Hey i always read online someone has to obviously be informed and "Do more research" about wolfdogs.
But i seemingly having a problem to understand what that actually means and what they expect from me.
What does that research entail?
Is it:

• Knowing the anatomy of a wolfdog? The anatomy of a Wolf?
  
• the origin story of a wolfdog, a Chechoslovakian one, a Saarlos one, and the American Vicky Spencer wolfdogs?
  
• and the history about how and for what purpose and intention people started to keep these Wolfdog breeds alive until this day?
  
• knowing a Wolfdogs instinkts?
  
• having Experienced and seen actual Wolfdogs Live (check)
  
• having Experienced seen and been in contact with Wild Wolves (check)
  
• been informed about eating and Food Habits in Wild wolves (check)
  
• been informed about eating and food habits in captive wolfdogs (check spoken to many owners and breeders)
  
• what and how other owners feed their wolfdog?
  
• what and how other breeders feed their wolfdog?
  
• what and how zoos feed heir wolves?
  
• what and how rescue stations feed their wolves?
  
• being informed about the anxiety levels, shyness levels of wolfdogs
  
• being infromed about the anxiety and shyness levels of wild wolves
  
• being informed about the Exceptions and that its actually really rare that wolfdogs are confident and show only slight anxiety or shyness around people. and having a wolfdog which enjoys being around people and dogs is super super rare and commonly wolfdogs may perform good with people and other dogs until the age of 2-3 then might change drastically and reality is that most wolfdogs don't do good with other dogs after that age (check)
  
• researching about the requirements to keep a Wolfdog privately in your home in your country if even legal?
  
• minimum theory's and discussions about what type of environment a wolfdogs needs to be able to enjoy its life in captivity (Space, Garden, House)?
  
• activities you have to do everyday to engage and build a strong bond with your wolfdog to keep a wolfdog healthy and happy?
  
• What it actually entails and means to own, keep, and provide for a wolfdog?
  
• the differences of training a Dog and training a Wolfdog?
  
• the statistics of behavioral issues in wolfdogs?
  
• behavioral habits, and lingering istinkts from the wild wolf part in wolfdogs which according to an article are the reason for 90% of wolfdog owners in america end up giving their wolfdog away or having to euthenize them because they aren't capable to keep them with their level of experience due to any circumstance at the age of 2-3 years when their personality changes and some become more wolf than dog. Resulting in a sad give away game, properly never finding an actual forever home for them and the having a really hard time to heal the trauma and damage made towards this wolfdog?
  
• how to interact properly with any dog?
  
• how to interact properly with wild wolves (or wolves in national parks)
  
• how to interact properly with privately owned wolfdogs?
  
• how to interact properly with wolfdogs by breeders?
  
• Boundarys of a wolfdog? What someone should never do with a wolfdog or to a wolfdog?
  
• What wolfdogs enjoy or don't enjoy?
  
• What builds trust and doesn't build trust in a dog?
  
• What builds trust and doesn't build trust in a wolfdog?
  
• the trainability of wolfdog?
  
• how every wolfdog is really different in training and some don't respond really well to food motivated training approaches, also don't respond well at all to physical punishment type of training, and someone has to get really deep and creative in to finding out what motivates their wolfdog if anything?
  
• how it is generally a lot harder to train a wolfdog?
  
• how it might not be even possible to train wolfdog (even thoug there are quite many exceptions out there)
  
• how to socialize a wolfdog as good as possible?
  
• they'r incapability of being a good guard Dog
  
• They're incapability of being any good in any Working type of environment or training? (though there are quite some exceptions out there too)
  
• They'r possible capable of doing such things?
  
• they'r possible capable of enjoying dog sports like Agility?
  
• how to groom and take care of a wolfdog?
  
• Sleeping area for a wolfdog? Outside? In your Home? In your Bed? In a Kennel?
  
• Wolfdogs and Leashes, Collars, Muzzles, Kennels? Yes? No? Why? Why Not? Why Yes? Legal reasons? Development, personal growth, liveability together in companionship reasons? Liveability together and with other people and dogs reasons?
  
• Their usually common type of personality and behavior?
  
• The complications and what that might mean for you as owner?
  
