Flowers made with keyboard symbols

I feel like such an ass and I genuinely have no idea what to do. My best friend is celebrating her birthday in a few weeks—several days before her actual birthday.
She had told me the date verbally about a week ago but I failed to note it in my calendar so the date had slipped my mind. In that time, I inadvertently booked a long weekend getaway with my new partner, whom I have been dating for six months, on the same weekend. We both took time off work and paid for accommodations already.
If I could just bump the weekender a week or so, I would, but it’s more complicated than that. For one, my custody arrangement with my ex makes it difficult to take off for a weekend, especially in the summer, and my partner is a performer who usually works weekends so it won’t be easy to reschedule. Also, the ex is question will be attending my friend’s party (they are still friends), and I’m not exceedingly excited to hang out with him all evening.
At the same time, this is a dear friend who went out of her way to be around for my birthday. (I didn’t ask her to, but it was important to her.) I tried to offer to take her out for a one-on-one celebration somewhere fancy as well as taking her out on her actual birthday, but she is still upset with me.
In all honesty, I really don’t want to move a trip I’m very excited about months ahead for an occasion where I’ll be sitting with my ex and unlikely to get much quality time with my friend. My presence there would be more symbolic than anything. It also doesn’t feel fair to my partner to change the dates when they’ve already made arrangements. At the same time, I don’t want to upset my friend and I worry that not making this sacrifice will hurt our friendship. It’s not a milestone birthday but I’ve never missed one before. I’m at a loss.
If you were me, what would you do?

This was an idea tossed around early on and fits in with the wider framework of the Trailer. And in a way it reminds of Inquisition, with most of the companions being leaders in their own right or ideological standard bearers.
Bioware has done this is some fashion for a while now, but its getting more extreme. And there are significant problems with modeling all your characters off of an ideological background.
For one, the companions are made to represent a specific factions goals and ideology. Meaning their personality is put on the backburner for sake of the cause they represent. Their 'motivation' is dictated by the collective will of their organization.
Of course there is some room for doubt, whereby a character arc could form where a certain character might break free of their beliefs. But when every major companion is a faction LEADER, this makes it more incumbent on the game to structure the narrative not just around them as individuals, but their underlings whom now function as an extension of your mission.
There is less room for growth as everyone becomes symbols, with only a surface level personality mostly defined by jokes and puns. And the way the Veilguard is made out to be, it looks like a superhero team up where differences are put aside to fight the endless horde of demons.
Kinda like Inquisition. A game that was technically not an MMO, but was certainly built as if it were one. In the same way, just because The Veilguard is no longer a Live Service game, doesn't mean the game won't play as one. And that is a shame for the story.

Ok so I’m an Apple guy but I’ve spent about 4 weeks tinkering with and customizing my beam. First, I got rid of Eva Launcher in favor of Projectivity. Now I have my tv apps and regular apps separate. Next, I made Aloha my custom browser. Now I have 3d sbs and YouTube plus YouTube tv fully functional. I then set it up so projectivity is what opens on start and it doesn’t have full access to my accessibility services. I don’t know why but things seem to work better when you deny projectivity access to accessibility stuff but use it as the os that boots up. Finally, and most importantly; you need this weird remote: https://www.amazon.com/Fosmon-Portable-Lightweight-Bluetooth-Controlledp/B00BX0YKX4/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?crid=MZ3VKZ93ELHR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.0XT8glwpKWlx31ExPVxYPnOinJMfScXttR4zzphTeL41PTIzRc0fGwWRsZmz72pclLIVKFFGQyMIOXSM3juwZOuUWIEzzsC5q-BATW7aBjLoiO4xBeR2qXLy2906rrQKQzWHlISvJB111Ez5YOFifdk5B780miaB3UM05xdWXUcyY1_xu2tIuEjM9aaEypeZt1G7CupbVdjta9slE6xgEA.hPioRiGdym8XHhcSW1hqleHwZgFd95FwTnt5Px2_ws8&dib_tag=se&keywords=qwerty+keyboard&qid=1717955067&sprefix=qwerty+keyboar%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-5. This allows you to easily navigate except I haven’t figured out the back button. So just hit the back button on beam.
Then just tinker with the settings and boom - you got a fully functional tvOS with your favorite phone apps to boot. And they all seem to work, even my Google apps. No static, no lag. I feel like I’ve finally made Beam 1 cool as soon as beam 2 is announced. But I think the beam 2 announcement gave me the confidence to start tweaking beam 1 to the point of no return.
For anyone who wants to use this for productivity instead of consumption, the tech just isn’t there yet. I’m not sure if it ever will be since eye strain is going to be the biggest villain to conquer. With movies, the strain seems less apparent. Using prescription lenses helps a lot too. But now I love my little beam

So this was a long time coming. So i was originally going to do this pitch awhile ago, all the way back near the start of the year (or at least when I first moved back to Ottawa) no less, at the time, it was going to be titled "The Spectular Spiderman: Team RED" based off the rumors that Ant-Man and Daredevil were going to be in it. But, then Born Again got overhauled, and I believe the stuff related to Ant-Man either wasn't true or it was, but his part got scrapped when Born Again was reworked (as in early set photos, it showed that Pym Particles at one point was going to be involved), and when they said Sony wanted it to be a Multiverse film like NWH, I lost faith and interest in it, and decided to do an Avengers 5 pitch instead (which I am still working on, and is basically going to be my equivalent to the Snyder Cut at this point, due to how big it is).
But, now that it's been confirmed they found a middle ground between Street Level and Multiverse in terms of its story, and also that my Avengers 5 pitch is going to take alittle bit, and my faith in MCU spidey 4 is back, AND that I've done pitches for post-NWH versions of Raimi Spiderman 4 and TASM 3, which I'll leave links to here:
Raimi Spidey 4: https://www.reddit.com/fixingmovies/s/TmHpOtOeWZ
TASM 3: https://www.reddit.com/fixingmovies/s/xMeDoZ9rYB
I think it only makes sense that I come back around, and try doing a pitch for MCU Spiderman 4 again, so without further ado, and no delay. Here is my pitch for MCU Spiderman 4, AKA, "The Spectular Spiderman: Back in Black and with Love".
Before the Marvel intro, we open to the night, that changed, everything. As Peter is seen trying to redeem a gift card he got in the newspaper to get Aunt May a necklace for her birthday, the jewler won't accept it, Peter tries to argue, but he just replies "I miss the part where that's my problem, now Beat It!" Peter leaves, just then, another man enters, with a gun.
You can guess what happens next, the burglar takes the jewlery and money, and on the way out, Peter let's him escape, the burgler says thanks and throws him the necklace he was going to get Aunt May. The mall security gaurd and jewler asks why he didn't do anything, Peter replies "I miss the part where that's my problem".
We get Uncle Ben's death, but I'd have it be closer to the alternate version of Ben's death in the first TASM movie, where Ben (played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan) only sees the burgler in the shadows, believing it to be Peter, he follows him in an alley way, only for shoots to be heard in the distance. Peter finds Uncle Ben's body, and we get this emotionally powerful showcase of Hollands acting, as he mourns over Uncle Ben.
We then cut to Ben's funeral, where see he is buried....right next to where Aunt May will be buried years later, we then cut to sometime after that, Peter on a Rooftop, listening to a phone message Ben sent him before he died, just then, he hears some commotion and goes to investigate, seeing the same man who shoot Uncle Ben in an alley way, behind the man, the shadow of Wilson Fisk slowly coming closer. The man pleads for Spidermans help, Peter simply says "You want my help, then you shouldn't have killed my Uncle". Peter then swings away, we then see Fisk beat the man to death, telling him that he warned Walter this would happen if he didn't pay up. From behind we see a little girl approach the scene, Fisk tries to comfort her, but she runs away in a panic.
Peter is now in his room, unsure if he did the right thing. We then cut to sometime after that, were we see Peter picking out a laptop from the garbage and returning to May's apartment to find...Aunt May talking to Tony Stark.
After the Marvel intro we then cut to more recent times. Where in a montage we get an idea of where Peter's life is, since the events of NWH. We see thay Peter's life as Spiderman is thriving. As he's earned the public and the law enforcements trust back, to the point where he's no longer a wanted criminal, and Damage Control has taken him off there black list, and we see him being the friendly neighborhood Spiderman, even bringing in some C and D-listers I don't see them using as villains anytime soon. These include Big Wheel, Stilt Man, Vermin, Swarm, Grizzly, Rhino (played by Paul Giamatti, though this is an MCU Variant, not the TASM version), Screwball (who is comedically revealed to be Liz Allen), the Real Moltan Man, Pot Paste Pete, and Hypno Hustler.
Though Jameson still slanders him whenever he can. However, we see that Peter's life as Peter Parker, is not going so well. He's way behind on his rent, to the point where his landlord is threatening to evict him, his apartment is very messy with pizza boxes and Chinese food boxes stacked in the corner, he can't keep a steady job, he's always late to his classes if not outright misses them and is failing collage, and he's become extremely anti-social. He doesn't interact with any or his fellow collage students and any if the neighbors in his apartment. It's only as if he's strictly Spiderman now. The only place where he acts like the Peter we know and love is at FEAST, as he comes by and helps and volunteers whenever he can. We also learn that FEAST is now being run by one Martin Li (played by Steven Oyoung).
However, things change when Fisk is elected Mayor of New York (which can be the cliffhanger of Born Again Part One, by the way), and makes Vigilantes illegal, creating a Anti-vigilante Taskforce, funded by Alchemax. Consisting off Vulture (ignore Morbius), Shocker (with a more comic accurate attire), Prowler (Aaron Davis, as last seen in ATSV), Scorpion, Hydro-Man (the real one, who was alluding too as existing in FFH), and Mysterio (somehow, still alive). Things get even weirder, when a new elusive Vigilante known as the Black Cat (played by Anya Taylor-Joy or Sydney Sweeney) comes into the fray, as well as a new student in Peter's collage names Felicia Hardy.
Basically the film would be Peter going up against Fisk and his Anti-vigilante Taskforce. Along the way, Black Cat tries to push Peter into abandoning his civilian persona and embrace being Spiderman. Ironically, neither of them know the others secret identities, and the two becomes close friends at collage, which leads to Peter to opening himself up to some of the others at the collage. Which leads to him making new friends in the form of Robbie Robertson, Carly Cooper, Flash Thompson, and Gwen Stacy (played by Thomasin Mckenzie). The latter of which, like Felicia, also forms an attraction towards Peter. Simultaneously, Spidey meets Daredevil who he finds out is Matt Murdock, and simultaneously, thanks to his Radar Sense, Matt finds out that Peter is Spiderman, and remembers even who he is.
Throughout the movie, Black Cat is the Devil on Peter's shoulder, and (like I said) is trying to push him away from bring Peter Parker and embrace Spiderman, for solely selfish reasons, while Matt is ironically the angel on Peter's other shoulder, trying to push him to keep his civilian persona and try harder to find that balance. Peter's good nature also ironically rubs off on Felicia, and while she starts the movie with bad intentions, she does grow to become a more heroic and selfless person throughout the movie, and becomes a better person by the end, respecting Peter for who he is and his decisions, and realizing why it's important for him to have a civilian identity.
Also, there is a subplot of Gwen trying to get closer to Peter, but Peter rejects her advances, not only because of his attraction to Felicia, but also because he remember what Peter 3 said about her fate, and wants to avoid that as much as possible. Also, yes, we find out the man who killed Uncle Ben was Felicias father, and yes Felicia finds out Peter basically let him die, which creates friction. Ultimately however, with help from Matt and Felicia, Peter defeats the Sinister Six, including Mysterio, who we find out isn't his Quentin Beck, but a Variant from a universe where Mysterio successfully defeated Peter Parker, who somehow ended up in 616, and the three fight Fisk, which ends in a stalemate, with Fisk agreeing to take end the Anti-Vigilante taskforce, and make a sort of middle ground. Though it's also made clear, the conflict is far from over (with this leading directly into Born Again Part Two, which I think will be the culmination of the Street level subplot now instead, by the way).
The film ends with a montage, of Peter improving his life as Peter Parker. Finally paying his rent, and sees he has new neighbors, this is where we meet officer Jefferson Davis (played by Terry Crews) and Miles Morales, Spiderman meeting with the new Captain of the NYPD, Captain Stacy (played by Aaron Eckhart or Josh Dallas), about helping out more and having better ties with the police, which he agree as assigns Yuri (played by Ming Da Wen) as Peter's partner, and Peter starts to get better acquainted with his new group of friends, yes, even Flash. He also takes Robbies advice and gets an internship at the Daily Bugle, where he reunites with Betty, sending videos of Spiderman to Jameson.
The last shot of the movie however, i have two ideasn first is Spiderman and Black Cat meeting on a Rooftop of Peter's apartment, and the two reconciling, and while they decide to call off there relationship (for now) the two decide to remain friends and allies, even revealing each other's identities to one another. Peter then returns to his apartment, he then hears a knock on the door, he answers to see it's Gwen with flowers. He asks Peter if he wants to go onna date, which Peter accepts and the two walk off hand in hand.
My second idea is the same, accept, Peter and Felicia remain in a relationship, and the two share a kiss, and still revealing there identities to one another, Peter is then left there on the Rooftop, thinking about everything that has happened recently, and smiles as we cut to black.
The film would obviously focus on the aftermath of NWH, and Peter struggling with balancing both his personas, it would also explore the idea of learning to let others in and not pushing them away. Yes Peter, shouldn't just let everyone knows he Spiderman, but that doesn't mean he has to isolate himself or decline help when he clearly needs it. It would also show how Peter's good nature can actually help seemingly selfish people change for the better, Felicia being a prime example of this. Anyways, I didn't have the Symbiote play that big of a role, because I didn't have room for it, but to make up for it, it will be the first, of six post credits scenes. Yep im pulling a Gaurdians 2.

