more focused on some of my criticisms of the Michelin guide, and why I think the current structure of Michelin should be changed.
Maintaining "Michelin's definition" of the gold standard..
There have been a ton of amazing restaurants given a one star review. Restaurants don't even need to be "fine dining" to be given a Michelin star, as highlighted by some of the cheap eats that have received a one star review.
But a one star review, can at times, be a curse for restaurants. Often, restaurants receive one star reviews got there by showcasing there strengths. A passion for food and creativity, a desire to share culture or tradition, or an expression of a personal brand of art.
When a restaurant receives a one star review, two things happen.

1. They begin to get huge influx of customers. Initially.
2. They start to be compared to other one star restaurants, sometimes even two or three star.

The majority of the time, when a restaurant receives a one star review, the rapidly get a ton of customers wanting to try them. And in just a few months, they start to raise prices. Because money can change people.
And eventually, they start to act as more of a "tourist attraction", and start to lose the original loyal clientele that brought them to where they were in the first place.
Secondly, they begin to compare themselves to the standards of other "higher" Michelin star restaurants.
And that typically means focusing more on a particular brand of fine dining. Hyper-attentive service, an overuse of "micro complex food"(emulsions, purees, colorful vegetation). Just to name a few.
I've seen this unfortunately happen time and time again.
If your customers wanted to go to a Eleven Madison Park, they'd travel to New York. But don't turn your restaurant into a chain of fine dining. You'll start to lose the allure, and it starts to feel like the routine of Mcdonalds or Capital Grille.
​
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Wanted to share my top 5 recommendation list. Having lived here for about 30 years, here are the best spots to visit, whether you're traveling or a local. I've included a range of options from cheap eats to fine dining.

1. Chef Tally's - I've binge eaten at least 50+ jamaican restaurants, and while this isn't your typical traditional jamaican spot, this is hands down one of my favorite places in south Florida. I dream about the chicken here. It's always a candidate for my "what should I eat this weekend" thoughts.
2. Mila Sunday Brunch - $95 for all you can eat cinco jota jamon iberico, black caviar, and a ton of other creatively prepared dishes. I've had a few of the other brunchs in south florida, like edge, novikov, etc. but this one gets the thumbs up because they actually have more unique spreads and appetizers. Pro tip, they have a cheese wheel pasta and mojito station outside. Did I mention the price includes unlimited champagne and rose?
3. Palacio de los Jugos - this is a staple of south florida cuisine. I might get some flack for having this on my list, but amongst all the cuban and latin spots I've been to across Hialeah and Miami, I always find myself back here grabbing a meal for like $7 and juice for $3!
4. Stubborn Seed - I haven't gone since they've gotten their Michelin Star, but I used to frequent this place. What sets the tasting menu at stubborn seed apart in my opinion is the almagamation of dish pacing, food sourcing/creativity, and lineup of ingredients. I don't think there's a singular dish that really sets this restaurant apart from the rest of the modern fine dining options, but more so a extremely well presented and curated dining experience.
5. Anita Gelato. This spot recently opened in Aventura coming from NYC. It's not a super traditional italian/argentiniam gelato, but the flavor combinations are the best I've ever had. And it's not too sweet. My favorite ice cream/froyo/gelato spot amongst the hundreds I've been to in SoFlo.

Honorable mention goes to Kaeru Sushi for bringing great quality japanese food for an affordable price.* A little extra. South Florida has EXCELLENT latin american food(peruvian, argentinian, columbian, etc.), mediterranean, israeli/jewish delis, italian, caribbean, and much more. I highly recommend checking out any of the above cuisines. DM me if you'd like any specific recommendations.
​
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There are so many job vacancies in Nepal yet Nepalese (esp. youngsters) won't do it. Job vacancies mostly on these fields - Hotels, Security, Retail, even cleaners etc. Here are the main reasons why Nepalese don't/won't work in their own country.

1. Pride - too much pride, one you are from middle class, other being educated at high level results/subject/college
   
2. Ego - Low level jobs you don't consider a job but then you are still one of those who bargain heavily at cheap price to even buy one pair of socks or to buy fruits from street vendor.
   
3. Complain - too much blah blah, this good, this bad
   
4. Judge - Judging without actually knowing by yourself
   
5. Comparison - Comparing between yourself and other, Nepal and Overseas, Gender, Class, Education etc.
   
6. Mindset - Your mindset is puzzled, you rely on others, make decision based on strangers, social media even though some do advice greatly but when something goes wrong, you start to blame/hate them.
   
7. Nepali society - you work hard on your study, you learn lot of things and even experience few things, you know what's right, what's wrong, you speak highly of yourself behind the screen, you think your thoughts are better, you think others don't have much knowledge than you. Most Nepalese youngsters are very smart, well educated, yet they cannot take action due to the surroundings of Nepali society around them.
   

My parents did not let me do that, what will my neighbor think? What will my friends/relative think? If I start to work as a cleaner or security guard when my field is IT but I haven't got job, it's hard, so much stress, life sucks! Blah! Blah! But you have found the cleaning/sales assistant/security guard job yet you won't do. All because of above reason and many more. Same jobs, you do it abroad, not just because of good pay but you totally can let go those above points because you are not in Nepal.
Note: after reading some comments, the only thing you can think of is low pay? Instead of being jobless and wandering around hopeless expecting easy money or even free money from your relatives from overseas, Why don't you work at these low pay jobs first until you find the proper one you think?
Low pay jobs, what an easy excuse! It's Nepal, Hello! What are you expecting? See now you are comparing, that is one of the point above mentioned clearly and is one of the reason you just don't want to work but blah blah!
Harassment by employers? It's everywhere in this world. If you are jobless, you work whatever you find to feed your family, even if it's just too little to cover the expenses but at least you get that little amount rather than not getting anything by being jobless. Then you keep looking for better pay job while still working on low pay job!
These Nepalese people really think highly of themselves, pride? Ego? But then same people bargain at street vendor is such a two faced. You can also work as a street vendor if you haven't found the job yet but you can't! Well the problem for not getting job is not due to country Nepal but yourself! Your pride, ego, judgement.

Hey guys!
I bought the black/blue Vapor 15 Elite AG in March (3 months ago) and they started to crack. The crack is really small right now but I can see it becoming a bigger issue if I use it for like 10 more sessions.
Sadly I read about the cracking after making the purchase, but I heard Nike is pretty consistent to issue a refund.
I bought them for 182 euros because it was on sale (still is today) but the issue is that my size EU 44 (US 10) is not in stock. Only the new pink colorway has my size, but it costs the full price 259 euros.
My question is can I request for a replacement from the new colorway (since they don’t have it in black) and not pay the difference, so basically do a 1 on 1 exchange, or will they just give me back my 182 as a voucher that I can use? Because if you think about it I’ve already spent the 182 and I even if I get refunded the full amount, I don’t want to spend almost 80 more euros just to get the same size in a newer colorway.
TL;DR Bought Nike vapor for 182 euros will I get a voucher of the same amount, or can I get an actual replacement of the boot but different colorway even tho it’s more expensive?

Newbie here, hello! I'll be summiting the Grand Tetons with Exum guides in late July, and I currently live in the Southwest where it's very hot and close to sea level. I've got a training plan (long walks, weighted walks, squats, step-ups, indoor climbing, etc) but can't really recreate what it's like to hike/scramble at altitude in the actual clothes I'll be wearing.
I will be using Exum's safety gear (harness, helmet, etc), but need to put together my wardrobe for 2 days of training at base + 1 day hike to Lower Saddle (5000 vertical feet; 9 miles; 6-8 hours) + 1 day summit and descent (12-16 hours; I believe this is via OS route).
I want to crowdsource some opinions since many of Exum's original clothing suggestions are expensive (e.g. Arc Teryx Squamish Hoody, Arc Teryx Alpha SL or Venta AR gloves). Here's what I already own or found for super cheap/used so far.
Owned/Bought used:

• Craft Active Intensity base layer pants (like this one)
• Under Armour fleece 3.0 base layer pants (like this one)
• REI lightweight base layer short sleeve
• REI quick dry tee shirt
• Nike running shorts
• Marmot Olden Polartec square grid fleece half zip (like this one)
• Columbia Sun Trek hoodie
• Nike quick dry hoodie
• Patagonia rain jacket (like this one)
• Marmot rain pants
• Eddie Bauer First Ascent Climbing/Hiking pants
• Patagonia Down Sweater (like this one)

Bought new:

• Black Diamond Mission approach shoes
• Black Diamond Crag gloves (for rappelling)

What would you take/leave from this list? What would you add (items that don't break the bank)? Thanks!