• the possibility of a wolfdog not being good with small animals or children and how to prevent accidents of that sort?
  
• their high Seperation anxiety of a wolfdog?
  
• how they can't be left alone for long hours and always should be supervised if possible? How to train to be able to be alone for a few minutes up to some hours without causing too much damage?
  
• how easy it is to severly cause trauma and damage to a wolfdog not handled properly?
  
• knowledge about Ethical Breeders and Unethical Breeders what separates them (while for some people there doesn't exist a ethical breeder hence all wolfdog breeding should be something forbidden and is unethical for them)
  
• questions about the Wolfdog to a breeder like
  
• what are their breeding goals when breeding their wolfdogs?
  
• what is their breeding philosophy?
  
• Full DNA embark - Age test
  
• Full Health Report (to make sure not to future bread already genetically mifortuned wolfdogs into a new generation)
  
• Full Family Tree of Parents, Father - Mother + eventually their Parents Embarks and personality Report
  
• Incest Koefficiency factor >5%
  
• Full Vaccination Rabies (even when its not officially approved for wolfdogs)- Deworming
  
• The Legal situation of your country of owning a wolfdog
  
• How owning a wolfdog might affect your Neighbors and people you life with?
  
• How owning a Wolfdog will affect your Life for the Next at least 12-15 years and requiring full commitment and designing your Life around that Wolfdog and not the other way around?
  
• What does it mean and entail, Risks of owning a American Wolfdog which isn't registered as an official breed like Saarlos and Chechoslovakian wolfdogs are?
  
• The Countless storys of Tragedy about Wolfdogs faith and their owners
  
• The Countless storys of Positive lifes people could experience with their Wolfdog
  
• Having a Training Facility like a dog school which is also known to be experienced enough to train wolfdogs?
  
• Having a breeder who can give advice in situations about anything and training
  
• Having a Vet and a Doctor who is able to attend to a Wolfdog and does so willingly without problems?
  
• The Costs entailed in having a wolfdog, caring for them, as well as Insurance if your country offers them, Any Health comlications which might occur Vet-Doctor Costs. Food living Costs.
  
• Costs of changing your property to fit your wolfdog and maybe make it harder for them to escape?
  
• That wolfdogs are great Escape artists?
  
• Strength of a Wolfdog and what does that mean to the owner?
  
• Hormonal challenges of a Wolfdog which entails having a harder to keep wolfdog probably every year at a certain time of year when they get in heat?
  
• having watched countless hours on youtube about Wolves?
  
• having watched countless hours on youtube about wofldogs?
  
• having read countless hours on reddit and quora about wolves and wolfdogs?
  
• having read countless hours on niche forums about wolves and wolfdogs?
  
• How to properly feed and grow up a puppy wolfdog with their sisters and parent for the first 8-12 weeks providing the right amount of nutrition?
  
• Having an actual Scope about what and how it will change your life turn it upside down when deciding to own a wolfdog for the full entirety of the wolfdogs life?
  
• having an actual scope what it means on the downsides
  
  • not being able to travel overseas for yeah complete at least 12-15 maybe even 20 years
  • not being able to let friends near your house, get close to other children, having your own children (even though there exist breeders and owners who in fact do have children and their wolfdogs are doing well with them)
• having an actual scope what it could mean on the upsides
  
• having an actual scope what it does mean IF the wolfdog would turn out EXACTLY how you would NOT like them to be? And figuring out if that would happen are you actually ready to take responsibility and do your best to have your wolfdog have the best life possible?
  
• being aware of the actual critical downsides when an uncontrollable accident happens in a situation you have misjudged and just happens anyways even if you did everything right
  
• knowing that most wolfdogs won't do what you want them to do? And they rarely even do?
  

What can you Add? What did i miss? And is there really ever a point when your done researching? When is the point in which i can say to myself i have done enough research to form a Responsible Opinion about if a Wolfdog is right or wrong for me? What are some super majorly critical things i missed in these questions here?
I think there never really is a time in which you really have learned everything. But people keep saying do more research but really What do they expect from me knowing about the Wolfdog?