• End credits scene 1: The Venom Symbiote arrives at Peter's apartment and attaches itself to him. Like in Spiderman 3, Peter finds himself hanging on a building with it on, and says "What The Fu-" cut to black.
  
• End Credits scene 2: Martin Li meets with a mysterious figure, who is revealed to be Roderick Kingsley, the CEO of Alchemax.
  
• End Credits scene 3: a comedic scene involving Jameson with his own homemade Spiderman cosplay.
  
• End Credits scene 4: a scene from Born Again Part Two.
  
• End Credits scene 5: a scene of MJ at her collage from Boston watching news footage of Peter, she now has dyed red hair. For whatever reason, all her memories coming flooding back, and she says "Peter?".
  
• End Credits scene 6: a scene with Kang/Beyonder that leads directly into Avengers 5.
  

Hi everyone,
I am new to mechanical keyboard community. I started by journey with Keychron V1. I really loved it till now but recently it has sttartted to act weird.
I made a postt about some keys noot working properly like '3' , 'T' or 'ageup' agedown' ettc. Then all of you helped me out and someone from Keychron also suggeested me to share a mail so that they can send new switch.
I didn't send any mail because from tthat night those keys startted woorking fine but now from a week ago other keys are giving me hard time. Some keys are not registering easily. I need to hit iitt really hhard to register and some keys registter twicce or more times.
For example - 'T', 'C', 'E' and some more keys registter twice. 'P', 'Q', '2', '8' 'X' sometimes don't rregister at all. I really need to smash them to gget registtered.
I have typed the whole post with the same keyboard and didn't correct the errors in most cases so that you can gett a gliimpse of whats happening. I am not even sure how many keys are not working because sometime different keys act weird and sometimes its diferentt keys.
lease help. Not even sure how tto share a proof to Keycchron in maiil as all of the keys needs to be changged.

Hi everyone,
I am new to mechanical keyboard community. I started by journey with Keychron V1. I really loved it till now but recently it has sttartted to act weird.
I made a postt about some keys noot working properly like '3' , 'T' or 'ageup' agedown' ettc. Then all of you helped me out and someone from Keychron also suggeested me to share a mail so that they can send new switch.
I didn't send any mail because from tthat night those keys startted woorking fine but now from a week ago other keys are giving me hard time. Some keys are not registering easily. I need to hit iitt really hhard to register and some keys registter twicce or more times.
For example - 'T', 'C', 'E' and some more keys registter twice. 'P', 'Q', '2', '8' 'X' sometimes don't rregister at all. I really need to smash them to gget registtered.
I have typed the whole post with the same keyboard and didn't correct the errors in most cases so that you can gett a gliimpse of whats happening. I am not even sure how many keys are not working because sometime different keys act weird and sometimes its diferentt keys.
lease help. Not even sure how tto share a proof to Keycchron in maiil as all of the keys needs to be changged.

https://youtu.be/kbwSFOqzKMY?si=wPvkKCr_guICbJaJ
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/benfolds/losinglisa.html
Hello everyone, I hope all is well. Today we are going to be taking a closer look/listen at the song “Losing Lisa” which is the seventh track from Ben’s first solo album Rockin’ the Suburbs.
There’s a couple of songs on this album, including this one, where I feel like they have hints of sounds from the 50’s/60’s despite them being written and released in the early 2000’s. The song starts with this harpsichord sounding keyboard playing a bright G major chord. This intro is cut off with a drum hit and then Ben switching to a normal piano and vocals.
Lyrically, this is song is about the unraveling of a relationship between the character Ben is singing from and his partner named Lisa. Ben sings “she's so sensitive, this shit just happens sometimes.” It seems like Ben is singing this song through the perspective of a typical male who’s blaming the ending of a relationship on the other person. He’s saying how she’s overly sensitive but then in the next line is saying how she’s his “everything” and how she’s his best friend. It’s maybe a little ironic how this song was the only song on that album cowritten by Ben’s at the time wife Frally Hynes.
During this first verse we get some other instruments gradually being added to the mix. First there’s some light percussion, some subtle acoustic guitars and some great bass fills which gives me Beach Boy vibes. And then lyrically, Ben does this smart move where he ends the verse with the lyric “we don't do anything we didn't do the day….” and then starts the pre chorus with the lyric “before you go, you ought to know.” This is great because the word “before” is used as a transitional word between the verse and pre chorus and it’s clever in a way you might not notice on a first listen.
The pre chorus is a nice way to slow things down before we get to the chorus. The move from the E minor chord to E flat chord is smooth and lyrically we have Ben’s character pleading to Lisa that he didn’t mean to hurt her which is a human cliche as old as time. As we move into the chorus we get the drums and piano ramping up in energy on the D major chord to give us the push we need for the chorus.
For me, the chorus is the hook of this song. It’s all fairly simple but it’s so goddamn catchy no matter how many times I hear it. The chorus has such a breezy flow to it as Ben’s singing about heartache with the lyric “black tears are falling down her face and I am wrong.” I’ve always interpreted the black tears being mascara running down Lisa’s face as she is crying. And even though this character understands he’s in the wrong, he’s still complaining that Lisa won’t tell him what he did that was wrong. Maybe the most devastating line is when Ben sings “she’s sitting here beside me then she is gone.” Even though she physically there with him, mentally she’s already checked out. The chorus ends with Ben’s catchy harmonies as he sings “black tears are falling, falling.”
The second verse begins with full instrumentation which adds nice dynamics to the song. This time around, Ben’s character is reminiscing of a time where things were simpler with Lisa and himself. He speaks of loving times when they were laughing and things were simpler. But now she’s no longer happy and he no longer feels anything. And in the pre chorus, instead of the male character listening to what his partner is saying, he’s fixated on her face instead. “I am mesmerized, by tiny lines. I'm watching as the shapes are drawing slowly from her eyes.”
We get another chorus which sounds just as great as the first one. Another reason I love the pre chorus is the movement of the chords after each lyric. Ben plays a B flat, C and a D minor chord which he walks up and then back down again. It’s one element of the chorus that makes the whole song so catchy. That and some of Ben’s vocal melodies really remind me of the Beach Boys, especially the runs that move down in pitch.
After the second chorus the song brings it down in volume as we enter into the bridge. The piano and drums are more delicate as Ben sings the title of the song three times. It’s almost as if he’s finally realizing that he’s lost Lisa and he admits that “there’s nothing I can do.” And it’s right during this realization where the instruments start building up in energy to bring us to the instrumental section. I wouldn’t call it a solo necessarily as none of the instruments really play a full on solo (although Ben does play some tasty licks). Instead we actually get a lot of space where the instruments can breathe. My favorite parts is when you can hear the electric guitars play a couple of old timey strums.
Then the song ends on an outro which a different variation of chords than the chorus. Ben sings “black tears are falling, falling” as he also provides his own backing vocals singing “ahh.” It’s a great little jam section that eventually ends on a B flat/F chord and some tambourine action.
When it comes to this album, this is one of my favorite underrated songs from it. It’s not as flashy as the title track, nor does it have the beauty of a song like “Carrying Cathy.” But it’s just one of those songs that flows effortless and can stuck in your head in a non annoying way. It’s fun to single along to and easy to follow; it’s basically a song where a relationship falls apart because one person is not only ignorant to the signs, but also does nothing to solve any of the problems. It’s a song that was played live on most nights on Ben’s What Matters Most tour. I was ecstatic to hear it and I think Ben’s backing band plus Talk Heights made this song better than it would have been with just Ben and his piano.
But what do you think about this song? Is it an underrated song from Rockin’ the Suburbs? What do you think the song is about? Favorite lyrical or musical moments? And did you ever catch it live?