The Olympic Effect: Why Nike $NKE Stock Will Soar in 2024
The Olympic Games, a global spectacle of athletic prowess and national pride, are not just a sporting event; they are a powerful marketing platform. Nike, the world’s leading sportswear brand, is a master of capitalizing on this platform, investing heavily in athletes, campaigns, and activations to leverage the Olympic spotlight. With the Paris 2024 Games on the horizon, Nike is poised to experience a significant surge in stock price driven by a combination of factors:
1. The Power of Olympic Visibility:
The Olympics are a global phenomenon, reaching billions of viewers worldwide. Nike's prominent presence, through athlete sponsorships, official partnerships, and impactful marketing campaigns, ensures that its brand is seen by a massive audience. This broad exposure directly translates into increased brand awareness, consumer trust, and ultimately, sales.
2. The Endorsement Effect:
Nike's roster of elite athletes, many of whom will compete in the Olympics, serves as powerful brand ambassadors. The victories, performances, and stories of these athletes resonate deeply with consumers, associating Nike with success, determination, and achievement. This positive association directly boosts brand perception and consumer loyalty.
3. Leveraging the 'Olympic Spirit':
The Olympics are more than just sports; they embody values of unity, perseverance, and athletic excellence. Nike expertly taps into this 'Olympic spirit' by creating emotional campaigns that resonate with audience aspirations. These campaigns foster a sense of connection with the brand, strengthening its identity as a symbol of athletic achievement and personal ambition.
4. The 2024 Paris Advantage:
The Paris 2024 Games, with their inherent fashion and style focus, present an ideal platform for Nike. The brand's reputation for stylish and innovative designs aligns perfectly with the Parisian aesthetic. Expect to see targeted campaigns and product launches that capitalize on this unique cultural context, further enhancing Nike's appeal to a global audience.
5. A Strategic Marketing Campaign:
Nike consistently delivers innovative and impactful marketing campaigns during the Olympics. These campaigns, often featuring iconic athletes and compelling storytelling, generate significant buzz and social media engagement, further amplifying brand visibility and driving consumer interest.
6. Increased Consumer Demand:
The Olympics create a peak season for athletic wear and sports equipment. This demand surge, fueled by consumer excitement and the desire to emulate their favorite athletes, creates a direct positive impact on Nike's sales and revenue.
7. Long-Term Impact:
While the immediate buzz surrounding the Olympics is significant, the impact on Nike's stock price extends beyond the Games. The brand's association with athletic excellence and global events like the Olympics builds lasting brand loyalty and strengthens its position as a market leader.
Conclusion:
The upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics represent a highly strategic opportunity for Nike to leverage its powerful marketing prowess and capitalize on global brand visibility. By amplifying its presence through athlete sponsorships, impactful campaigns, and a clever understanding of the Olympic spirit, Nike is poised to experience a substantial boost in stock value. This surge will be driven by increased brand awareness, consumer engagement, and a surge in demand for Nike products, solidifying its position as a dominant force in the sportswear industry.
Position: JAN 2025 110 Calls

DAY JUNE 8 2024
6-8-2024

‘WE CANNOT SIMPLY GO, GO, GO.’ WHAT IS ‘GIRL MOSSING,’ THE WELLNESS TREND THAT REJECTS HUSTLE CULTURE?

On TikTok and Instagram, people are “girl mossing”: lying on a forest floor, staring up at a leafy canopy or caressing moss. The United States National Forest Foundation even borrowed the term to kick off its 2024 Instagram account. Girl mossing recognizes a need to step away from the pressures of modern, urban life, promoting spending time in nature as a restorative practice. The fast pace and pressure of neoliberal capitalism take an enormous toll on well-being: not just personal, but social and planetary.
6-8-2024

FIVE WAYS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CAN IMPROVE YOUR DATING LIFE

Artificial intelligence is going to transform how we date. The question is: will it be for better or worse? It’s already causing some real problems, especially related to “romance scams” and other fraud. But it’s not all doom and gloom. Used in the right way, AI can actually make dating better. It can help write profiles and find matches, provide dating advice and coaching and, if all else fails, become a date companion. I have spent the last few years studying the impact of technology, and especially AI, on our
6-8-2024

STUDY ASSESSES ‘THE DANCER PERSONALITY’

“Tell me if you dance and I will tell you who you are!” A study led by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics (MPIEA) in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, has shown that both amateur and professional dancers are less neurotic than people who do not dance. They are also more agreeable, more open, and more extraverted.
6-8-2024

ONLINE SHOPPERS BEHAVE DIFFERENTLY AFTER CHATTING WITH STAFF OF THE OPPOSITE GENDER, RESEARCH SHOWS

In a digital world where people are mere pixels on a screen, gender bias can show up in unexpected forms. When people are online, anonymity and physical detachment embolden them to behave in biased ways
6-8-2024

INVESTORS BET BIG ON SUNNY DAYS, STUDY FINDS

It’s often said we can’t control the weather. But what if the weather controls how and when we invest our money? More specifically, what if the skies control how much we’re willing to gamble in the stock market? New research by the University of South Australia has found a connection between pleasant weather conditions and higher investment in lottery-like stocks. Lottery-like stocks are cheap compared to other stocks and, like lottery tickets, they can be seen as an opportunity to make a substantial gain. However, the chance of a higher
6-8-2024

TEENS TREATED UNFAIRLY BY TEACHERS MORE LIKELY TO HAVE POPULIST ATTITUDES

Perceived unjust teacher behavior is strongly and positively associated with populist attitudes among children and adolescents. Populist attitudes consist of ideologies including anti-elitism, people-centrism, and a dualistic perception of good versus evil, and where the foundation of political decision-making should be based on the general will of the people. In contrast to the association with teacher behavior, the correlation between young people’s relationships with peers and the development of populist attitudes is less strong, and the correlation between young people’s relationships
6-8-2024

MICROINCLUSIONS IMPROVE WOMEN’S WORKPLACE BELONGING AND COMMITMENT

New research shows how “microinclusions”—brief instances of positive treatment, especially from members of the dominant group—help women feel valued at work. Imagine your first day at a new job. You probably feel nervous, wondering how you’ll fit in with the team. It’s natural to worry if your co-workers will be supportive, or if they’ll take your contributions seriously. This experience is amplified for women in technology companies, who often face underrepresentation and
6-8-2024

BURNT OUT? HOW YOUR EMPLOYER CAN HELP YOU RETURN TO WORK FOR THE BETTER

The working world can be a pitiless one, as competition in the marketplace can put significant pressures on employees. Relentless deadlines, shrinking resources and shifting priorities all take their toll on employees’ well-being and mental health. In my home country of Belgium, more than two thirds (66.4%) of individuals on disability for psychological reasons had cases related to depression or burn-out. These worrisome statistics reflect broader trends across OECD countries, where nearly half (47.6%) of workers with mental-health problems have been absent from the office in the past year, compared
6-8-2024

FAMILY-FRIENDLY WORKPLACES BENEFIT EMPLOYEES, BUSINESSES

Paid leave and employee well-being are the focus of a three-part policy series on family-friendly business practices put together by the Brown School’s Clark-Fox Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis. “Creating a family-friendly workplace benefits both employees and businesses,” said Gary Parker, associate dean for external affairs and director of the institute. “For employees, it enhances work-life balance and job satisfaction,” he said. “For businesses, it leads to higher retention rates, reduced absenteeism and improved productivity. Policies such as paid leave, flexible work arrangements
6-8-2024

HOW TRUMP’S DEFINITION OF A ‘REAL’ AMERICAN HAS GRABBED HIS AUDIENCE—WHAT OUR RESEARCH SHOWS ABOUT WHY

Donald Trump has recently doubled down on his derogatory depictions of undocumented migrants in his bid to win the 2024 presidential election. In an interview with Time magazine, published on April 30 2024, Trump referred to migrants as “criminals,” who “come in and they steal our jobs, and steal our wealth, and they steal our country.” Trump was especially disparaging towards migrants from China, who he said are a “major force that’s forming in our country.” In short, according to Trump, undocumented migration is “an invasion of our country.” Trump’s
6-8-2024