First, go on Amazon and buy some Army OCPS and pts. It’s that easy! Then once a month wake up at 2am and drive 3 hours to a random location. Don’t get yourself a hotel! That’s ridiculous. Once there proceed to stand in the parking lot for an hour, make sure to call attendance to verify that you are there, also call your name for a UPL and talk about the plans for training for the day that will never happen. Next, watch yourself piss in a cup and mail it off to a lab to test yourself for drugs. Proceed to your nearest classroom and sit there for an hour on your phone, then decide that class has been canceled and as quickly as possible get to a different classroom. Stand in front of the classroom and give an hour long brief about common knowledge such as “don’t spend more money than you have” or “don’t kill yourself, because that’s bad”. After that break for lunch, none is provided, so go buy some! Now it’s time for some fun training! Go back out in the parking lot and notionally drive humvees around in a convoy! It’s great fun, just like playing pretend as a child. If someone shoots at you, just yell “bang, bang” and you’re safe. Suddenly interrupt that training because it is very important some items are moved. Find the nearest conex and empty everything in it and move everything into a nearby conex. No wait, that was the wrong conex, move it into the one on the other side of the building and hurry up. Next, go upstairs to the office and fill out some paperwork you have already filled out one hundred times because they lost it. Now run downstairs! You are late to the 10 minutes prior to final formation! Stand in formation for 20 minutes before starting the final brief. Talk about how training was great and to get there at 0600 the next day in pts. Then dismiss yourself, enjoy sleeping in your car. Wake up the next morning and get in formation to do pt, thankfully the sun hasn’t risen yet so it isn’t too hot. Spend the next two hours confirming attendance and getting confused as where to do pt. Now that it is nice and hot out run around the area for a while till you are dripping with sweat. Now run inside and change into your ocps in 10 minutes, no you don’t have time to take a shower. What do you think this is, the Air Force? Training proceeds the same as yesterday, the only change is moving the items from that conex back into the original conex. Dismiss yourself at 1700 with peak traffic, fill up your gas tank again, with your money, and drive three hours back. Get a good nights rest! You have work in the morning!
Once in the summer, ideally during an important time such as a family reunion or a friends wedding do the same thing, but for two weeks.
Congratulations! You are in the National Guard! Make sure to enjoy the benefits you don’t have as well! And if you can’t find a deployment to get on remember you will just be a dumb old civilian again when you ETS because you aint a veteran.

An analysis of new data from the Canadian Social Survey suggests that while self-reported incidents of discrimination have remained relatively stable since 2021, discrimination and unfair treatment continue to disproportionally affect racialized groups, women, 2SLGBTQ+ populations, people living with disabilities and young adults. Here are some key findings:

• More than one-third (36%) of people in Canada have experienced some form of discrimination or unfair treatment in the last five years. The five most cited reasons for discrimination were race or skin colour (34%), physical appearance (30%), ethnicity or culture (26%), age (24%), and sex (23%).
• Men and women perceived differences in the reasons behind their discriminatory experiences. Men were more likely than women to report discrimination based on race or skin colour, ethnicity or culture, language, accent, or religion, while women were more likely to report discrimination based on their sex or age.
• Half of racialized people (51%) have experienced discrimination or unfair treatment within the past five years. This was nearly double the proportion (27%) recorded for non-racialized people.
• Discrimination most often occurred in the workplace—41% of people reported experiencing discrimination while working, applying for a job or seeking a promotion.
• People who experienced discrimination in the past five years were twice as likely to report fair or poor mental health compared with those who did not (31% versus 14%). They were also less likely to report high life satisfaction (37% versus 57%) and high levels of meaning and purpose (46% versus 63%).