This is going to be long, but it's the most condensed I could make it.
I just don't know what to do and who to turn to.
My wife has had a rough life since her childhood. She was largely neglected in every sense and had chronic, debilitating migraines and pain since she was a child. Despite this she grew up to be a smart, driven, capable, compassionate woman.
When we first started dating, I knew she had some health issues, but it didn't bother me as I wanted to take care of her. She always hated feeling like she was a burden and was always trying to figure out new treatments and supplements to address her health issues. Despite that, we enjoyed our time together trying new restaurants and snuggling up on the couch or in bed.
When we got married we wanted to do a destination wedding in Mexico, but my family made a big stink about it and manipulated me to have us compromise for a domestic wedding and a symbolic one in Mexico. In hindsight I should have told them to pound sand, but I was a different person back then.
Then when it came to kids, I wanted us to try and she wanted to adopt. I wasn't opposed to adopting, but I wanted us to try first while we were younger. We went back and forth, but eventually she agreed and we had our daughter. It was a tough time as she gave up on her career to take care of our daughter as I had the better paying job. She had some post partum. But she wanted to have another, so we had my son a few years later.
The pregnancies really seemed to exacerbate her pain and health issues, and over the years it's gotten worse. I will fully admit that I can't truly understand her pain and it took me a while to realize how to adjust to be a spouse of a chronic pain sufferer.
Over the years, as life became more complicated, we drifted further and further apart. My career had afforded us a comfortable living with a house, two cars, a nice neighborhood, and nice things. But date nights became fewer. Instead of her ushering me off to bed when she was getting ready so we could snuggle, we went to bed at separate times. Intimacy waned. It started bothering me a few years ago. So I tried to open a dialogue on it.
What I was told was that she was resentful of being made into a housewife in a suburb while her health made her feel trapped and overwhelmed. She needed me to be more accommodating to her bad days and more involved in housework and child care. I tried to take it to heart and make efforts to do so and things would be good for a while. But then it would fall apart again. I became depressed.
Meanwhile we discovered her health was caused by a genetic condition that had no clear form of treatment. She had already tried the bulk of them to no avail. We'd go through numerous alternative treatment options over the years, but nothing TRULY addressed her pain or other symptoms. Each attempt hurting more and more, removing hope.
She would tell me that I needed therapy for my depression and I would spend a couple of years trying every antidepressant and seeing a therapist. And while it was nice to have someone validate my feelings, my wife didn't think my therapist was using the right tools to get me where she thought I needed to be. So I stopped going since the major driver was to address whatever was driving a wedge between us. My depression was getting worse as I felt more and more defeated. She'd suggest numerous supplements which helped in some regards, but never really made a significant dent in this dread I felt as my marriage seemed to be crumbling.
I would try more unconventional treatments like happy lights, meditation, gratitude journals, micro dosing certain fungal elements, even spending a month getting electromagnetic shocks from a dome that a clinician put over my head (her recommendation). It might give a boost via the placebo effect, but it would never last. My wife still didn't seem to think it was enough and we were growing further and further apart.
Now I'm sure some of you reading this might be screaming at me that just treating myself for depression and trying to modify my behaviors to address my wife's concerns is only my part of it. That she needs to make efforts too. And to her credit she has tried things, but it rarely lasts more than a few weeks. The worst part is she doesn't seek to understand what she can do better and she doesn't take my critiques well. If I come out and tell her something that she's doing is bothering me, if it isn't blatantly obvious she's in the wrong, she gets mad and shuts down on me. So I avoid bringing it up, but eventually when we're connecting I inevitably bring it up and it makes us not talk for several days. Oftentimes it ends up judo flipped on me and she reminds me about how hard her life is already and that she can't just be super lovey dovey and focus on me. She's touched out from our kids and the dogs. She just wants to be left alone and not have to validate or reassure me. She's convinced that our house makes her more sick and that she wants to move to another country and have land.
I know she needs to address some of her issues stemming from her childhood trauma and chronic health issues. To mourn the life she thought she would have. But she is CERTAIN that she's got the mental fortitude to be objective and see past her biases. That our issue is my expectations are too high.
It's bogus if course. I don't think expecting that we make our marriage a priority and making it a point to connect more meaningfully and work on our communication is unreasonable. She's just redirecting. In my opinion she's so sensitive to feeling responsible to not being as capable as she feels that she should be that whenever I shine a mirror on her she just uses her rage and resentment to deflect it and put me in the defensive. Then, maybe if I love her enough, I'll change into some sort of person that can enable her to do all the things she feels like she needs to do. At this point it is an extremely handy man who's focused on exactly what she wants, who never asks her to compromise, is always present, anticipates her needs, and never really asks for much in return. So... A fantasy.
Since she was focused on making it about my expectations and inability to understand her, I took it as a challenge to read all sorts of books on how to navigate marriage and be a better partner. And for a while, that helped. But then when I would try to share what I learned that could apply to her, again, it would just devolve into us it talking for a few days.
If you're still reading, you probably are suggesting that I give her an ultimatum to get counseling, single or couples. Otherwise, divorce. And I have tried in the past, but I can't seem to bring myself to actually pushing for divorce. I still truly love my wife and yearn for her to want to be the best spouse for me. I know my wife loves me, but not in a way you hope your spouse would. Every now and again, there is this glimmer of hope that keeps me hanging on. And I am trying to view her actions through the lens of someone who is suffering and needs my help. After all, I do feel responsible for some of her increased pain due to my insistence to have kids. And since she was a stay at home Mom for 8 years, her professional career has definitely limited her earning potential, so starting out on her own after a divorce is going to be hard. And I also recognize that I'm not a saint in this whole thing and I have things I need to work on too.
But I feel like divorce is inevitable at this point. It keeps getting harder and harder to deny how I'm feeling. I try to keep our unhappiness contained so no one knows, but I now know it's becoming more and more obvious. My daughter told my sister that the guest room is where daddy sleeps most of the time. My parents can tell I'm suffering and recognize how much I'm straining myself to accommodate my wife.
I have begged and pleaded for her to see this as I do. Cried until I'm a blubbering mess explaining how I want to salvage our marriage. How I'm trying to meet her, but she's not meeting me. Sometimes it helps and we have a few good days, but it gets shorter and shorter before it goes right back to what it used to be. Oftentimes the moment I imply she's not being as good of a partner as she could be, she gets mad and ends the conversation. I want to get therapy, but our insurance sucks and would require me to travel 45 min out of my way to the nearest provider. I know I'm not being a good role model for my kids. I know my health is declining from this all too. I feel buried under this life and having a harder and harder time recognizing myself as I look in the mirror. I just need her to see how she's hurting me and want to do what she can to fix it. To let me know that she recognizes that we're better together and need to be able to clearly, honestly, and openly communicate with each other. That she respects me. I'm sick of doubting myself and trying to mold and shift and strain to feel truly understood only to be disappointed.
But every time it seems just in reach, she just uses her chronic health issues and dissatisfaction with our current life as a means to justify her mistreatment. I truly, TRULY want to have us together. But I can't do it on my own and I feel like I'm being forced to end our marriage and be labeled as the guy who ditched his chronically ill wife because she wasn't enough for him. I know my kids would likely feel like I'm the bad guy. I know our lives our so intertwined that the idea of separating seems impossible.
I just... I just feel so stuck and hopeless.
Thank you for reading this all of you made it this far.

I know it’s normal to sometimes wake up in a dream and then actually wake up in real life, but has anyone else experienced waking up 4 or more times before you finally hit reality?
Yesterday I took a nap, I woke up for a few seconds and apparently mumbled and rolled over. I thought I had woken up, I definitely opened my eyes enough to see my surroundings before being plunged back into a dream almost instantly. I “woke up” the first time and everything felt real expect the video game my boyfriend had been playing for hours was different and made me uncomfortable. Essentially 4 minutes later I am able to figure out I’m not actually awake and “wake up” a second time. Every time I “woke up” the dream became more tame and realistic, but there was still a sort of catch so to say, that tipped me off on that I was yet again not awake. This happened 4 times before the 5th time I was actually able to wake up. It lasted about 20 minutes and I was filled with dread by the time I was actually awake. In one of the mini dreams, I had actually dreamt I had sleep paralysis which I’ve had in real life for about 5-6 years starting about when I was 17.
Today I woke up from my first dream after 2 hours of sleep, and inside said dream I woke up twice. In the past, I’ve had violent dreams of killing people which logically I know are just largely symbolic and nothing to be ashamed of, but it’s difficult to shake the guilt and fear when I wake up. Those two hours I had to defend myself from a demon like man who was aggressive after I rejected his advances, literally in my own boyfriends room. He was very disrespectful and when he became pushy I fought back and his eyes went black so I “crushed” him. I heard every sound of pain and broken bones. I was so scared to go back to sleep. But I couldn’t stay awake and eventually put on a YouTube video to keep my ears busy. My headphones died and so I was back in the same world, where I spent another two hours dreaming, waking up several times in the dream, every time after being attacked by this entity, a human but one that could contort into a disgusting human pretzel, only after I violently defend myself.
I’ve woken up in dreams before but never this frequently and I have been known to fall back alseep and pick up exactly where a dream left off. I becoming very worried for my sleep as my dreams are becoming very unsettling again, and leaves me feeling off when I start the day. It was easy to shake off when I started to have better control of my mental health, but now my feelings of fear, shame, and anxiety are steadily rising.
Sorry for how long this is, I’m just feeling uneasy and I’d like some perspective from people who are interested in this sort of thing and could maybe help me feel like I don’t have to be terrified of my own sleeping mind.
TLDR: I falsely woke up 4 times in 20 minutes after a nap, which left me feeling very uneasy. The following night I was able to get 4 hours of sleep, 2 hours at a time, having very violent and scary dreams inside of said dreams.