NEW STUDY SHOWS MARKETING A BRAND’S SIMPLICITY CAN BACKFIRE

Irritability is a common side effect of heat. When companies tout the simplicity of their products, they may unknowingly invite customer dissatisfaction, new University of Oregon research finds. For decades, “simpler is better” has been accepted as a universal truth in marketing. Nick Light, assistant professor of marketing at the UO’ Lundquist College of Business, has tested that assumption. He found that most consumers prefer offerings that appear to be easy to use and understand. However, trumpeting simplicity can have a hidden, costly downside. “When marketing convinces consumers that things
6-8-2024

RESEARCHERS CREATE WINNING STRATEGY TO COMBAT VACCINE MISINFORMATION ON X

A new in-depth analysis shows that users who reply to misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine on X, formerly known as Twitter, with a positive attitude, politeness, and strong evidence are more likely to encourage others to disbelieve the incorrect information. Researchers from three Georgia Tech schools found the most
6-8-2024

STUDY SHOWS DISENGAGED STUDENTS MORE LIKELY TO USE AI TOOLS FOR ASSIGNMENTS

A Swansea University psychology study has found that disengaged students are more likely to use AI tools—particularly ChatGPT—for academic assignments, raising questions about academic integrity and the need for proactive interventions. Launched in November 2022, ChatGPT is an AI program capable of answering questions in detailed, human-like ways. Researchers surveyed 160 undergraduate students, aged between 18 and 24, in March 2023 to assess their attitudes towards and past usage of AI tools such as ChatGPT in academic coursework. The study is published in The Internet and Higher Education journal. Thirty-two
6-8-2024

HUMAN CULTURE IS CHANGING TOO FAST FOR EVOLUTION TO CATCH UP—HERE’S HOW IT MAY AFFECT YOU

Research is showing that many of our contemporary problems, such as the rising prevalence of mental health issues, are emerging from rapid technological advancement and modernisation. A theory that can help explain why we respond poorly to modern conditions, despite the choices, safety and other benefits they bring, is evolutionary mismatch. Mismatch happens when an evolved adaptation, either physical or psychological, becomes misaligned with the environment. Take moths and some species of nocturnal flies, for example. Because they have to navigate in the dark, they evolved to use the moon
6-8-2024

YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE UK SAY THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO VOTE IF THEIR PARENTS REPORT DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS

With a U.K. General Election approaching, new research has found that parental history of depression can predict whether a young person is likely to intend to vote. The research, led by the Department of Politics at the University of Liverpool, found that, at age 26, people were less likely to intend to vote if they had grown up with a parent experiencing high levels of depressive symptoms. Published in the journal Electoral Studies, the research used the British Cohort Study (BCS), which followed more than 16,000 babies born across a
6-8-2024

WHO GETS TO DECIDE WHAT COUNTS AS ‘DISORDER’?

As a scholar of urban governance and data policy, I viewed the responses to protests on U.S. campuses as about more than threats to academic freedom and freedom of speech. They are also threats to the fundamental rights of people in public spaces. The protesters’ tactics, particularly their use of tents in encampments, have brought debates around definitions of public order and disorder to the fore. Over the past couple of months, students in universities across the country, from the University of California, Los Angeles to the Massachusetts Institute of
6-8-2024

STUDYING VIOLENCE TOWARD WOMEN AND ANIMALS CAN HELP US DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO PREVENT BOTH

We live in a world where not everyone feels safe and respected, especially women. Sexual violence and abuse are significant global health issues. Intimate partner violence continues to be a problem in Canada. According to Statistics Canada, of the 117,093 victims of police-reported intimate partner violence in 2022, almost 80% were women and girls. More than half of women in the United States have experienced sexual violence involving physical contact. Given these high rates of sexual abuse, it is imperative that we improve upon what we currently know about violence
6-8-2024

WHY THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY COULD DEPEND ON YOUR GROUP CHATS

I became newly worried about the state of democracy when, a few years ago, my mother was elected president of her neighborhood garden club. Her election wasn’t my worry—far from it. At the time, I was trying to resolve a conflict on a large email group I had created. Someone, inevitably, was being a jerk on the internet. I had the power to remove them, but did I have the right? I realized that the garden club had in its bylaws something I had never seen in nearly all the
6-8-2024

NET ZERO IS NOT JUST GOOD SCIENCE—IT’S ALSO A GOOD DEAL FOR ORDINARY PEOPLE

As the UK moves into a general election, a misinformed debate over the country’s climate transition and legally binding net zero targets risks further dividing people. Much of this debate in the UK focuses on the “cost” of net zero. For instance, energy secretary Claire Coutinho recently stated the government did not want a “net zero leviathan” to crush the nation’s “brilliant enterprise economy,” while the Labor Party had to backtrack on its own headline climate investment pledge, citing “affordability” and “fiscal rules.” But the true “cost” is tricky to
6-8-2024

THE FASCINATING PSYCHOLOGY BEHIND ‘DINE AND DASH’ AND WHY IT’S ABOUT SO MUCH MORE THAN A FREE MEAL

Sometimes when I read the newspapers, I think that going to a restaurant and leaving without paying has become something of an epidemic. My research into lying has taught me that the psychology behind acts of deception is often deeply complex. Let me start with a confession. I was guilty of dine and dash a very long time ago before it had a catchy name. I was in a group that hung about a chip shop at the turn-of-the-road in north Belfast, a poor and troubled area. I had a
6-8-2024

YOU CAN NOW BE FROZEN AFTER DEATH IN AUSTRALIA. IF YOU’RE REVIVED IN THE FUTURE, WILL YOU LEGALLY BE THE SAME PERSON?

In recent weeks, Southern Cryonics—the southern hemisphere’s only cryopreservation facility, located in rural New South Wales—announced it had successfully cryopreserved its first patient. There are only a handful of cryopreservation facilities across the globe—two in the United States, and one each in Russia, China, Australia and Switzerland. If the claims made on their websites and in the press are accurate, these facilities likely have no more than 600 patients in cryonic storage in total. Media reports however suggest interest in cryopreservation has risen since the onset of the COVID pandemic,
6-8-2024

ENGINEERS HAVE A DUTY TO PROTECT PUBLIC WELL-BEING, BUT LESS THAN HALF LEARN HOW TO DO SO EFFECTIVELY

Engineers who received public welfare responsibility training in classes are more likely to consider the societal impact of technologies they design and to take action when concerns arise, according to a study by University of Michigan researchers published in The Journal of Engineering Education. While engineers are professionally obligated to protect the safety and well-being of those their technologies impact, the study found that nearly a third of U.S. practicing engineers have never received any training in public welfare
6-8-2024

HIRING PRESSURES TO DIVERSIFY ARE INFLUENCING PATTERNS OF DISCRIMINATION IN UNEXPECTED WAYS

In 2004, a pair of economists published a landmark study to measure discrimination in the labor market. In the study, the researchers applied to real job openings with fictitious applicants but changed the applicant names to reflect a different gender or race. They found clear evidence of discrimination: White men and women received 50% more callbacks than Black men and women. More recently, Berkeley
6-8-2024

STUDY FINDS RACIAL BIAS IN TRAFFIC STOPS BY CHICAGO POLICE

Black drivers in Chicago are significantly more likely than white drivers to be stopped by police regardless of where the drivers live or are going, according to a new study led by a Cornell city planning expert that maps the racial composition of roads by using mobile phone GPS data. The study confirms a racial bias
6-8-2024

DO WE HAVE MORE EMPATHY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SIMILAR TO US? NEW RESEARCH SUGGESTS IT’S NOT THAT SIMPLE

How do people successfully interact with those who are completely different from them? And can these differences create social barriers? Social scientists are struggling with these questions because the mental processes underlying social interactions are not well understood. One recent concept that has become increasingly popular is the “double-empathy problem.” This draws on research looking at people who are known to experience social difficulties,
6-8-2024

HOW CAN WE MAKE GOOD DECISIONS BY OBSERVING OTHERS? A VIDEOGAME AND COMPUTATIONAL MODEL HAVE THE ANSWER

How can disaster response teams benefit from understanding how people most efficiently pick strawberries together, or how they choose the perfect ice cream shop with friends? All these scenarios are based on the very fundamental question of how and when human groups manage to adapt collectively to different circumstances. Two recent studies on collective dynamics by the Cluster of Excellence Science of Intelligence (SCIoI) in Berlin, Germany, lay the groundwork to promote better
6-8-2024

OTHERS’ WORDS, NOT FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE, SHAPE SCIENTIFIC AND RELIGIOUS BELIEF FORMATION, STUDY FINDS