We are Canada’s national statistical agency. We are here to engage with Canadians and provide them with high-quality statistical information that matters! Publishing in a subreddit does not imply we endorse the content posted by other redditors.
***
D’après l’analyse des nouvelles données de l’Enquête sociale canadienne, même si les cas de discrimination autodéclarés sont restés relativement stables depuis 2021, la discrimination et le traitement injuste continuent d’avoir un effet disproportionné sur les groupes racisés, les femmes, les populations 2ELGBTQ+, les personnes ayant une incapacité et les jeunes adultes. Voici quelques résultats clés :

• Plus du tiers (36 %) des personnes au Canada ont subi une certaine forme de discrimination ou ont été traitées injustement au cours des cinq dernières années. Les cinq motifs de discrimination le plus souvent évoqués étaient la race ou la couleur de la peau (34 %), l’apparence physique (30 %), l’origine ethnique ou la culture (26 %), l’âge (24 %) et le sexe (23 %).
• Les hommes et les femmes ont perçu différemment les motifs à l’origine de leurs expériences de discrimination : les hommes étaient plus susceptibles que les femmes de signaler de la discrimination fondée sur la race ou la couleur de la peau, l’origine ethnique ou la culture, la langue, l’accent ou la religion, et les femmes étaient plus susceptibles de signaler de la discrimination fondée sur leur sexe ou leur âge.
• La moitié des personnes racisées (51 %) ont subi de la discrimination ou ont été traitées injustement au cours des cinq dernières années, ce qui représente près du double de la proportion observée chez les personnes non racisées (27 %).
• La discrimination s’est manifestée le plus souvent en milieu de travail : 41 % des personnes ont déclaré avoir subi de la discrimination pendant les heures de travail, au moment de présenter une demande d’emploi ou de chercher à obtenir une promotion.
• Les personnes ayant subi de la discrimination au cours des cinq dernières années étaient deux fois plus susceptibles de déclarer que leur santé mentale était passable ou mauvaise comparativement aux personnes n’ayant pas subi de discrimination (31 % par rapport à 14 %). Elles étaient également moins susceptibles de faire état d’une grande satisfaction à l’égard de la vie (37 % par rapport à 57 %) et d’un fort sentiment de sens et de but à la vie (46 % par rapport à 63 %).

Nous sommes l’organisme national de statistique du Canada. Nous sommes ici pour discuter avec les Canadiens et les Canadiennes et leur fournir des renseignements statistiques de grande qualité qui comptent! Le fait de publier dans un sous-reddit ne signifie pas que nous approuvons le contenu affiché par d'autres utilisateurs de Reddit.

Recent polling in both the US and in Israel paints a pretty clear portrait of the Jewish state rapidly becoming ever more isolated and unstable -- internally and externally. And yet, its policies still have vocal defenders. Somehow, the people who care most about Israel appear the most blind to its dangerous and self-destructive trajectory. The irony is this: Those who defend the actions of the state of Israel and its handling of the war in Gaza are essentially defending the Jewish state's right to self-immolate.
Some recent data: In the US context, attitudes of a very strong majority of voters, including a majority of Republicans, is that this war should end, soon: "Seven in 10 likely voters — including majorities of Democrats (83%), Independents (65%), and Republicans (56%) — support the U.S. calling for a permanent ceasefire and a de-escalation of violence in Gaza." What's more, according to the same polling, a narrow plurality of likely US voters (39%) believe Israel is committing a genocide against the people of Gaza. From the perspective of average Americans, this mess in Gaza has gone on too long, America shouldn't pay for it, and blame is increasingly being laid at Israel's feet.
All of the above is entirely at odds with the actions of Israel's government, which seems intent on extending this war indefinitely, especially because designing a timeline of how and when to leave Gaza would fracture the ruling coalition. As operations continue in Rafah, the government finds itself attempting to manage mounting tensions with its chief benefactor -- the US. This strategy's instability and uncertainty, if not outright foolishness, is reflected in a dramatic drop in confidence among Israelis. This pessimism isn't just aimed at government figures and policies, but also has affected Israelis' belief in the viability of the Jewish state: 33% of Israelis now "are not convinced that Israel is the place where their children or grandchildren should live."
This mounting fear the future is not a misunderstanding on the part of Israelis, it's a reflection of Israel's failed geopolitical and national strategy: "'Unfortunately, the pessimistic findings reflect a reasonable reading of reality by the Israeli public,' assessed Prof. Yedidia Stern, president of the Jewish People Policy Institute, who warned: 'In the last year and a half, cracks have appeared in the cohesion of Israeli society, in the sense of personal security, in the alliance with the United States and in the relationship to Jews around the world, and the Israelis are worried.'”
Given all this failure, you wonder what motivates the Israel defenders to push for an unswerving, unquestioning, and uncritical response to Israel's government and its policy, when such policy has only weakened and isolated Israel. In truth, they are not defending Israel's right to self-defense, so much as its right to self-destruction.