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Two items — a crystal ball, and a green leather-bound notebook — sat benignly and idly atop of the black-robed professor’s desk.
The camera lingered on them, giving them what most may see as an undeserved moment in the spotlight.
But to those that knew, to the parties invested in this controversy, this little pause and dramatic zoom-in was accompanied by a hair-raising excitement… along with an untempered nervousness for what was to come.
It definitely caused the investigative duo on the other side of the screen some pause for thought; prompting them to stand intently, pondering both the orb and the notebook.
Ilunor, as far as I could tell, was entranced by the green notebook in particular. Though it wasn’t a trance born out of any positive emotion, but instead, one of abject horror.
“Recommended Reading Materials for the Studious Student.” Sorecar announced with a steady breath, prompting Ilunor to visibly flinch in his seat, as the man reached a finger over to point at the hand-scrawled title of the leather-bound notebook. That finger soon found itself carefully manipulating its pages, opening the cover first, before turning over the internal dust-cover to reveal letters and symbols written in High Nexian, but arranged in a manner the EVI simply could not translate.
“Error: Unable to Translate. Cause: Unrecognized and/or unintelligible organization of local script-forms.”
Yet despite this, it seemed as if both Sorecar and the Apprentice were able to draw something from its otherwise senseless pages. As despite being written haphazardly, with letters and pictograms arranged in no meaningful order, they were able to still draw meaning where the EVI couldn’t.
“Within these pages lie materials for the studious student. Materials are to be found within The Library, and are to be retrieved with great haste. May you make swift work of their contents, and may those after you find only ash in your wake. Seek, unlearn, and remove from the grip of the eternal entity, that which was once a gift but is now a curse. Seek, unlearn, and remove; with the fires of your passion, oh studious student.” Sorecar read aloud, managing to read something verbatim from the nonsensical pages of the book.
Ilunor’s eyes were practically glazed over at this point, as he began bringing his cape over across his chest, tucking his legs towards his chin in the process.
“This is it.” The apprentice announced with a half-cracked smile. “Please, keep going. I’m certain your skills of appraisal far exceed my own, Professor.”
Sorecar obliged by flipping the page, turning over to two pages of complete gibberish, once again watermarked by the EVI’s error message; but proving no challenge at all for the ever-inquisitive professor.
“Section One, A Tainted Reality: A Wretched Collection of Historical Affidavits During the Reconciliation and Reformation of Otherwise Lost Realities.” Sorecar paused, before turning towards the apprentice. “It lists an entire section’s worth of books, in titles held within spatial positions with reference to their potentialities within the ever-evolving library.”
Thacea’s features visibly flinched at that revelation, but similar to the apprentice in the footage, she refused to comment. At least not for now. Her eyes however betrayed a look of mild distress, which subsided somewhat as the apprentice urged the armorer to continue.
Which he did, as he flipped from page to page across the relatively small notebook, only pausing to read in between what he interpreted to be different sections and ‘chapters’.
“Section Two. The Unspoken War and the Treacherous Alliance.”
“Section Three. All surviving works from Alaroy Rital.”
The apprentice cocked her head, as if trying to recall some familiarity in that name. “Alaroy Rital.” She repeated. “I don’t recall hearing of such a name before.”
“Well his full name, as far as I recall, and vastly aided by the book is as follows: Alaroy Rital, Lord-Mayor of the Township of the Two Rivers, Slayer of the Dragon of the Grey Canyon, Repeller of the Tainted Blight of the Orsin, Liberator of the Aether, and Grand Master of the Elusian Guild Hall of Adventurers.” Sorecar responded succinctly, prompting the apprentice to once more clench her eyes shut in deep thought, before finally letting out a sigh of defeat.
“The name is both familiar yet foreign at the same time.” She finally admitted.
“As far as I recall, and mind you, my memory of those years are far from perfect… the man was a local hero of sorts. Though his record was besmirched by some controversy or another.” Sorecar offered, prompting the apprentice to finally shrug, giving up on this particular subject matter entirely.
“There are more sections, yes?”
“Correct.”
“Then let’s move on.”
Sorecar nodded promptly at that, flipping the pages over until he hit the next section.
“Section Four. A Sordid Account of the Most Bizarre of Newrealmer Arrivals: A Death By Harmonization and the Ensuing Investigation.”
That immediately got my attention, causing me to jolt forwards, prompting the armor to quickly follow as it automatically switched from the currently active in-armor-postural-readjustment mode, and back into its active configuration.
“Section Five. The Unfortunate Procedures Against Unruly Realms and the Instances in Which Such Procedures Were Incurred.”
The armorer paused after that, not necessarily due to its contents, but as if puzzled by what lay ahead in the next few final pages. In fact, he flipped back and forth between the pages soon after that, treading and retreading what were effectively the last five pages of the book. “There is an appendix which includes titles not covered by these sections, however it will take some time to read through them.”
“That’s enough for now, professor.” The apprentice offered, prompting the man to quickly pull back, closing the notebook with an unsatisfying thump. “We have our glowing wand.” The apprentice surmised. “The oeuvre of works which are no doubt the subject of this grand controversy. Now all we need to find is the contract which ties everything together.”
“I’m assuming you haven’t forgotten about our second item of interest?” Sorecar gestured towards the crystal ball.
“Of course not, professor. However, the fact we’ve found that book implies that we must be close to its dependent article.” The apprentice responded with a renewed sense of urgency, as she began using that same ornate magnifying glass in an attempt to further pick apart each and every nook and cranny of Mal’tory’s desk.
Part of me wanted to make some joke about how this was every unpaid intern’s dream, to be rummaging through your boss’ stuff.
But that part of me was completely buried underneath the confusion and dread that came with the revelations from within that little green book.
I… honestly didn’t know what I was expecting, but I felt like I’d been suckerpunched, with the wind being knocked right out of me from the implications of exactly what had been selectively purged from the library.
It was a struggle to process it all, which more or less made me dull out the more eccentric aspects of the apprentice’s investigation; as she unlocked drawer after drawer, pulling out pile after pile of magical nicknacks and more documents than what was possible from that finite amount of space.
Sorecar was clearly of the same opinion as the rest of us right now however, as he continued obsessing over the book, his hands once more trailing over to inspect its cryptic pages. The man seemed transfixed on the second and third sections in particular, though his featureless visor made it difficult to really pin down what his reactions were.
Yet throughout all of this, it was clear the reactions on the homefront were much, much more animated, as Ilunor was just about ready to pass out from the stress, and Thacea seemed about ready to burst at the seams if her featureless facade was of any indication.
“That was the book.” Ilunor finally chimed out, just as the narration through the recording had died down during the more tepid phase of the apprentice’s investigation. “I know it.”
“I thought your memories when it came to the whole Mal’tory book burning situation was lost, Ilunor?” Thalmin countered.
“It was. I mean, it still is. But I remember parts of that room. I vaguely recall the emergence of a book that I was forced to…” The Vunerian trailed off, as if struggling to piece together words.
“... to sign?” Thalmin offered in a surprisingly helpful tone which stood at odds with how he earlier regarded the Vunerian.
“No. No you imbecil-” The Vunerian paused, realizing his misstep as he backtracked from what would’ve otherwise been an expected response. “That wasn’t a book of binding. It’s not comparable to the yearbook, if that was where your assumptions were leading to, Prince Thalmin.” Ilunor clarified, gripping the armrests of his seat tight between his fingers.
It was about this point in time that I expected Thacea to chime in, to elaborate on the nature of the book with her encyclopedic knowledge on seemingly every aspect of the magical world.
But she didn’t.
Instead, her eyes remained practically glued to the screen, as I realized that whatever had been revealed thus far had hit much, much harder than I could’ve imagined.
Ilunor, as if taking note of this silence, elected to fill in for Thacea. “The book… is an adjacent artifact. It is, as the apprentice has noted, an eclectic oeuvre of works, a list if you will, to be bound to and referenced by a contract and a spell of binding. The book itself isn’t the binding agent, moreso the reference material by which the contract is hinged upon.”
“So what’s with the illegible text? Are they ciphers or some magical equivalent of it?” I gestured once more at the bird’s eye view offered by the drone, and the pages of indecipherable text currently beneath Sorecar’s hands.
“Those are anchor runes, earthrelamer.” Ilunor answered with a frustrated sigh. “It is frustrating to see them for what they are not. Frankly, it’s as if your sight-seers and memory-shards were designed to mimic the world as it is seen through the eyes of a particularly weak-fielded commoner.” The Vunerian went off, venting his frustrations through a rant before finally calming down. “But I digress. Those runes are referred to as anchors for a reason. For tethered to them are akin to pages of text to be openly read and deciphered within the manastreams. Granted, this form of writing is not common; moreso used for the purposes of contracts and other such magical binds.”
“And on the topic of contracts. I’m assuming that the contract… your contract, is what the Apprentice is currently rummaging for?” I gestured towards the screen once more, at the apprentice who was now buried ankle-deep in piles upon piles of books, documents, and an assortment of scrolls that criss-crossed across the room’s mahogany and carpeted floors.
“Unless she’s a complete nitwit, then I’d imagine so, yes.” Ilunor responded with his signature cattiness. “In any case, the fact she’s even trying proves that she’s barely above a fool anyways.” The Vunerian shrugged. “And before you ask, earthrealmer, let me preempt your question. The contract, at least on the professor’s end, has more than likely suffered the same fate as my own. Namely, its existence is more than certain to be dubious at best. What the apprentice will surely find will be nothing more than ash at the bottom of that bottomless drawer. Which… given its sheer size and scale, and the potential inhabitants within its limitless confines, will more than likely result in even ash being difficult if not impossible to find.”
There was… more than one point I wanted to raise with Ilunor’s statements. However, before I could address any of them, the elf in question finally spoke up once more; now surrounded by an entire archive’s worth of documents and nicknacks.
“Nothing.” Larial spoke with a sullen breath, taking a moment to steady herself as she made a point of not sitting on Mal’tory’s chair. “At least nothing that’s relevant to our case.” She continued, resting her palms flat against the green suede of the desk.
“Were you really expecting anything different, Apprentice?” Sorecar countered, having since moved from pondering the pages of the book to now pondering the depths of the crystal ball.
“I’d assumed the damage to the man hadn’t been so severe.” Larial admitted, alluding to something else that drew all of our collective attention. “When I first saw him in the healing ward… he looked… intact. You couldn’t even tell there was anything wrong with him.”
“And yet they called you of all people, to aid in the ritual.” The armorer surmised, with a tone of voice that now more resembled that of a fully fledged Academy Professor. His happy go lucky persona had subsided completely, at least for now, as he addressed Larial in a manner more akin to what I’d expected of the Dean. “You have been around the Academy for long enough to understand that calling upon the aid of apprentices is unprecedented. Which means that despite how things may seem on the surface, that lurking beneath the seemingly calm waters, is a hydrostorm of epic proportions.”
“This entire situation is unprecedented, professor.” Larial countered meekly. “But you are correct. It… must have been desperate if they required the aid of apprentices. I just… cannot fathom the fact that the professors must have…” The apprentice trailed off, her face scrunching up and breaking eye contact with the armorer as if too skittish to broach the next point.
Sorecar didn’t reply, nor did he complete her sentence for her, simply allowing her to recuperate and reorganize her thoughts herself.
“... brought the man back from the brink.” She managed out, offering what was in effect a euphemism that didn’t seem to sit right with the armorer, if his immediate head cock was of any indication.
“That is the only way you can explain the complete loss of a contract.” Sorecar reasoned. “You were hoping to find it, despite knowing well that it, amongst the rest of his contracts, have more than likely gone up in flames.” It was around that point that he walked around behind the desk, and reached down into the drawer the apprentice had been searching in. His arm sank impossibly deep, deeper than what should have been physically possible inside of that small and limited space. After a few moments, the man finally brought his hand back up, holding within it what appeared to be fine specks of ash that he allowed to filter back down into the dark depths of the seemingly bottomless drawer. “And there you have it — ash. Most of it has no doubt already been consumed by the bottom-feeders. However, what remains is enough to account for what is perhaps more contracts than most would form in their lives.”
The man stood back up soon after, before once more taking his place at the front of the desk.
“Well, I believe that answers our prior speculations on Auris Ping’s potential relations, contractual or otherwise, with Professor Mal’tory.” Thalmin growled out, punctuating the moment of silence within the footage; which soon continued with a resonant sigh from the apprentice.
“I guess, in a way, I was trying to find the contract not so much because of my assigned task, but because I wanted to perhaps prove to myself that the situation wasn’t as dire as my intuition leads me to believe. The loss of all these contracts can only mean one thing.” Larial paused, once more trying to find the strength inside of her to face whatever facts were self-evident in this case. “The man was lost.” She finally managed out through a shaky breath. “His soul must have departed from his mortal coil. And yet…”
“... and yet he remains.” Sorecar surmised.
“They must have re-tethered it before I arrived that night.” The apprentice shot back. “But I felt nothing different when they asked me to aid in the mana-channeling processes. This whole situation is just…” She sighed, prompting Sorecar to cock his head.
“Unprecedented?”
“Yes.” The apprentice once more admitted, sinking her face into her hands and taking a moment to process it all, more or less falling into the same camp all of us were currently in. “Moreover, it brings up a very disturbing question.”
“Which is?”
“If his soul was truly untethered, even for a split second… how exactly were they able to retether it? Or more specifically, through what means are they using to permanently retether his soul to his mortal coil?”
This question seemed to cause some level of concern from Sorecar, as his answer soon demonstrated. “There are… ways of doing so that aren’t exclusive to being spellbound to armor.” The man offered under a dour breath. “Especially if the body is… fresh, in a manner of speaking. Though it requires the use of-” He stopped, halting himself from going down what was clearly a darkening path. “I apologize for prompting this rather… dark and dreary subject matter, Apprentice.” Sorecar offered, as that empathetic, kinder side of him returned without much prompting.
“It’s quite alright. It… it needed to be said, if we are to complete this investigation with any degree of professionalism.” The apprentice concluded with a small smile. “Whatever the case may be, it is clear that we are unable to procure the contract through which the perpetrator of the library’s burning was bound. We have, however, undeniable proof of Professor Mal’tory’s involvement with the scandal.” She pointed at the green notebook. “And of course, a potential interloper who may or may not have been a part of this conspiracy; thereby expanding this from a mere Academy matter, to one which could implicate others beyond its walls.” She pointed at the crystal ball. “Have you discovered anything from your observations thus far, Professor?” The apprentice inquired, prompting the man to nod, as he knelt down to eye-level, pondering the orb from desk-height.
“The inherent limitations of the Echovale make it so that it’s near impossible to transcribe anything following the cessation of a communique.” Sorecar began. “Though of course, you knew this, and hoped that because I am perhaps one of the greatest armorers to have ever lived, that I would be able to aid in this impossible endeavor, hmm?” The armorer’s tone of voice had more or less resumed that flighty, happy-go-lucky one I knew him for.
The apprentice, hearing this, could only smile awkwardly in response. “I wouldn’t have put it that… bluntly, professor. But I do indeed have faith in your ability to make the impossible, well… probable, at the least.”
“Hmph! Well, I couldn’t pin a face or a name, but I was able to pin a definite location if that helps.” The man offered.
“Any stray piece of information will help tremendously, professor.”
“The Crownlands.” He answered without a hint of hesitation, prompting the Apprentice to raise both of her brows up high.
“That’s as far as I am able to draw from the residual echoes within the vale.” He tapped at the ball, generating a series of satisfying clinks in the process.
“So the man wasn’t acting alone. Or rather, perhaps he was consulting someone.” The apprentice pondered. “Then again, that final communique could very well be with Lord Lartia—” The apprentice paused, before placing both palms softly across her throat. “—may his soul rest in peaceful slumber.” Following another moment of silence, the apprentice’s hands soon shifted towards the ball. “In any case, if it isn’t Lord Lartia, then who could it possibly be? Maybe we should…” The apprentice suddenly stopped; as if realizing the dangers of diving any deeper into this growing conspiracy. “No.” She quickly corrected herself. “Whatever the case may be, this is probably now completely out of my purview. I was assigned to collect any evidence I deemed to be relevant to recent happenings, and I believe this should suffice.”
“Whatever you believe is best, apprentice.” Sorecar acquiesced, prompting the apprentice to slowly, but surely, pack the archive’s worth of documents, books, and scrolls all back into the drawer using nothing but telekinetic spells.
This left just the crystal ball, and the little green book, both of which the apprentice promptly pocketed into a small pouch, before placing it somewhere beneath her cloak.
“Though on that note…” Sorecar began, pointing towards the apprentice’s cloak. “If I may ask, how do you plan on divvying up these finite pieces of evidence?”
This caught the apprentice off-guard, as her mouth opened, but no response came through.
“Moreover, are you even obligated to hand in this evidence? Or are you only expected to write a report to all parties involved?” Sorecar continued, pressing the matter further, causing the apprentice to stop mid-stride. “Because if primary evidence isn’t explicitly required, might I offer my services as a master forger?” The man spoke with a hint of mischievousness, the duality of the word perhaps translating equally well despite the language barrier.
“I may need to contact my superiors to ask if a… copy will be satisfactory to their needs. I believe not, but… we shall see. In any case, I am due to submit the evidence along with my report no later than the end of next week. As such, this should give me ample time to organize my findings, which is especially convenient given the roster of duties I am expected to cover over the next few days.” The apprentice took a moment to pinch the bridge of her nose, halting her rambles as she steadied herself with a sigh. “But I digress, I believe I will take you up on that offer, Professor Pliska.”
“It would be my pleasure to welcome you into my domain, apprentice.”
The rest of the footage consisted of small talk between the pair, with nothing in particular standing out as the topics being addressed soon turned from high-stakes espionage, and back into faculty banter.
Yet despite that, none of us broke the silence that now dominated the boring trip back. Not even as the footage came to a complete stop, and there was nothing more left to play.
I leaned back against the armor, eliciting a series of creaks from the couch below me, echoing across the high-ceilinged room and disrupting the tentative peace that came with this ominous silence.
“This explains… a lot.” Thalmin offered, finally breaking the silence with a tentative tone of voice. “It explains your contract, and its abrupt cessation.” He continued, turning towards Ilunor. “It explains Mal’tory, or at least, his current lack of public appearances. And it reveals to us exactly what he was trying to hide from you, Emma.” The lupinor eventually turned towards me. “And I think the sections of the library, selectively pruned, are self-explanatory as well.”
“Section four, and section five, at least.” I replied shortly thereafter. “I have no idea who or what Alaroy Rital has to hide in section three, and don’t even get me started on section two, let alone section one.” It was at that point that I turned towards Thacea, who let out a sharp exhale upon me bringing up section one.
“The removal of all information relevant to… and I quote — Tainted Realities — speaks volumes to the inherent fears of the Nexus. Though I know not what specifically they may fear from your discovery of its deep and now-lost lore.” Thacea offered through a pensive gaze. “There are many rumors, legends that come with the phrase Tainted Reality. Though most are mythical; epics of long lost eras that dwell between the blurry line that exists between history and legend. Perhaps the records within the library were pieces of irrefutable evidence that would’ve shed light on this nebulous subject matter. But even so… that begs the question… why? Why would they hide what is effectively a non-issue when it comes to your discovery of its lore? Taint, and more specifically, the concept of a Tainted Reality, is something that is inconsequential in the contemporary world. Its history, even if it proves to be true, is neither a disruptive political element, nor a practical tool for war, that could be used in countering the Nexus.” The avinor’s explanations were clear, concise, and yet they belied something personal that she clearly wasn’t broaching.
And I wasn’t about to dig either, not when this topic very clearly hit close to home for her.
“This leaves the second subject matter then.” I offered, giving the avinor an off-ramp towards a potentially more palatable topic.
“The Unspoken War and the Treacherous Alliance?”
“Correct.” I nodded.
“That… I have no knowledge of.” The avinor admitted, prompting me to turn to both the lupinor and the Vunerian for answers.
“Don’t look at me, earthrealmer, I’m the one who lost all memories on the subject, remember?” Ilunor countered.
“I’m afraid I’m as in the dark as you are on this one, Emma.” Thalmin replied with a loud huff, leaving me with perhaps more questions than answers at this point.
“Right then.” I nodded. “Well, regardless, as disquieting, confusing, and disturbing as these revelations have been, they are exactly that — revelations.” I took a moment to stand up, resting both hands on my hips, as if adopting Ilunor’s more theatrical approach to things. “We started today off with no intel on Mal’tory, with no idea how we were going to complete The Library’s Seekership questline, and no knowledge on exactly where we stood in this game. We’re ending today off with a firm grasp on exactly what we need to do, what exactly was scorched in the library, and a tentative understanding on Mal’tory’s fate. I’d say that’s an incredible step forward, even if the answers we now have are leading to even more questions.”
“Reality is often filled with disturbing truths, but only when we acknowledge them, can we act to change them.” Thacea offered.
“Here here!” Thalmin reaffirmed through a firm stomp, standing up tall and ready.
“While certain revelations come as disappointments… namely the survival of Professor Mal’tory… it is indeed somewhat satisfying to hear that the man is at the very least suffering for his actions.” The little thing spoke maliciously, as he too stood up. This prompted a look of worry to form amidst all three of us, but instead of reacting accordingly, he instead displayed an expression of confusion. “What? The man was a monster! He actively antagonized not only me, but this entire group! Surely you also feel at least some sense of satisfaction at the consequences of his actions catching up to him!”
“The delight in an enemy’s defeat, best comes from the resistance of the blade against his body. Not from the suffering incurred from happenstance.” Thalmin countered, whilst Thacea and I refused to entertain that line of thought, as I quickly placed a palm across my forehead, bonking it once again in the process.
“Right, well, here’s the game plan. We now have a clear target to complete our first objective — the notebook. We grab that, hand it in to the library, and presto, we accomplish the Seekership questline. Now comes the difficult part… how exactly do we do that?” I turned to the group, as offers and suggestions finally came flying in.
“Take advantage of your life debt?” Ilunor offered.
“I wouldn’t take advantage of that card just yet, Ilunor. Not if we have other options.” Thacea countered.
“What if we steal it?” Thalmin proposed.
“Thievery isn’t a diplomatic approach, Thalmin.” Thacea shot back with a glare.
“Well, Emma here was able to grapple her way, through manaless means, across the outside of the castle towards the apprentice whilst she was in the medical wing. I’m sure we can pull something else off in a similar capacity!” The lupinor countered.
“No, Thalmin. As much as I would like to try, I believe it might be best if we try a more diplomatic approach.” I offered, prompting the three to cock their heads.
“We could just ask, right?”
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(Author’s Note: And there we have it! The first step towards the completion of the Library's questline! We've found exactly what we were looking for, the list of books that were ordered to be put to the dragon flame by Mal'tory. With that being said however, a new series of questions arises... exactly why were these books targeted in particular? Moreover, what exactly was lost as a result? These questions and more will continue to linger in the back the gangs' minds as we push forward! Especially as we now find ourselves in the midst of another conundrum, exactly how are we going to get the book to the library! Regardless, this is still a massive step forward, and one that will surely bring Emma and Ilunor closer towards addressing the first phase of their intertwined fates with the library! I hope you guys enjoy! :D The next Two Chapters are already up on Patreon if you guys are interested in getting early access to future chapters!)
[If you guys want to help support me and these stories, here's my ko-fi ! And my Patreon for early chapter releases (Chapter 84 and Chapter 85 of this story is already out on there!)]