Three proposals explaining the differential confidence. (A) Intuitively, one might assume that confidence in scientific entities (e.g., germs) is higher than confidence in religious entities (e.g., angels) because scientific entities are observable in principle whereas religious entities are not. (B) The Dual- Pathway Model proposes separate information pathways for scientific versus religious beliefs; belief in scientific entities is primarily driven by direct experience of causal outcomes whereas belief in religious entities is primarily driven by testimony. (C) Contrary to these two models, the Unified Model proposes that belief in both
6-8-2024

TRYING TO SAVE MONEY? RESEARCH SUGGESTS PAYING IN CASH—WHILE YOU STILL CAN

Cash is in crisis. In Australia, it’s now only used for 16% of in-person transactions, down from about 70% in 2007. The situation is so dire that on Monday, independent federal MP Andrew Gee introduced a private member’s bill that would force businesses to accept cash or else face big fines. The reality is that over the past decade, technological advancements have utterly transformed the way we pay for goods and services. Phones and smartwatches can now easily be used to pay by card, and buy-now-pay-later
6-8-2024

MESSAGES CAN TRIGGER THE OPPOSITE OF THEIR DESIRED EFFECT—BUT YOU CAN AVOID COMMUNICATION THAT BACKFIRES

The best graduation speeches dispense wisdom you find yourself returning to long after the graduation tassels are turned. Take the feel-good life advice in Baz Luhrmann’s song to a class that graduated 25 years ago. Only on a recent relisten did I realize it also captures one of the research-based strategies I teach for avoiding communication that backfires. The tip is hiding in plain sight in the song’s title, “Everybody’s Free (to Wear Sunscreen).” Communication aimed at promoting a certain behavior can have the opposite
6-8-2024

DIFFERENCES IN EDUCATION, VALUES BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN CAUSE MISMATCHES WHEN SEEKING A PARTNER, FINDS SPANISH STUDY

The educational expansion of women has led to changes in the differences in educational level of men and women when looking for a partner. Research conducted by the UAB Center for Demographic Studies (CED-CERCA) has examined for the first time the role of discrepancies in gender role values and education among potential spouses. According to the study, about a third of women in favor of gender equality and with a higher education would not be able to find a homogamous male partner. The work is published in the journal Perspectives
6-8-2024

‘FUZZY’ MAPS OFFER INSIGHT INTO LOCAL PERCEPTIONS OF THE VALUE OF VOLUNTEERING

In the global South, volunteer programs are framed by policymakers and scholars as an effective vehicle for empowering women living in poverty. But this narrative often rests on scant knowledge of the perspectives and experiences of a key set of local stakeholders: the volunteers. A new study co-authored by Yale anthropologist Catherine Panter-Brick addresses this knowledge gap by engaging with Syrian refugees and Jordanian women from poor households in Amman, Jordan,
6-8-2024

EXPERTS SAY USE OF POLITICAL MEMES ARE A PREDICTOR OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE

In a study of social media activity prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, researchers at the University of Notre Dame say a sharp increase in politically salient imagery online—visual content designed to influence, dehumanize, manipulate and motivate audiences—was a predictor of the conflict. With collaborators at Colby College and Kennesaw State University, the researchers collected post history from a select group of 989 Russian milbloggers—a term used for “military bloggers”
6-8-2024

PROGRAMS TO PREVENT SEXUAL VIOLENCE SHOW NO EVIDENCE OF CURBING ASSAULTS, ANALYSIS FINDS

Sexual violence prevention programs effectively change ideas and beliefs that underscore assaults, but show no evidence of reducing their actual occurrence, a new comprehensive analysis shows. The findings are published in Psychological Science in the Public Interest. Researchers led by behavioral scientist Roni Porat of Hebrew University challenge the assumption that changing people’s thoughts about sexual violence will change their actual behavior. They call on scientists to study more behavior-centered approaches to reducing sexual
6-8-2024

DIVERSE FRIEND GROUPS PROMOTE BETTER SOCIAL COHESION AND WELL-BEING, STUDY FINDS

New research featuring more than 24,000 people has found that having diverse groups of friends improves well-being and social cohesion, despite people’s tendency to gravitate towards people more similar to them. Led by researchers at the University of Birmingham and published in Psychological Science, the study used data from 24,726 adults from over 10,000 English neighborhoods to examine the composition of people’s social networks according to age, ethnicity, income, and education to understand the implications of homophily (preference for similar people) on social cohesion subjective well-being. Dr. Miguel Ramos, lead
6-8-2024

STUDY SHOWS JUSTICE FACILITY DOGS BENEFIT WELL-BEING FOR CHILDREN FACING COURT

A new Edith Cowan University (ECU) study has revealed that having a four-legged friend at Children’s Court significantly reduces stress and anxiety for young victims, witnesses, and their caregivers. ECU criminology researchers Dr. Suz Rock and Associate Professor Natalie Gately have published the first Australian study to evaluate the impact of introducing a justice facility dog to a Children’s Court. The study “Kids, Courts and Canines: Evaluating the Justice Facility Dog Program through a Therapeutic Lens
6-8-2024

SEXUAL MINORITIES EXPERIENCE MORE EXCLUSION IN EVERYDAY SITUATIONS, FINDS STUDY

Lesbian, gay and bisexual people experience exclusion more frequently than heterosexual people. This is the finding of a recent study published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin by researchers from the University of Basel and the RPTU University of Kaiserslautern-Landau. According to the study, people who are perceived as less gender-conforming are more frequently socially excluded. This could also affect heterosexual people if they deviate from traditional
6-8-2024

STILL RIDING LA’S METRO AFTER THE PANDEMIC? YOU PROBABLY THINK IT’S SAFER THAN THOSE WHO DON’T ANYMORE

As Jon Regardie wrote last year in Los Angeles Magazine, “Metro’s raison d’etre is to get hundreds of thousands of people each day across Southern California.” But the COVID-19 pandemic sent the numbers of riders plummeting to a low of 13%, and ridership still hasn’t fully rebounded. The reason may now be clear, thanks to the latest USC Dornsife LABarometer survey, conducted by the Center for Economic and Social Research (CESR) at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. The survey found that although public transportation ridership in
6-8-2024

CAN VAGUE GO VIRAL FOR GEN Y?

Generation Y, Gen Y, is commonly referred to as the millennial generation. It usually includes individuals born between the early 1980s and the mid-to-late 1990s or early 2000s. This generation follows Generation X and precedes Generation Z. The millennials, it is said, grew up during the transition to digital technology and the rise of the internet, and this has shaped their perspectives, behavior, and the way they use technology and media. They are often characterized as tech-savvy, adaptable, and socially conscious, with a strong affinity for social media and digital
6-8-2024

ITALIAN MOMS WITH 3+ KIDS WORK FAR FEWER YEARS THAN DADS, WHILE FINLAND SHOWS EQUALITY

Over the past century, the number of working women in Western countries has steadily increased. However, numerous studies show that it is still primarily women who have to manage the balancing act between parenthood and working life. Compared to fathers and childless women, mothers often have a less straightforward career path and face greater hurdles to career advancement. Little research has been done on what happens to women’s employment trajectories from midlife when childrearing efforts are
6-8-2024

TOP IT INDUSTRY MANAGERS ARE DIVIDED ON THE NEED FOR FACE-TO-FACE COMMUNICATION IN THE WORKPLACE

Many managers are currently seeking a balance between digital and face-to-face communication. A recent study from the University of Eastern Finland published in Information Technology & People shows that top IT industry managers have different views on when and for what purposes face-to-face communication in the workplace is needed. “Some top managers felt that all work tasks can be performed remotely with the help of digital communication. According to them, face-to-face communication is only necessary for maintaining interpersonal relationships and a sense of community,” says Doctoral Researcher Lotta Salin of
6-8-2024

STUDY FINDS SIMPLE HEADLINES ATTRACT MORE ONLINE NEWS READERS

The competition for online attention in today’s news environment is fierce. High-quality news from credible sources must compete for attention with misinformation and a rapidly increasing amount of partisan content. How can a news organization stand out as a reputable and trustworthy outlet while driving readers to its site? The answer is simple: literally. According to research from Michigan State University, news readers engage more with simple writing, suggesting journalists should write simply—clearly and without ambiguity—to attract attention online. The study was published in the journal Science Advances. “Newsrooms want
6-8-2024