Army Guardsmen in 20 states now can access drill weekend child care after the National Guard’s most senior leader signed an agreement with public partners expanding a pilot program at a Pentagon ceremony May 13, 2024.
https://www.army.mil/article-amp/276269/national_guard_expands_pilot_child_care_program

As far back as I can remember, I had always been passionate about the great outdoors. My love for the wilderness began when I joined the scouts, exploring the diverse landscapes of Southern California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. I was never a huge fan of the dry, barren landscapes, but camping provided a much-needed escape from the monotony of Orange County suburbia.
The first time I visited the Pacific Northwest, I was enchanted. The scenery was breathtaking—majestic mountains, lush fields, and meandering rivers. It was clear that anyone who praised the desert's beauty had never laid eyes on the Cascades. Seeing grass and wildflowers growing without irrigation was practically a revelation.
When I was old enough, I moved to Washington state, immersing myself in nature every weekend. My adventures took me hiking through dense forests, camping by serene lakes, and occasionally taking mushrooms under peaceful waterfalls.
I joined several online forums dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts. One community that particularly fascinated me was the Northwest Tomb Raiders. This group of history buffs and thrill-seekers was dedicated to uncovering artifacts, whether Native American relics or treasures hidden in modern ruins. Many members were collectors, fencing their finds to museums and archaeologists, which made it a rather profitable side gig, should you be lucky enough.
In the fall of 2009, an intriguing post appeared on the forum. A user named Lokk claimed to have discovered a cache of artifacts with Scandinavian origins. He couldn't carry everything back due to the treacherous terrain and his age, so he shared the coordinates, hoping someone else could retrieve the items. I scrolled down to see a few posts of people planning to loot it in the Spring, when the paths have reopened. One user, Patagooner, planned on going as early as possible.
Excited by the prospect, I gathered my two friends, Carl and Noah, for the expedition. They weren't as enthusiastic about camping as I was, but after I told them how much a single arrowhead goes for on the black market, they were on board. It was the start of winter now, which had its advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, the rangers would have a harder time spotting us. On the downside, the harsh conditions posed a serious challenge for two inexperienced hikers.
I must’ve blown about four grand at REI on gear for them, justifying it with the knowledge of how much more I would make with two extra packs. That is of course assuming there really were as many artifacts as Lokk had said, and Patagooner hadn’t beaten me there.
The journey began like any other. We met in the pre-dawn darkness and went over our supplies, ensuring we had everything we needed. By mid-morning, we were on our way, my pickup truck winding up the mountain paths. The roads of Olympic National Park were the epitome of the raw, untamed beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
They snake through ancient forests, where towering Douglas firs and Western hemlocks create a verdant canopy overhead. Mist clings to the trees, giving the landscape an ethereal quality. Occasionally, the forest would open up to reveal breathtaking vistas of snow-capped peaks and deep, shadowy valleys.
As we climbed higher, the landscape grew increasingly desolate. The dense forest thinned out, replaced by rugged terrain and jagged rock formations. The air grew colder, and the first flurries of snow began to fall, dusting the ground in a thin, white layer. The road became narrower and more treacherous, winding precariously along the edge of steep cliffs.
Finally, a road closure blockade signaled the end of our journey in the truck. We unloaded three dirt bikes—one mine, two rentals—and continued up the trail. The bikes roared to life, carrying us several more miles into the wilderness. The trail twisted and turned, cutting through dense underbrush and over fallen logs. The snow began to fall more heavily, blanketing the forest floor and muffling the sound of our engines. The world around us grew quieter, more isolated.
Eventually, the snow became too deep to traverse by bike. We dismounted and prepared to continue on foot. The silence of the forest was profound, broken only by the occasional rustle of branches in the wind. I checked my modern GPS, its screen displaying the coordinates and a relief map of our destination.