Hey everybody, I hope you are all having a great weekend. I wanted to let everyone know that I am leaving the community and will not be posting anymore. I am still sober, but I need to move on from doing this. Throughout the short 80 days I have been sober, I have trusted my gut about what I need to do to remain alcohol free, and it has worked for me... this just happens to be one of those feelings. Talking about sobriety every day honestly wears me out, and I think I might be better off just living life as it comes, one day at a time...
Since I started this sub it has grown to over 2,000 members in a little over 2 months, I have gotten 2 new jobs, attended AA meetings, broke up with my long-term girlfriend, exercised, lost weight, gained weight, read books, listened to podcasts, tested boundaries, made myself uncomfortable and experienced SO many highs and lows. I have learned a lot about who I really am as a person, and have come to the conclusion that I am just worn out. Sobriety is truly wild. You never know what will happen in your life until you try it. No matter what has happened to me (good or bad), I know that being sober is still better than my life as a heavy drinker.
I feel like a bit of a let down to myself for not following through on what I wanted to accomplish when I began this sub, but I think this is what is best for me in my sobriety moving forward. Feel free to "internet roast" me or whatever... I am cool with it and probably even deserve some of it.
To everyone who took time out of their day to give me advice, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING. I owe so much to all of you. I would not have made it this far without your wisdom and encouragement. There is no way I would have made it a week without you, and for that I will forever be grateful. I wish I could hug you and express the level of gratitude I feel when I say this... but all I have is a keyboard, and this is the best I can do. Thinking about it as I type this, chokes me up. You are all amazing people.
Anyone who needs help/advice, would like to stay in touch, or would simply like to tell me to fuck off, please PM me and I will respond. I'm sure there are many people who are relieved they don't have to listen to me complain anymore, but to those I may have helped, or to those who feel a different way... I am still here for you if you need me.
Much love to everyone. I mean it, I love you guys. I think about some of you every day and don't even really know you. You will forever be a part of the beginning of my new life, and I will not forget everyone who helped me. This sub will forever be a part of my life, and my journey in sobriety.
One last time... I will NOT have a single drop of alcohol today, or any day. I hope everyone finds what they are looking for, executes on it and lives their best life :)
Much Love,
Reggie