STUDY SHOWS BANNING FALSE INFORMATION TRAFFICKERS ONLINE CAN IMPROVE PUBLIC DISCOURSE

When Twitter banned more than 70,000 traffickers of false information from its platform in the wake of the violence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, the impact went beyond the silencing of those users. A study co-authored by UC Riverside public policy and political science scholars published in the journal Nature on June 5, found that the crackdown by Twitter (now called X after it was acquired by billionaire Elon Musk in late 2022) also significantly reduced the number of misinformation posts by users who stayed on the
6-8-2024

YOUNG ADULTS SAY STEADY SUPPORT FROM CARING ADULTS MADE DIFFERENCE IN TRANSITIONING FROM CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM

Young people who have exited foster care generally fare better—in work, school and relationships—if they get consistent support from adults who care about them during their teen years. My research team reached these findings by interviewing 21 people, now in their late 20s, who had aged out of foster care when they turned 18, had spent time in foster care as children or grew up in families that had active child welfare cases. These young adults relayed the degree to which they received support from
6-8-2024

HOW THE 1901 DISCOVERY EXPEDITION’S POLAR EXPLORERS STAYED HEALTHY DURING THEIR ANTARCTIC JOURNEY

Antarctica is the most inhospitable continent on earth. It’s dry, cold, and completely dark for months of the year. Edwardian explorers were some of the first to brave the Antarctic winter, developing new knowledge still drawn upon by scientists today. The Discovery expedition (1901–4) played a key role in the history of polar exploration. It was led by the Royal Navy commander Robert Falcon Scott, a pioneering polar explorer who died in 1912 after attempting to reach the south pole. The expedition’s third lieutenant was Ernest Shackleton, who led three
6-8-2024

SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MODELS INFUSED WITH AGRI-INNOVATION SYSTEMS CAN REDUCE POST-HARVEST FOOD LOSS AND WASTE

developing sustainable business models that are multi-actor networked for integrating them with agricultural innovation systems initiatives can enable a systemic approach for reducing food loss and value loss at the post-harvest
6-8-2024

WILL THE 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES BECOME THE PLAYING FIELD FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE PROTESTS?

Yannick Kluch, a professor of recreation, sport and tourism at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, studies sport as a platform for promoting social justice. Kluch has worked with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, U.S. Diving and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. He spoke with research editor Sharita Forrest about the history of Olympic athletes’ social justice protests and governing organizations’ efforts to avert them with Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter.
6-8-2024

STUDY FINDS WE SPEND MORE WITH CASHLESS PAYMENTS

A study found support for the existence of a positive “cashless effect,” which is when consumers spend more when using cashless payment methods in comparison to cash. The study suggests the cashless effect leads people to spend more when purchasing products that are typically used to signal status, such as jewelry. However, the
6-8-2024

LAWS MEANT TO KEEP DIFFERENT RACES APART STILL INFLUENCE DATING PATTERNS, DECADES AFTER BEING INVALIDATED

If you are single and looking for a romantic partner, chances are that you have used a dating app. But the likelihood that others will like, or even see, your profile may depend on your race. Studies have found that all people on dating apps, regardless of their own race, are more likely to contact white people using the app. And all people using dating apps are least likely to contact African American women and Asian American men. Until recently, some popular apps, including OkCupid, Match, Hinge and Grindr, provided
6-8-2024

VIRTUAL LABS IN PSYCHOLOGY RESEARCH BOOST DIVERSITY

University of Oregon psychologists are breaking down barriers to include underrepresented populations in research by bringing laboratories online. The researchers are trying to address a longstanding issue in psychology studies, which often rely on undergraduate students to volunteer as research subjects.
6-8-2024

ATTENDING LOCAL EVENTS STRENGTHENS NEIGHBORHOOD BONDS, SURVEY REVEALS

how often people visit and actively participate in local events and how this affects their sense of place or their connection to their community. A survey of almost 400 households in the state’s coastal council area of the City of Holdfast Bay found that people who frequently attend local events or participate as volunteers, organizers or exhibitors, have a stronger
6-8-2024

STUDY SHOWS ONLINE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION WORKS FOR COMPLEX TOPICS

“COVID-19 forced educators to adjust their educational best practices to an unfamiliar virtual classroom, and professional development was no different,” said Karen Jo Matsler, assistant professor in practice for UTeach at UTA
6-8-2024

EYE-TRACKING STUDY REVEALS THAT SIMPLY LOOKING AT THE NATURAL WORLD IN URBAN AREAS CAN REAP WELL-BEING BENEFITS

Integrating more natural features into city landscapes can play a crucial role in enhancing the mental well-being of residents. A study by Bangor University and Technion- Israel Institute of Technology, published in the scientific journal People and Nature, involved city dwellers and showed how paying visual attention to greenery, rather than human-made structures, can alleviate anxiety and enhance restorative feelings. The 117 urban residents who took part in the study, were guided on a
6-8-2024

ADVERTISERS MAY BE INADVERTENTLY FUNDING MISINFORMATION

Companies in industries such as health care, technology and insurance have been found to advertise on misinformation websites, according to an analysis published in Nature. In a related experiment, consumers who were made aware that a company advertised on a misinformation website were likely to reject an offer of a gift voucher to spend with that company. The majority of digital advertisement placement on the internet is done via an algorithm-based distribution
6-8-2024

STUDY SUGGESTS EVOLUTIONARY BASIS FOR MALE RISK-TAKING BEHAVIORS

why we associate risk-taking with males rather than females, from an evolutionary standpoint. Study author Hannah Goodman, from UWA’s School of Human Sciences, said researchers found men engaged in riskier behaviors when crossing a busy traffic intersection, supporting growing evidence that risk-taking is predominantly an androcentric behavior. “Males

Hi! I have lived in an apartment for about 4 months now, and I clean the floor with mop once a week, and on my hands and knees with a scrub brush and bleach water, once a month.
No matter how often I do that, my floors are still gross. I walk on the floors barefoot, and by the end of the day, the bottoms of my feet will be black. I don't know what to do. The floors do not look dirty at all, they look very clean, but no matter what, the bottoms of my feet or socks will be black and brown with dirt.
The flooring is cheap linoleum. It's so cheap that it has started to peel up in some spots because it's gotten wet from me scrubbing it and mopping it.
I just don't know what to do anymore and really need help!

I understand the kind of idea of that Helldivers are expendable "elite" to destroy whole armies, so kind of cheap tactics, you know.
But it would be very good that, for example, some military intelligence report established that on a given planet, let’s say, there are 5,000 tanks and 10,000 hulks. So we are lowering their forces with each destroyed tank, each destroyed hulk. And when the planet is kinda 90-95% liberated, we can as Helldivers feel like a fresh breeze on missions killing the remaining broken force of enemy.
And also it will justify the enemy spam mechanics in game
Otherwise it really feels like we should just evade a lot of enemies and for what? For Democracy? I mean, guys, we can do a lot of missions in theory just by shooting straight from orbit. Why do we need Helldivers then?
Also adding SEAF troops + tanks or vehicles will make that feeling of real battle.
So what do you think about this?

I have a desktop and a laptop and I'm leaning toward replacing both with just one device. My laptop is a 2020 XPS 13 with 8GB RAM and an i5, but I've hated this thing ever since I got it. My desktop is one I've built that has 32GB RAM, a 2060 Super, and I believe a Ryzen 5 3700 (might not exist - I forget the naming).
I seldom use my desktop and when I do it's for the rare video game (rarely play League, and last played FF VII Remake a year ago) or downloading movies for watching later.
I am a data/backend engineer, so I'm coding often and would like to test projects on my laptop. I don't yet have any projects which use Docker that I need to run/test locally, but I know that Docker is a bit of an issue on newer Macbooks.
I also think that I would like to mess around with making music, having spent time around a lot of my DJ friends. While they all use Macs, I know that I don't need to; however, the newer Macbooks have amazing traits for media (e.g., beautiful sound and an insanely high res screen).
If Frameworks were of a better build quality (poor speakers, something about the screen and hingers) and had a better battery life, I'd surely go with them. I love the repairability (one of the reasons I hate my XPS), but I feel like many laptops are becoming less repairable. I've read many comments about newer Thinkpads not being as maintainable as before.
That being said, I was looking at the new Snapdragon Elite Thinkpad coming out this year, but its resolution is only 1920x1200, and I may want something with a fan if I'll be running a lot (although I really don't know if I will need that on these newer chips).
I don't need a gaming laptop. Even though my XPS can probably run League, I would only really use it for retro games.
I may be going to visit some friends in countries where they've told me that a Macbook will most likely get stolen from me if I take it out there, but that anything is likely to be stolen.
I was planning on selling my desktop, but I'm going to look into leaving it with family and having Tailscale running on it so that I can just run heavier programs on there if/when needed; however, if I'm then doing that and grabbing any old cheap laptop, I won't be able to mess with making/mixing music, which is my current muse.