The cold air bit into our cheeks as we trudged through the snow-laden forest. The silence was almost oppressive, broken only by the crunch of our footsteps and the occasional call of distant wildlife. The GPS indicated we were close to our destination, but the dense underbrush and uneven terrain made progress slow.
Suddenly, Carl's excited whisper cut through the stillness. "Hey, look at that!"
He pointed to a small, furry creature ambling through the trees. It took a moment to realize what it was—a bear cub, innocently exploring its surroundings.
My heart sank. "Carl, get back," I hissed, my voice low but urgent. "Where there's a cub, there's a..."
Before I could finish, a massive shape exploded from the trees. The mother bear, easily three times the size of the cub, charged at Carl with a ferocity. She was a blur of dark fur and powerful muscles, her roar echoing through the forest.
"Run!" I yelled, but it was too late. The bear was upon Carl, swiping at him with her massive paws. He screamed as he fell to the ground, the bear towering over him. Desperation and adrenaline surged through me. I grabbed the nearest heavy branch and swung it at the bear, hoping to distract her.
Noah joined in, shouting and waving his arms. We had to be careful; one wrong move and she would turn on us. The bear snarled, turning her attention away from Carl for just a moment. It was enough for him to scramble backwards, clutching his bleeding arm.
"We have to get him out of here," I shouted to Noah, who nodded, fear etched on his face. The bear, still enraged, seemed torn between attacking us and protecting her cub.
Using the brief respite, we hauled Carl to his feet. His face was white, and he was clearly in shock. Blood soaked his sleeve, dripping onto the snow. "There's a ranger station about two miles from here," I said, my voice shaking. "We need to get him there. Now."
We half-carried, half-dragged Carl through the forest, every shadow and sound heightening our paranoia.
Finally, after what felt like forever, the small, wooden structure of the ranger station came into view. We had been avoiding the rangers to keep our expedition secret, but now it was our only hope.
Pounding on the door, I prayed for a quick response. The door creaked open, and a weathered face appeared. "What happened?" the ranger demanded, taking in the sight of Carl's bloodied form.
"Bear attack," I gasped. "We need help."
The ranger's expression shifted from suspicion to urgency. "Get him inside. We've got a first aid kit and a radio."
As we eased Carl onto a makeshift bed, the ranger inspected his wounds. "You're lucky," he said after a moment. "The cuts are deep, but they missed any major arteries. He'll need stitches, but we can handle that here. No need for an airlift."
The ranger's face darkened as he turned to me. "What the hell are you boys doing out here?”
I hesitated, "We... we were just exploring."
The ranger's eyes narrowed, his anger palpable. "Exploring? In a restricted area? In the middle of winter? Are you out of your minds?"
He worked quickly and efficiently, cleaning and stitching Carl's wounds. Carl winced but stayed silent, his eyes closed in pain.
"Do you have any idea how dangerous it is out here?" the ranger continued, his voice rising. "The storm, the wildlife... This area is off-limits for a reason! You should have known better." he said, pushing a finger into my chest.
"We'll stay here for the night," he continued, "The storm's getting worse, and it's too dangerous to move him now. We'll reassess in the morning. And count yourself lucky I don't arrest your asses."
Night fell quickly, the storm outside growing more ferocious with each passing minute. The howling wind battered the small ranger station, and the walls creaked under the pressure. We huddled in the main room, the tension thick in the air.
The ranger looked at us sternly. "I need to check the perimeter and make sure everything is secure. There are things out there you don’t want to encounter, especially in this storm."
"Things? What do you mean?" Noah asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
The ranger's expression hardened. "Just stay put. No matter what you see or hear, do not leave this cabin. Understood?"
We nodded, the seriousness in his tone leaving no room for argument. "We'll stay put," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
The ranger grabbed his coat and shotgun. "I'll be back in an hour. Do not leave this cabin." With that, he opened the door and stepped into the raging storm, disappearing into the darkness.
As soon as the door closed, I turned to Noah. "We need to go. Now."
Noah's eyes widened. "Are you crazy? He said to stay put."
"If we wait until morning, we'll be escorted out of here and lose our chance. This might be our only opportunity to find those artifacts."