We're already here at day five, we are so close to Worm's birthday. So let's not dilly dally I want to get right into it.
Honorable mentions list:
Arc 20 Chrysalis
Arc 12 Plague
Arc 19 Scourge
Arc 11 Infestation
The Top 7 Arcs in Worm according to my opinion:

1. Arc 16 Monarch
   
2. Arc 24 Crushed
   
3. Arc 30 Speck
   
4. Arc 31 Teneral
   

Today's Honorable Mention: Arc 3 Agitation This is where the story finally picks up. Most people only remember the bank heist from this Arc, which I don't blame them, it's lots of fun with that and the fighting with Wards. But I also enjoyed the slower pace in the beginning with Taylor sparring with Brian, the planning of the bank heist itself, and her conversation with Armsmaster which is great on a re-read when you're not biasely rooting for Taylor, the conversation with Tattletale explaining how being a cape is a high risk game of cops and robbers, then the bank heist and fight with the Wards, I have read that fight over and over again. Finally closing with Worm's introduction of gray morality with the Brockton Bay Wards interlude. Soild arc this, soild arc.
3. Arc 27 Extinction: If I was doing a list of the best Arc titles, this would win, and it would win by a mile. Just that name gives me chills. I was scared to read this Arc because I was so terrified for the characters. I think it's amazing what great writing can do and how it can influence your feelings. The opening where Brockton Bay is just destroyed after having been built up as our main setting for the majority of the story. Wildbow certainly isn't afraid to destroy what he's created. Taylor and Rachel do some search and rescue before going to Earth Gimel with the rest of the refugees and she runs into Emma's family who seemingly blame her for Emma's death, which I mean no, granted because of what happened to her back in arc 20 she felt like she had nothing to fall back on having her worldview destroyed so fell into a deep depression and refused to leave her room but at the end of the day I feel like that was Emma's choice not to leave so thereby Taylor is not responsible in any way shape or form. But that's just me.

Alan, Emma’s dad, had lost weight since I’d seen him last. He’d noticed me, and looked up, staring, his eyes red. His wife sat in a lawn chair beside him, while Emma’s older sister sat on a blanket at her mother’s feet, her mother resting one hand on her head.
Zoe’s -Emma’s mom’s- eyes were wet. Emma’s sister looked equally upset.
Emma wasn’t in sight. I could guess what they were crying about.
Alan was staring at me now, and there was an inexplicable accusation in the look. His wife took his hand and held it, but he didn’t move his eyes a fraction.
When Anne, Emma’s sister, looked up at me, there was a glimmer of the same. A hint of blame.

Then we go into the meeting with Cauldron, this is pretty much the final big debriefing. We watch from Defiant going off on Saint, Grue having a silent panic attack as Bonesaw is there, and everyone letting out their anger on Cauldron whether they be the Irregulars or Taylor herself. Moving forward comes with Taylor's conversation with Sophia, Shadow Stalker. I love this conversation. Sophia winning gold in mental gymnastics as she's convinced herself that she's the reason why Taylor is such a successful cape just so she doesn't have to concede her worldview. To me Taylor through this conversation overcomes her trauma, it ties up her own personal loose end with it. And for me, there was no other point in the story where I was as proud of Taylor as I was by the end of this conversation.

I felt okay with this decision. Comfortable. It wasn’t a mask I was wearing, so strong it might as well have been real. No. It was something simpler.
I’m not scared of her anymore.

Then comes the Birdcage villains, a real selection of who's who. I want to know more about some of these villains, specifically String Theory. I can almost hear what her voice sounds like and visualize her mannerisms. I sure wish Scion didn't off her, but we'll get to that in a second. Then leads to my third favorite chapter in the entire series 27.4. Taylor sitting down with Glaistig Uaine is such a fascinating conversation, Uaine only addressing people by their shard name is so creepy but I can't help but love it. I also love this little tidbit of Taylor thinking what she would look like if she got claimed.

What if I fell in battle? Would she claim me? Would I become like that? What form would that body take? Skitter, Weaver, or a blending of the two?

The way Uaine views the world like people are actors and everyone has a part to play, her talking about Eidolon, and her talking about Scion, she's such a fascinating character. She ends the conversation by telling Taylor she can't wait to collect her shard. I absolutely love this. Then Taylor picks out her costume in ways that symbolizes her and her journey, picking out a black costume with white plates, attribute to both Weaver and Skitter, a handgun reminding her of her first kill, Coil, and pepper spray reminding her of her first night out in costume. I really do love this chapter.
The oil rig battle, there are so many thoughts that come to my head when I think about this scene. Another fight that fully convinced me despite there being more arcs left in the book I was fully convinced the story was coming to an end here. Some things are went over such as Lab Rat giving out arm bands and Chevalier commenting on why they're out on a oil rig in the middle of nowhere

“It’s isolated, to minimize chances he can track us somehow,” Chevalier said. “And we have a good escape route. Not to mention it’s the furthest point from Scion.”