It started off like the most romantic movie you've ever seen. I (m, 50s, American) was on a solo trip through Europe in April 2023 when I met her (f, 40s, French) at a super cool neighborhood party I got randomly invited to during my 1-day visit to Austria. We exchanged glances, and got to talking. She was very cute and French. It was so random, seemed like kismet. We connected instantly and we spent the whole night together (very PG and very sweet at first). Have you seen Before Sunrise? Kinda like that.
I left the next day to continue my journey in Europe. But we started texting constantly. Then she wanted to come with me to Istanbul for a few days. It seemed impulsive, but I readily agreed. It was pure bliss.
She was stylish, cute, demur, fun, smart, and she adored me completely. She would do this "flashbulb eyes" thing that would knock me out. Even some random person came up to us in Istanbul and said, "you are such a cute couple" and took our picture. I had been divorced for a few years and the dating scene where I live in California is not so great.
I go back to California and she goes back to Austria where she lives. She told me she had to call her mom 6 times to tell her about how in love she was, but had to hang up because she was crying so much and couldn't talk.
Constant texting, pictures, love messages, calls. It was so nice. She even wrote poems and made songs (they were a bit frantic and weird, but anyway). I told all my friends. They were so happy for me. I was very in love with her.
Then about a month later, I made a casual comment that I admitted to be "demanding", ie., I don't put up with a lot of crap. I could feel the change.
Her nephew came into town to spend a few weeks with her. She started to ignore me. The texts and songs and pictures trickled down. She said she had no time. But she was going to concerts, etc. It was bullshit. When I raised my concerns, she said I was shouting (I was just angry, but did not shout).
Curiously, it felt like a previous relationship that I had. It felt like love bombing and discarding. Finally, when she did get around to calling me, I told her that she can't treat people that way and that this seems like a personality disorder. (This time I really was shouting). So I ended it and blocked her. I was really sad, but I moved on. I went on lonely solo trips and even got back into dating (I actually had some promising dates!)
In October of last year, she slipped past the blockade, reached out, and I responded. I asked why she ditched me. I got no real answer but I wanted to believe. My friends told me don't do it. I knew the risks. I just desperately wanted that love again. I desperately wanted to have my L. She adored me. She was everything I wanted.
We meet up in DC for the most romantic Christmas I ever had. I was finally with someone I really loved. It was lovely. I was still hurt though. I wanted her to "kiss my heart" and tell me that she was sorry. She told me to "let it go". I just sucked it up.
On this trip, she told me about her late husband. She said they were very in love and never fought. He was Mexican and they met in Vienna years earlier. On a trip to visit his family in Mexico, they all were kidnapped, the men were separated from the women, the women were let go a few days later, but all the men disappeared. She told me she looked for him for 3 years before giving up.
So I gave her lots of slack. We also had a language barrier. We spoke English together, but her native language is French. I attributed any miscommunication to that as well.
We agreed to meet up again in Austin. And this is where the cracks really started to show. It was the first episode of her losing it. Right before the trip, she blew up after some text exchange. I don't remember what happened as per usual ("bewildered" is how I felt with these episodes). She said she was devastated and that we shouldn't meet anymore in Austin.
So I stayed up all night talking her off the ledge. We made up and I was happy again. I totally ignored this and following episodes.
We had a nice time in Texas. So much that we decided that we wanted to be together. When we got back to our respective countries, she told me she was moving to California (no discussion with me, just a decision on her part). Shortly thereafter, she told me she was going to start studying to get her master's. Then she was going to apply for another job in Vienna (???) Then she realized that wouldn't be a good idea. Anyway...
I wanted her to be here in California with me but it's really tough to move to the US without being married. She didn't really think anything through, she just thought some company would give her a work visa. It don't work like that, honey. I was ready to marry her (but she still was technically married because she didn't have the death certificate of her late husband who disappeared).
Meanwhile, I had a ticket to meet her in Austria and spend 2 1/2 weeks together. I just wanted to experience "normal boring life" together. We got along so great when we did. She liked all the music I liked, even stuff that she really shouldn't have heard (obscure stuff from the 80s). (Looking back, maybe this was mirroring.)
Right before my trip, I got to worrying that she was coming to live here in August sight unseen. I was afraid I was building up an image of some idyllic life, when in reality California has tons of problems. So I made a video to show her the nice things, but also the bad things of my neighborhood. When I mentioned this, she lost it. "You don't want me to come. I hate you. You're awful. Don't come to Austria." She later called and we made up. Again. This was 12 hours before I got on the plane.
I went to Austria. The first 1.5 days were great. Then her aunt and uncle came to stay with us from France. They are all very close. But her 1 bedroom apartment made for close quarters, especially since I had never met them. Spanish was the common language (I'm fluent, so no problem). I liked them. They were a cute couple and they cared about her a lot. The uncle told me "you know what happened to her. She loves you very much, so please take care of her". I said I would of course. I really loved her.
But the next day her mood changed. She was happy and chipper with them (and her shitshow best friend) but cold to me. I wasn't included in the conversations really. She didn't try to bring me into the fold. Not everyone is a good conversationalist, I reasoned.
The following day, we were all supposed to go to Prague. Romantic Prague. But in the morning, she told me "you were sulking all day yesterday" and "you obviously don't like my aunt and uncle so why don't you just go your own way."
This is on my vacation, mind you.
I felt trapped. But we made up 15 minutes later and all went to Prague. She was still grumpy with me.
That night, on the river in romantic Prague, she called me a robot and said she didn't know who I was. She said I should leave.
So that night, I had to figure out a plan. I still had a bunch of my stuff at her apartment in Vienna. I also had her spare key. I felt the heebie jeebies, worried about my physical safety. I couldn't sleep.
My plan was to take the train to her place in Vienna, grab my stuff, leave her key, and peace out.
But the next morning, she realized I had the extra key, and threatened to call her uncle and the police if I didn't give it to her.
So I found myself walking around romantic Prague at 7am with just some of my crap, no plan, and no sleep. I felt like some refugee. Then she called. "Do you want to talk over coffee?" I had no other plan.
We make up of course. The next day we are hot and heavy in a church tower in a little Czech town. We were back, making out, holding hands, acting like teenagers. It was so nice.
Don't ask me how I could forget what had happened just a few hours prior.
We went back to Austria and had another nice day, making plans to go on adventures. Yes, we were now talking about me moving to Austria.
But the next night, right before the aunt and uncle were to go back to France and we were supposed to go to Budapest, she blew it up again.
She had a knack for blowing things up right before really important events.
I had left the bathroom fan on and she just lost it.
(By the way, all of these blowups where in whispers so that aunt and uncle could not hear. She's very sweet to her family and I guess she can do no wrong.)
We were in bed and now it was my turn to lose it. In a whisper, I said, "you're stupid and you have this ugly evil face".
Then she kicked me while in bed. She was LIVID.
Still in a raging whisper, she told me to get out (in my underwear I guess) and if not, she was going to "make a scene".
I was so scared.
Then she just got into bed. And I followed.
We talked it over. She said I deserved to be kicked. I told her no words should lead to violence.
Back to normal. We went to Budapest for a few days and then back to Vienna. Now we're alone together, at last. And guess what? We had a great time. We rode her bike in the park with her sitting on the back rack, like kids. We went shopping. I treated her to restaurants (I paid for everything on the whole trip, about $2k). We played guitar and sang together. We went to the Prater and rode rollercoasters. We made love.
On the last day, she took me to the airport. We had breakfast and we both were sad. But we had plans for the future.
She walked me to security and we said our goodbyes.
When I got to the gate, I get a text. "You didn't look back when you went through security. I'm so sad. Have a nice flight!" I had to talk her off the ledge again: "I thought you were leaving, I'm so sorry my love. I didn't mean to. I love you so much."
When I got back, I was so exhausted. I thought it was the jetlag, but I was on edge. I was angry and didn't know why. Snipping at my coworkers. My body hurt I was so tired.
But I was looking for jobs in Austria. I still hadn't realized anything.
I had an opportunity to go camping in Yosemite a few days later on Friday. Even though I was so tired, I knew I should take the opportunity (campsites there are hard to get). I called her Friday am, asked her how her day was. She knew I still hadn't packed and had a very important presentation to give too. I realized I need to get ready for that presentation that was starting in just a few minutes. "Sorry my love, I need to go. Got to get ready. I will send you a message when I get to Yosemite."
Then right when my presentation was about to start, I get a message. "You are so cold. You knew I was hurting but you ended the call so abruptly."
That was it. The last straw.
When driving up to Yosemite, I told my friend the whole story. I hadn't told anyone about all the explosions and breakups. I couldn't believe my own ears. Was I actually saying these things?
Then it hit me. I had to end it.
Later that week, I sent her an email to end it. I knew a phone conversation would end badly. Email is not the classiest, but I did what I could.
I got hateful texts, then texts trying to get me back, showing pictures of the stuffed animals I got her. Then her final one.
Then it hit me. This was abuse. The realization has been coming in waves. And this wasn't the first experience I had either. I dated M a few years earlier who actually ENJOYED abusing me. I could even see a little smile when she would throw insults or say things to shock me.
I don't think L is a narcissist. She couldn't help it. She even told me once that I could help her "heal".
EPILOGUE
Looking back, L told me on several occasions that I wouldn't like her once I got to know her. She was right about that one. She said she wasn't smart and that I wouldn't like her (but she spoke 4 languages and has a couple of university degrees and a good job). She said if we lived in Paris, I would leave her for a Parisian girl.
I see all these other things that I ignored. Like how she called herself a "party girl" and would go dancing with her girlfriends, but no guys would ever talk to her. Right.
No guys from the beach volleyball meetup group she organized would ever try to get with her. Right.
The guy who gave her a book of Sufi poetry (very romantic) wasn't hitting on her. Right.
The old guy who she met at the airport and wrote to her and signed off as "ton Ron" ("your Ron") was just some nice old guy. Right.
So right when I met her, she had just moved out of her old place with her ex, even though they had only dated for a couple of weeks and stayed as "roommates" for the remaining 5 years. Then two weeks later you get with me? Right.
I got her and her family a bunch of little gifts and she gave me whatever was in her cupboard and cheap socks with bears with 3 eyes. Meanwhile, she went to great lengths to get gifts for her people.
Maybe she saw me as a ticket to live and study for free in America.
I was a total fool. Maybe she never even loved me. Or am I just telling myself this to make it easier for me?
I wrote a second email telling her a lot of these thoughts, but in a polite tone. I asked her to get help.
I blocked her everywhere of course. But even though I set up a filter to delete any incoming email, I still check my trash box 5 times a day to see if she wrote.
How I wish that she actually got help and that she could actually be in a real relationship with me. I know, I know.
Why did you hurt me, L? I would have done anything for you. I was your bear, your prince, remember? I was perfect for you, remember?
I'm crying as I write this.
I hate this. I don't want to be alone again. You were the one for me.
I miss you.