Noah hesitated with uncertainty "But... what about Carl?"
"He'll be fine here. The ranger can take care of him. We have to do this now."
Reluctantly, Noah nodded. "Alright. Let's take what we can and go."
We quickly looted extra gear from the cabin. I checked the GPS one last time before we slipped out into the storm, the cold wind battering us.
The snow fell heavily, obscuring our vision as we slogged through the forest. The ranger was nowhere in sight as we made our way towards the our destination, each step filled with trepidatious excitement.
The storm began to die down as we approached the coordinates. We stepped into a clearing where the undisturbed snow lay like a pristine white blanket. In the center stood an ancient, weathered stone altar, encircled by intricate wooden carvings, delicate metalwork, and beautifully crafted statues. The sight was breathtaking, a treasure trove, a veritable museum of paganism.
Noah and I exchanged glances, our eyes wide with amazement. "Do you see this?" I whispered, barely able to contain my excitement.
"We're going to be rich," Noah replied, his voice trembling with awe. "These must be worth a fortune!"
We approached cautiously, as if the vision before us might disappear. The craftsmanship was stunning. I reached out to touch a carved wooden idol, marveling at the detail. "This is incredible," I said, my voice barely audible.
We began to load our packs with as many artifacts as we could carry, each one more exquisite than the last. It was beyond our wildest dreams. We were so engrossed in our task that we didn't notice the small figure watching us from the ridge.
It wasn't until I turned to leave that I saw her. A young girl, maybe eight years old, stood there, her blue eyes wide with curiosity. She was dressed in simple, rustic clothing, her blonde straight hair blowing gently in the wind. For a moment, we just stared at each other.
"Noah," I whispered urgently, nudging him. "Look."
He turned, his eyes following my gaze. "What the...?" he muttered, his voice trailing off.
The girl took a tentative step forward, her eyes fixed on the items in our hands. There was no fear in her gaze, only a quiet intensity that made my skin crawl.
"Who are you?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
She tilted her head slightly. "My name is Sigyn."
"What are you doing out here, Sigyn?" Noah asked, his voice shaky.
"I live here,"
"You live here?" I echoed, incredulous. "Is there anyone else around?"
"Yes," she whispered.
"Where?" Noah demanded, looking around nervously.
"Everywhere," she said with a giggle.
The way she said it, so matter-of-factly, bothered me deeply. Noah and I exchanged a look, both of us trying to figure out what to do next.
"We can't take her back to the ranger," Noah started, "We'll lose everything."
I nodded, my mind racing. "Sigyn," I said slowly, "we need to know who else is here. Can you help us?"
She looked at me with her piercing blue eyes, then said, "I'm sorry."
"For what?" Noah asked.
"For what's going to happen to you," she replied, her voice tinged with sadness.
"You need to tell us what's going on," Noah said, grabbing her arm roughly. "Why are you out here alone?"
She looked up at him, unperturbed. "I am not alone," she said softly.
Before we could press her further, a loud, guttural mooing sound echoed through the clearing. We turned towards the direction the girl had come from, and there, emerging from the shadows, was the silhouette of an elk. As it approached, my stomach dropped. Its body was a grotesque amalgamation of life and decay. Its skull was fully exposed, the eye sockets dark and empty. Large patches of its ribs were visible, the flesh around them rotted away.
The elk's movements were slow and deliberate, its head swaying as if in a trance. It walked directly towards us, its hollow eyes fixed on Sigyn. The closer it got, the more the stench of death filled the air—a nauseating mix of decay and earth. I fought the urge to retch.
Sigyn stood up, her expression calm. The monster sniffed her gently, its nostrils flaring. Without a word, she climbed onto its back, mounting it like a horse. It was a surreal and horrifying scene ripped straight from a nightmare.
As she settled onto the elk, she looked back at us, "A thief in the night shall reap what he sows," she said, her voice carrying an otherworldly echo. "Beware the price of stolen dreams."
With that, the beast turned and began to walk away, Sigyn riding it into the shadows of the forest. We stood there, frozen in place. The realization that we were in far over our heads began to sink in. This started to feel like a trap.
We need to get out of here," My voice trembling. "Now."