This would not age well.
Then group after group attack Scion doing whatever they can seeing what might work, but then comes my girly String Theory. With her one of a kind, never seen before G-driver. She fucking smokes Scion, well not really but it was something more than what anyone else had done. During my first time reading this it was in that moment of triumph that I had a thought that I remember distinctly. "Hold on a second, Scion is a God basically. If he really wanted to he could just find them. No that wouldn't happen, that would feel too narratively unfair." I moved on and kept listening, oh boy, you could imagine my reaction when it was revealed Scion was above them staring down getting ready to actually smoke them. I could not believe what I was listening to. This line from the book summarized my feelings at the time.

“Oh god,” someone said. “Oh god, oh god.”

I love what great fiction can make you feel.
Scion sends down his golden light bomb and takes out most of the people on the oil rig, Taylor gets dismembered and does everything she can to survive. Using her bugs, using the serum Lab Rat had made. She done ends up with an incredibly deformed body but it saves her and ends up with the Irregulars and has a lovely conversation. I love Weld so much and same with Sveta she's adorable.

“Be brave, Sveta,” Weld murmured.
“I just tell myself I need to act like you,” Sveta’s voice came from within the sphere.

I love this conversation as they're trying to convince Weld to go with them as this chaotic battle between some of the strongest capes in the universe battle against Scion. After the conversation with Weld Taylor does what she can to help in the fight against Scion. It does not go well, but I love the fact that no matter what Taylor is always willing to try. No matter what. Taylor dives into the water after Eidolon send Scion flying into the water, as she tries using every bug from under the water against him. And as she realizes that she fails she looks up and sees Uaine looking down eagerly for her shard. But Taylor gets saved by the bell as she falls deeper and deeper into the water and a portal opens. I love Worm.
Then comes the interlude, Eidolon's interlude. Eidolon is a character I overlook but I think he's an interesting case of this is all I have so I will give my life to this because the alternative is worse. I will say though in the same interlude he has such an amazing fight with Scion, oh my goodness probably the biggest power scale fight outside of Gold Morning. But even for the one fight that feels like power versus power switching between the current events and his backstory goes back to fights and Worm pulling at your heartstrings during these. But this ends with a very iconic line, Scion uses his path to victory and finds the one way to break David.

You needed worthy opponents

Day five is in the books and now we're on to day six, my goodness gracious Worm's birthday is fast approaching and I feel like I'm starting to get a little bit better at these. With that let me know what I can do better. As always, I appreciate you taking time out of your day to read this and I'll see you tomorrow.

I bought the original NReal Air in early 2023 and thought it was really cool, but had several issues that made me not want to use it much.
They weren’t very comfortable for my head geometry, and it was difficult to consistently keep them situated in the sweet spot for screen clarity, even with the prescription inserts. Because of those issues, I didn’t jump on the Air 2 when it first came out. I was worried they’d just be more of the same. All the complaints on the Internet about blurry edges and poor fit didn’t help either.
I finally rolled the dice on the Air 2 Pro a week ago, after coming across some posts and reviews that said they were more comfortable and fit better than the previous generation Air. Turns out, that’s the case for me!
I’m one of the lucky people who are in the right IPD range for the Air 2 Pro screens, and they also fit my head much more comfortably than the original Air. The new nose pads are also great, they don’t hurt my nose after a while like the original Air nose pads did, and I don’t see any blurriness along the edges or corners of the screens.
I’m also able to see all four edges and corners clearly. The electrochromatic dimming on the Air 2 Pro sounds like a gimmick, but I actually love this feature. I can more easily see my keyboard and surroundings indoors with 0% dimming, 35% feels like my old Air, and the 100% level is plenty good enough for watching movies.
I can’t really speak to the audio features. I’m deaf and wear a hearing aid, so I’m not the best person to quantify how well the Air 2 speakers and mic work.
The new hard case is great, but I miss the divider and the zipper on the old Air case.
XReal might want to consider doing more than one size of frame for future releases, or maybe add some way for the user to adjust the IPD. I suspect that might help resolve the blurriness some people have reported, and different frame sizes would help with the other comfort issues.
I really like the Air 2 Pros, so two thumbs up from me. I’m much happier with them than I was with the original Air, and use them a lot more.
The Beam…I’m a bit more ambivalent about it, but I also kind of can’t live without it at the same time.
I’ve read a lot of negative feedback about it over the past year that turned me off, so I didn’t really have any interest in the Beam until I got it in a bundle with the Air 2 Pro.
I remember the launch messaging when it first came out wasn’t very clear about what the Beam brings to the table, and I suspect that this unclear messaging also resulted in a lot of misunderstandings about what it was meant to do, and then people started trying to use it for things it wasn’t really made to do, which isn’t generally gonna make for a great user experience.
So, now that I’ve used it for a week…I can say that I understand most of the negative feedback, but I still like the Beam for what it is, a spatial puck that gives the glasses some degree of 3DOF functionality.
It does that more smoothly and better than the Nebula app does on my phones or PCs. I don’t know if I’d say it’s worth the extra $120 just for that alone, but it does the job it was designed to do fine.
I feel like it probably should’ve been included with the glasses, it should be in a matching colorway and finish, and most importantly, it should still be able to charge while a device is plugged in for wired video without resorting to third party accessories.
I don’t like that it doesn’t seem to work well with DRM-protected streaming content over wireless, and that probably should’ve been sorted before it was released.
When running apps directly on it, I start feeling like it’s being pushed too hard into territory it wasn’t meant to handle. Netflix and Prime Video seem to have worse quality than on my other devices, browsing the web isn’t as pleasant an experience as it is on my other devices, and the lack of support for Google services kind of hurts it a bit. Plus, all of that effort the Beam has to put into that makes it heat up rapidly.
It doesn’t get anywhere nearly as hot for me when in normal use as a spatial puck. It warms up a bit when charging, and feels a bit warm to the touch after prolonged use, but it doesn’t get alarmingly hot.
It’s cool that the Beam can make an earnest effort at running some apps itself, but I have much better tools for that job, so that capability is ultimately not much of a selling point for me. It should stick to what it does best: spatial stuff.
I was fully prepared to dislike the Beam, but the truth is, every time I plug my Air 2 Pro directly into a device without the Beam, I immediately find myself missing the things the Beam brings to the table.
It’s like I can’t live without the smooth follow mode and the ability to fiddle with screen size and distance.
If it were able to still charge while my phone was plugged in, and it didn’t have issues with wireless streaming of DRM content, it’d get two thumbs up. For now, it gets a wistful “I wish I could give this two thumbs up because it’s so close”.

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[ Notice: Not my article. Link: https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2012/04/i-thought-it-might-help-others-to-share_4319.html ]
Marriage Feast / New Covenant
(Benefit to those not anointed: https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2013/04/i-received-two-questions-1.html)
I thought it might help others to share the information from a letter to another anointed one:
Dear Xxxx, I am very happy that you decided to write me. Interaction with other chosen is a source of joy for those of us who seek truth, love and unity. Yes, as you know Satan's pressures are upon us, and will not let up until Christ comes to rescue us. Yet his care rescues us even now, in that he has sent us the spirit to be with us and feed us. He too, is manifesting his presence among us, that the world may believe that Christ is Lord. I hope you will clarify some things you said, because I don't know what you mean,

why Father allows many Witnesses to not be anointed, even though they can see the issues of the true gospel being the re-birth.

First, "why the Father allows many Witnesses to not be anointed". Are you wondering why Jehovah does not do more anointing among "Jehovah's Witnesses"? Not sure what you are saying here. I know that almost all "witnesses" now are worshiping an Organization, committing idolatry against Jehovah. Of those who are not, or who have left due to seeing the corruption, remember 2Chron.16:9? Jehovah shows his spirit to those with a complete heart. Only Jehovah can judge this about a person. The next part of that sentence, "even though they can see the issues of the true gospel being the re-birth." Now you've really got me. Can you explain what you mean by "issues", the "rebirth" and how this rebirth is the "true gospel"? Are you saying that the emergence of full truth (the spirit leading the anointed into "all the truth" John16:13), as being associated with the birth of the Kingdom? Or are you saying that when we are born again as perfect spirits, and the Sons of God are revealed (Rom.8:19), that only then will we have all the truth? Or, do you speak of the Word (true gospel) as being the "incorruptible seed", which, once sown in the heart and brought to maturity, gives a re-birth into eternal life? (Luke8:11; 1Pet.1:23; James1:21; Mark4:28,29; Eph.4:13)
If this is what you mean, perceiving this truth is not enough to obligate God to choose and anoint you as one of His sons. His righteous and just standards for making such a choice, reside with Him. I would love to understand what you are trying to say in order to share your thoughts, but the scriptures don't immediately come to mind as to what you are referring to, so I am at a loss. Remember the illustration of the marriage feast? (Matt.22:1-14) Those invited were not worthy, and so the King told his servants to invite anyone they saw, who were "going out from the City" (according to the Greek "diexodous") (Matt.22:8-9). These were given the opportunity to share in the marriage banquet. Today, all are being offered the truth of things that were previously hidden, such as the understanding of Revelation. Many anointed will not receive this spiritual food, because they are not worthy. They are busy filling their lamps with fuel that is teachings from men, or they are following their own thoughts independent of the body of Christ. These will not be given the true light of understanding (Matt.25:9-12). Their lamps, shine out darkness, because their "eye" of understanding is not "simple", exclusively guided by means of scripture (Matt.6:22-23; John8:47). Yet, those who have been drawn out of the corrupt "City" by Yhwh's spirit (Rev.18:10,18,4; Matt.22:7,9,10), will be invited to share in that feast of true food (Rev.19:9). It will be up to them if they are humble and appreciative enough, to attend and eat.
The next thing you say,

At least these are now partaking at home, after the Hall Memorial. That's a big plus.