(Shorter version of this post below full story)
Hey buildapc!
I'm a student, and I'm using my notebook (yes, you see correctly - notebook) in school to learn, take notes, and write programs (.net, winui, android).
2 years ago i bought the Asus zenbook 2in1 with I5 11th gen and 16gb of ram.
It was just before i went to the school, and i was looking for something "powerful", slim. Quite new at the time, and reviews were fairly good. I though "I5 will be good enough for the future". There was one comment that said "Always overheating, don't buy" stuff. Of course, it was the only one, so i was thinking that he/she might get a bad model.
Price of this thing wasn't as cheap as you might think - $950. For I5, touch screen, 16gb of ram, and "Good battery". I needed to borrow money from dad, you know new student, it's necessary... stuff.
And it was a mistake...
I don't know why reviews were so good, yeah Oled screen looks nice, but it didn't work out for me.
Overheating, battery life with things that i do - none, 16gb seams to be limiting when i have webpages, music, and IDE open, long time waiting for compiling, loud as hell. I feel like i was cheated.
I guess i can blame my self for it, time was ticking back then, i didn't checked the online reviews, was the thing that i was looking for (Stylus for note taking, "powerhouse", not bulky, can fit in to backpack).
And it's just getting annoying.
For quite a while we do bigger projects in groups, at home.
We still are doing some work at school, but not that often.
So i was thinking about changing my laptop, but budget is tight now, i have $750 to spear and i can sell current laptop that i have for $500-750.
Taking all of information above should i: - Build a PC and do all of work at home (but then i would have problem in school)

• Build a PC and use some money to buy a chromebook or something to wirelessly connect (but then i can't use my phone as debug device)
  
• Buy a better laptop (but i don't want to carry with me heavy 16inch still hot gaming machine)
  
• Buy an ARM laptop? (Apple crazy 8gb for $800, and i guess emulation problems with x64 on Windows side even with newer X Elite)
  

Quite funny enough, the $900 tag is still "budget" in custom PC world.
What parts would i even use?
If possible i would prefer mini-itx amd cpu based build (amd has some good performance to power consumption ratio i heard)
Of course local used market is our best friend i guess.
(Shorter version)
Bought overhitting 2 in 1 notebook, programmer (android,. net), working school - home, $900 to spend, can't decide - new laptop / PC + wireless access laptop / only home PC, what parts (prefer mini-itx amd cpu)
Sorry for my English. Thanks for help!

I spent 7 days in key west with one carry-on only bag (Matador SEG28). It was my first time trying one bag-ish travel.
The only things I washed on the road were my swim shorts to get the chlorine or sand out and my handkerchief. I would throw them on the luggage rack in front of the air conditioner overnight after washing them in the shower with the hotel’s shampoo. It worked really well.
In the future, I’d definitely forego the snorkel, the 2 extra shirts, and the hard case for my over ear headphones. None of them were really necessary.
As for the bag, I did really like it. The materials are amazing, it looks nice, it was comfortable to carry, but I felt like it was almost too big.
The more I get into minimizing my things for travel, the less I want to lug around so much. It makes it too easy and convincing to pack too much because it just keeps having extra capacity.
It’s too big for a personal item as well. It could be squeezed, but you’d have zero leg room. I love the bag and I will keep it for when I intend to bring a little more (cold climate, specific gear needs, etc), on car trips, or when I’m okay using the overhead bin. I got it on a flash sale for $175 last year and I don’t regret it one bit.
Feel free to ask any questions or leave any comments below.
Packing List:
ACCESSORIES ***************
Bic Lighter Binder Clip Bottle Opener Keychain Cheap AAA Flashlight Duct Tape Extra Disposable Zip Top Quart Bag Fisher Space Pen Hero Clip Humangear Spork Lego Luggage Tag Metal Chopsticks Metal Straw with Silicone Mouthpiece Napkins Neck Gaiter Neodymium Magnet Nite Ize Locking S Carabiner (2) Number 36 Bank Line Papermate Pen Reusable Silicone Quart Bag Rite in the Rain Notebook Rubber Bands Sendero Handkerchief Snorkel Mask TSA Compliant Pen Scissors Utensil Holder Waterproof Phone Case w/ Lanyard Zip Ties
CLOTHING ***********
Astral Loyak Shoes Chubbies Hybrid Shorts/Swim Trunks Fresh Clean Threads Henley and V-Neck Tees (5) Grip 6 Belt Hanes Comfort Waist Boxer Briefs (7) Land's End Khaki Shorts Lululemon ABC Travel Pants Proper Cloth Chambray Long Sleeve Button Down Saxx Boxer Briefs Sendero Hat Smartwool No Show Socks Tipsy Elves Hawaiian Shirt (2) Warby Parker Sunglasses
DOPP KIT **********
Arm and Hammer Essentials Deodorant Cologne Atomizer Contact Lens Case Dove Soap Bar Matador Soap Bag Mini Purell Hand Sanitizer Reusable Silicone Bottles (2) Reusable Silicone Quart Bag Toothbrush Travel-Sized Crest Toothpaste
FIRST AID **********
Bandages / Boo Boo Kit Chapstick Fingernail Clippers Hearos Ear Plugs Ibuprofen Imodium Pepto Bismol Tums Tylenol
MAIN BACKPACK ******************
Matador SEG28 Backpack
MISSION CRITICAL ********************
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Apple Watch Ekster Wallet Leatherman Carabiner Orbitkey Passport Rovyvon Flashlight
PACKABLE BAGS ******************
Eddie Bauer Stowaway 20L Packable Backpack Packable Tote
PACKING CUBES ******************
Bagail Packing Cubes (2) Packing Cube Shoe Bag
POUCHES ***********
CLC Custom Leathercraft Multi-Purpose Clip-on Zippered Poly Bags (2)
SLING BAG ************
Aer City Sling 2
TECH ******
Anbernic RG35XX H Case Anbernic RG35XX H Console Anker 100w GaN Charger Anker 20,000 mAh power bank Anker 5,000 mAh MagSafe power bank Apple Watch Charger Aux Cable Headphone Hardcase Long USB-A to USB-C Cord Samsung Bean Earbud Headphones Skull Candy Wired Earbud Headphones Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones Tech Pouch Universal Charging Cable USB-C to 35mm Headphone Jack Dongle USB-C to USB-C Cord
TOWEL ********
Matador Packable Microfiber Beach Towel