If you are saying that you believe that the New Covenant is for all, and not for the sins of the Chosen heirs only; YHVH has plainly shown me how the ransom applies first, to the anointed. This is through the Covenant by virtue of Christ's blood (Luke22:20). Please consider Rev. 5:9,10:

And they sing a new song, saying: 'You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, because you were slaughtered and ~with your blood you bought~ ~persons~ ~for God~ out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, ~and you made~ ~them~ ~to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as kings over the earth.'~

This is only one of the many scriptures that indicate a small piece of what spirit has plainly shown me, concerning all the truths of the Kingdom, and how the ransom is applied to mankind in general, through it's ambassadors, priests, and kings (Matt.7:20; Rev.22:2; Matt.10:40-42; Gal.4:19; Rev.12:2; Gal.4:26; Rev.21:2-3; 1Pet.2:5,9; Mal.2:7). The New Covenant, which ends/is fulfilled, at the arrival/ coming of Christ (1Cor.11:26) is for that administration (Eph.1:9,10,11,12,13,14; Mark13:27), which is then completed. It is through them as the Bride Covenant/ "woman" (Gal.4:26), that Creation is set free (Num.8:19,21; Rom.8:17,19; Rev.22:17), unlike the New Covenant, which initially sets the priests free from sin (Lev.16:6; Heb.9:11,12). First the mother must be free. Then those born to her, are also set free from sin, darkness, and death. First, there must be a free mother. Then the mother must marry a free father (Isa.9:6; Luke 4:16-21; John8:36). After the marriage of the lamb, children will be brought forth (Rev.19:7-9).The New Covenant is for those who rule (Luke22:29; Rev.3:21; 5:9-10). All Creation will not be redeemed through Christ only (as the anointed are), but through New Jerusalem and Christ ~together~. Once that Holy City is finally made complete, God's Kingdom commences, to the benefit of all who have obeyed the gospel of Christ. But in the meantime, those who belong to that heavenly city (Eph.2:6), offer the healing fruit of their lips (Matt.7:20; Rev.22:2) to those who accept Gods' sons (Rom.8:19; Ps.82:6; Gal.3:26,29; Rom.8:17).
For those who are not being redeemed (receiving a white robe Rev.6:9,11; 12:11; 19:7,8) ~now~, in order to be ~cleansed for Kingdom Rule~; the emblems ~of that cleansing~ are not for them. The cleansing of the sins of the 144000 and great crowd of final priests (who come through the great tribulation), is through the blood of the Lamb (Rev.14:1; 7:9,14) It is important to realize that the "Great Crowd" are the last remnant (Rev.12:17), who come through end-time tribulation (see pearl-greatcrowd.blogspot.com ) The partaking of the emblems stop, when this promise is fulfilled for the Chosen (1Cor.11:26; Rev.20:5) Try to remember that Jesus fulfilled ~the Passover~ (1Cor.5:7; John1:29). Try to remember that the blood of the Passover lamb, was not for the saving of all Israel, but for the saving of the Firstborn (Exodus12:12,13; Num.3:13; Heb.11:28; 12:23; Rev.14:4). These "firstborn" ones are the first imperfect humans to be born again and released from sin and death by means of Christ's blood. The rest come to life subsequently, by means of Bride, Holy City New Jerusalem, and the Trees of Life who make up that City of living stones. Trees which offer the fruit which "cures the Nations" (Rev.22:1,2). All, whether chosen to be the bride of Christ, or her children, must be born again as spirit, in order to see God's kingdom (John3:3,5-6; 1Pet.1:23). All are born through the faithful and sealed anointed who have fulfilled the covenant promise in heaven (Gal.4:26).
That mother provides living water to others (Rev.22:1-2,17). Some are born now, by God's spirit, directly poured into their hearts, and his laws written on their heart by God's finger. They accept Christ, and live. They are tutored and nurtured by those already mature, to become members of the Bride (2Cor.11:2-3). Others are born through an acceptance of the living water, spirit, and truth from Christ's Bride (Matt.25:34-36,41,45; Matt.10:14-15; John13:20; Mark 9:37). By their treatment of God's messengers, they are judged. They are brought into account, at the last day. The difference between these two groups is seen in Jesus' words, at John11:25-26; 6:63,54,40,47-50 (John5:24; Rom.8:9; Eph.2:6). It is a wicked abomination for those who are not being raised up now, to partake of the emblems which are reserved as a symbol of Holy Promise, between those betrothed to the Christ, and their husbandly Lord. To take the emblems into oneself, is to become one "body" with Christ (1Cor.6:17; John17:22). Those who in presumption, do not discern this body of the Head, Christ (1Cor.12:27; 6:15) as a loyal husband is one flesh, only with his wife; drink judgement to themselves (1Cor.11:29,27).
That body of Christ, ~are anointed ones~ (1Cor.12:12,27-31). Partaking of the symbols of Christ's body, is to become symbolically, one flesh with him according to the promise. This is only for the virgins promised to Christ (2Cor.11:2; Rev.14:4) In godly fear, I certainly hope that a right to spiritual fornication with Christ, is not something you promote, to the destruction of all those who heed it (1Cor.11:29). Yet if it is, and this teaching is not sourced in scripture, there is yet time to correct this teaching. We are all being cleansed, refined, and perfected in the hope that by the arrival of Christ, we can be "~finally~ found" "without spot" or blemish (2Pet.3:14). This is why the parts of Christ's body, need one another to build one another up, in Truth (1Cor.14:26; 12:21; Eph.4:11,12). If you are actually saying that you believe that those not chosen to be one body with Christ, should show a marriage to him by taking his body into themselves; ~please provide me the scriptures which have guided you to this conclusion.~ Certainly we can not take it upon ourselves to leave the Bible's guidance, but more-so when we teach others and direct their actions before God (James 3:1).
Regarding one of your last comments:

I do believe in your anointing, and although I cannot see all your explanations being perfect as far as what things in Revelation in particular say

Please do not remain silent about the things you do not see eye to eye with (Eph.4:25; Zech.8:16). My explanations must be limited for each subject. The Truth is as wide as the sky, and I must choose how far to spread the border of what I discuss in each article. I have often received supplemental questions by individuals, requesting further proof or explanation of what perplexes them personally. If you ask, then I am made able to answer your personal questions, so that whatever point you do not clearly see as being scriptural, I can show you the scriptures to. In this way, individuals are assisted with their own doubts. There have been many times that an article is then made more beneficial for someone who did not benefit initially. Additions I then add, benefit all, including me. Each one has their own questions. I can not cover all Truth in each article, but if a point in particular is of personal interest to you, or is hard for you to see, if you let me know what it is, then you give both of us the opportunity to learn more. Please do not read an article, and leave it with unanswered questions, or worse, assumptions without scripture. If you need more, please request it of me. This has often lead to anointed ones having their vision clarified and re-adjusted, including myself. Any explanations I have given which you do not agree with, please speak up so that we may be "perfected" ~through the~ ~Bible's~ ~answer~. Again, I thank you so much for writing me. It is the will of YHWH and Christ that we come together, for many beneficial reasons. YHWH's spirit bless you with faith, hope, love, and Truth. Love, Pearl

Hello everyone,
I've been working hard to lower my screen time on both my computer and phone. I found the perfect solution for my computer with Cold Turkey, but I struggled with managing screen time on my iPhone. The issue was that I couldn't lock the screen time settings without either knowing the code and unlocking it whenever I wanted, or having a friend or family member enter a code for me.
To solve this, I made a Python script that generates a random 4-digit code and stores it in a .txt file. I'm fairly new to coding, so I apologize if it's not perfect, but I hope it helps someone else as much as it helped me.
I ran the script on my Mac and to connect to my phone I used Keypad which is a Bluetooth keyboard app, but I assume there's a similar solution for Windows, and probably a workaround for Android phones as well.
Here is the repo: https://github.com/NikeManTan/Screentime-Code.
Feel free to fork it and make modifications for other devices. I also apologize if this already exists.

My husband has never been a nice person, he used me for a full year when I first moved here to be with him (mind you I am from a whole different country, moved all the way across the continent to be here) he made me pay for dinners, groceries, rent, asked me to buy him things had me pay for his flights and accommodations when we traveled and threw a stink when I didn’t. He also made over 100k a year. I also cooked, cleaned etc. he would become angry when I didn’t, even sometimes got up and left the house all together telling me he could do better yelling and screaming if house was dirty or food wasn’t ready. He didn’t do anything for me, no valentines surprise, no birthday gift or surprise meal, no flowers, no thank you for everything you do. Nothing. Ever. But when he would have fits he would apologize after and I felt loved he would hug me and say sorry. I couldn’t see there was ever much of a reason to leave. Being alone would be worse and I was already all the way across the continent. Fast forward I married him and we eventually moved for his job. Because of the location we moved there was no work for me at all. He made me pay for his/our whole move there and paid our rent when we got there. Money was less of a problem now. But the treatment has gotten unbearable. He screams whenever I speak to him (he smokes a lot of weed) I’ve asked him to stop a few times because he drives impaired and whenever I say something he doesn’t like he hits me with “I’m leaving, never should of married you, your the worst thing that’s ever happened to me” etc. it hurts. It always feels like a kids to the chest every out burst. But I just try harder to do everything right. 6 months later I’m pregnant (accident I was on bc) his family is so excited he wanted me to have the kid we decided to keep it. I’m about 6 weeks along now. I’ve been so sick this week, and needed help in the kitchen as I was struggling to cook myself something and haven’t been able to eat all day. He came to the kitchen flipped my sandwich once and said “can you finish this? I need to go take a shit” when I walked down the hall he was not in the restroom he was in the garage getting high. So I spent 20 minutes gagging over a sandwich while he ditched me to go smoke. I confronted him later, and it resulted in an immediate blow up. He yelled at me that I am a raging bitch and all I do is nag and bitch and jumped up and said I need another hit you drive me crazy and walked out and took another hit. I was obviously crying and upset very hurt me crying annoyed him more resulting him to get out of bed and leave the room to go sleep in the hammock outside. I told him please don’t do this please can we just have a normal conversation your hurting me and he got in my face so close he was spitting on me and yelled “get the fuck back in the fucking bed and get the fuck away from me, and I want you to get a fucking abortion on Monday I don’t want a fucking kid with you” pointed at the bed while yelling this as if I was a dog. Went out the hammock and that was it. I layed in bed a while crying and eventually walked out to the hammock and confronted him, immediately after walking out there he said “if you don’t get the fuck away from me I am going to hit you right now” which blew my mind because he has never thrown a hand before and I am pregnant. I immediately walked inside. He came in an hour later and just got in bed cuddling me like nothing happened and went to sleep. I cried the entire night and I am at a complete draw on what to do. I’m so upset, but I love him.