Guys I just bought vigil elite cause he is my main but I really love the celebration but the uniform and headgear are not that unique so is there any good cheap drip for vigil on market place

Intro

This thread is a discussion series at the tail end of the week for each newly introduced Spotlight card. This gives us nearly a week of hindsight to build a consensus and help inform players if they should open their caches for a given week. Ideally, we are looking for proven results (which can understandably be difficult to achieve in a week) more than theoretical applications to help reach this consensus, so players know what becomes less accessible to them after the Spotlight rotation.
​

This week's card: Thena

Energy: 2
Power: 1
After each turn, +3 Power if you played (exactly) 2 cards.

​

Background, High-level Strategy, and Use Cases

Thena is the first Spotlight card of The Celestials' Finest season, and there's no doubt you've encountered this strong, new contender this week. Thena joins the class of scaling 2-costs with absurdly high ceilings when built around, such as Morbius, Dagger, and -- as we'll explore further -- Angela. There was little hype around Thena as the community evaluated the upcoming cards this season, but she has already found her way into the best deck. Let's break down how she earned this position.
Maximizing Thena involves fulfilling her condition on turns 3, 4, 5, and 6, increasing her power to 4, 7, 10, and finally 13. Leveling up Thena once makes her a 2/4 with no utility; an embarrassing card. At her second level of 7 power, she is already in elite territory for 2-costs, above any printed stats like Maximus or Lizard, and only matched by the other scaling cards previously mentioned. At her third level, with 10 power, this usually costs 5 for elite stats, i.e. Doc Oc, and above other premium cards like Vision and Cannonball (who offer more than stats, of course). At her final level of 13 power, this beats most elite 6-costs, sitting just above Magneto and just below Giganto.
Scaling from simply playing other cards is a staple of several Snap archetypes, but Thena compares favorably to most of them. Bishop is an example of this; he costs 1 more, which costs a turn of scaling, and he gets only 1 point per card, albeit unconditionally. Thena gets 1.5 points per card when her exact condition is fulfilled. Using the above growth progression as a guide, it would take a whopping 12 cards (remind me how many cards are in a deck again?) from only 15 energy to get Bishop to match Thena's 13 power on turn 6. Other cards in this category include Hit-Monkey, who gets +2 power per card (but only on the same turn), and Angela, who also gets +2 power per card (in her lane).
There is a cost to Thena's absurd rate, which is the requirement that you do not play "on curve"; this means you don't play a 3-cost on turn 3, 4-cost on turn 4, and so on. This deckbuilding requirement will limit the number of decks she where she can be included. She's at home in these "small-ball" decks that get most of their points from cheap cards like Kitty and Angela, but Thena can be awkward even in small card-focused decks like Loki, which would want to play Cable/Coulson/Loki on curve. This is a real cost, it's just not very apparent at the moment in this metagame that was already centered around Kitty+Angela decks prior to her release.
The decklists below are a reflection of the current metagame, which is not terribly diverse. They all feature Kitty and Angela, which were the best cards before Thena, and are even better paired with Thena. This strategy is perfect due to Kitty's ask that you play "a turn behind" to invest an energy into playing her each turn, which you'll naturally play on the Angela lane. When combined with Hope Summers, this requirement is effectively free. There are also many Ravonna "the new Zabu" Renslayer decks below, due to her synergy with Thena and Angela.
The last feature worth of Thena worth mentioning in this metagame is her dynamic with Professor X: She's a great deterrent for opposing X's because she can continue to add points to that lane, effectively acting as an Echo against him; for the same reason, she's also valuable with your own X, drastically reducing the risk of locking yourself in a losing lane when she still has the potential to grow.
Overall, Thena is one of the best-rate 2-cost cards ever seen, but is partially a symptom of other parts of the current metagame. She's in the best version of the best deck, but the best deck can change quickly in Snap's ecosystem.
​

Sample Decklists

1. 3 "stock" Kitty+Angela lists with breakdown
2. Mysterio X/Ball
3. Alioth Tech X/Ball
4. Namora Movers
5. Gilgamesh Evo
6. Gilgamesh Guardians

These decklists come from a variety of sources but generally the top 1k of ladder; some are more proven than others.
​

What's your verdict?

Is Thena worth the key(s) now, or should players wait until a future Spotlight rotation?
Is Thena here to stay, or just the flavor of the week?

Hi, I know literally nothing about PCs and just looking up some of this stuff makes my head hurt lol.
I'd like a PC that can comfortably run some games like Witcher 3, Cultist Simulator, Minecraft, Stardew Valley, and Skyrim. Currently I can do most of these on my laptop but it strains a bit sometimes. Something that could play Cyberpunk 2077 would be awesome but not really required because I've heard its got high requirements; would be happy just to play it on minimum settings.
I found a prebuilt one for very cheap (£190) with this stuff:

Specifications:
* GTX 750-Ti 2GB GDDR5 graphics card
* Intel i3 4170 Dual Core / i5 4590 Quad Core Processor (choose below)
* 8GB 1600MHz DDR3 RAM
* HP LGA 1150 microATX motherboard
* 500GB WD Blue hard drive
* HP 320W 80plus Bronze switching power supply
* Optical Drive
* HP EliteDesk case, or choose your own!

But I have no idea if thats any good, if I'd be able to change stuff later or anything, will it run certain games? There's just so many numbers lol and I've tried looking up what they mean but... somehow I can't wrap my head around it.
The main thing I get confused about is graphics cards, like how can I know which one is good or not? They all just seem to be random numbers when I look. I'm also not sure about operating system or how that's controlled? Does that come from the motherboard or something...? I currently use Windows but open to trying other stuff.
If there is a way to get this kind of price but I build it myself I'm very willing to do this; just not sure what all the parts mean etc.
Sorry !! Any help massively appreciated.

My feet like to rub in normal Nike cotton/polyester socks as well as get extremely hot. What are yall favorite running socks/ brands to use for longer distances?

I don’t like the word “sneakerhead” but I’m looking for some people who REALLY like shoes (Nike and Jordans primarily) to give some ideas of other brands or styles of shoes to look at for a 10 year old boy.
Let me paint a picture for you..
My son is pretty unique for his age and I know a lot of people say that! But he truly is a “sneakerhead”, he’s stylish, loves making beats or playing drums. Beatboxing and whistling is how he communicates with us lol! Shoes are what he spends his down time researching - the classics/retros, the new Jordan’s coming out, what’s trending. He saves the money he earns to buy shoes (not legos or video games). He has a few different colorways of Jordan 4’s, Jordan 13s, some other Jordan’s I’m not familiar with because I buy my shoes from Target, and he bought some Yeezy foam runners recently. He’s kind of an eclectic kid - likes to thrift old school letterman jackets, street wear, wears bright colors and cool prints, etc. On the other side of things he LOVES to be outdoors. He’s always running around with other kids in the neighborhood, rides a dirt bike, scooters, electric scooters, plays in the pouring rain and mud.
Anyway… providing all of these details because we cannot for the life of us agree on “play shoes”. He’s trying to wear Jordan 13s because they are easy to clean..??? He has a pair of Nike boots. He hates the way running shoes look. He turns his nose up immediately like why would I ever even consider those. He is “okay” with vans or champions but he still complains about how the shoes are weird looking. So.. he found some Nike air max that he likes, but those are not cheap and not play shoes in my opinion. Am I wrong? Idk what else to do. I also don’t want to waste money on a pair of shoes he won’t like… because at the end of the day he’ll just end up in his crocs.
What other brands have outdoor or “play shoes” that are stylish, practical, and reasonably priced?
P.S. Not looking to get bashed for letting my 10 year old save money to buy the things he loves. Also not looking for the “who’s the parent? He gets what he gets, we didn’t have a choice” responses either. Legitimately looking for suggestions!! Please!