We turned to leave, our packs heavy with the pilfered goods. But as we took our first steps, the forest around us seemed to come alive. Shadows moved among the trees, and whispers floated on the wind. I quickened my pace, glancing nervously over my shoulder.
"Did you hear that?" Noah asked sharply,
"Just keep moving," I commanded.
A figure emerged from the shadows, blocking our path. It was a man, tall and gaunt, his eyes burning with an intense light. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked, his voice cold and menacing.
"We're leaving," I stammered. "We didn't mean any harm."
The man smirked, and with a swift motion, he raised his hand. More figures appeared, closing in on us from all sides. We were surrounded.
"Run!" I shouted, shoving Noah forward.
We sprinted through the forest, branches whipping at our faces and legs. The figures pursued us, their footsteps silent and relentless.
Noah stumbled and fell, his pack spilling open. Statues scattered across the ground, glinting in the moonlight. "Help!" he cried, scrambling to gather the items.
"Leave them!" I shouted, pulling him to his feet. "We have to keep moving!"
But it was too late, their hands seizing us. I struggled, kicking and thrashing, but their grips were too strong. They forced us to the ground, binding our hands with rough, coarse ropes.
"Please," I begged, "Don't hurt us."
The man who had first appeared stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "A thief in the night," he mocked.
They dragged us through the forest, the trees closing in around us like a cage. We were at their mercy.
In the distance, I could see the elk standing at the edge of the clearing, Sigyn still astride its back. Her eyes met mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of pity. But then they turned away, disappearing into the shadows once more.
We were dragged into the heart of the forest, our struggles futile against the unyielding grip of our captors. As we broke through the treeline, a massive bonfire came into view, its flames licking the night sky. Shadows danced around the clearing, cast by the flickering light. A woman stood at the forefront, her presence commanding.
Her eyes were milk white, devoid of pupils, and her long, flowing white hair cascaded down her back. She was completely naked, her skin pale and marked with intricate symbols. Atop her head, she wore an elk skull, its antlers extending like eerie, skeletal fingers. She beat a drum emblazoned with more of the same cryptic symbols, each thud resonating deep within my chest.
Around the fire, about two dozen people stood, all drinking from crude, horned cups. Their faces were solemn, eyes fixed on the woman as she led them in a haunting chant. The atmosphere was thick with a mix of reverence and intoxication.
We were forced to our knees before the woman, who paused her drumming to look down at us. Her gaze was haunting, as if she could see into the very depths of our souls.
"Who are you?" Noah demanded, his voice trembling.
The woman ignored him, raising her arms to the sky. The chanting grew louder, the rhythm of the drum faster and more frenzied. The air around us seemed to vibrate with energy, the flames of the bonfire growing higher and more intense.
I glanced at Noah, fear mirrored in his eyes. The woman began to speak, her voice low and melodic, but filled with power, in a language I couldn't understand. Suddenly, she stopped, lowering her arms. The chanting ceased, and an silence fell over the clearing. She looked directly at me, her white eyes unblinking.
En tjuv i natten skördar vad han sår, akta dig för drömmar som du stjäl och får.
Hans skratt bevakar lundens gömda stig, där skuggor sveper över skogens liv.
För varje stulet andetag och svek, måste en tjuv möta sitt smärtsamma ödelek.
Tricksterns vilja, vår ande här, så i hans nåd, våra liv bär.
I was terrified and confused. She started again, softer, in a way I could understand.
A thief in the night shall reap what he sows, beware the price of stolen dreams.
His laughter guards our hidden groves, where shadows cloak the forest's seams.
For every stolen breath and lie, a thief must meet his painful end.
The tricksters will, our spirits tie, so in his grace, our lives suspend.
The crowd surged forward, grabbing Noah first. He screamed, his terror echoing through the trees as they pulled him towards a makeshift altar beside the bonfire. The woman chanted louder, her voice rising in a hypnotic rhythm as they began their gruesome work.
They stripped him of his shirt and bound his arms to a wooden frame. I tried to move, to help him, but the grip on my shoulders tightened, pinning me to the ground.
The woman approached Noah, holding a knife with a blade that gleamed in the firelight. She started to slice into his back, her movements deliberate and unhurried. Noah's screams pierced the night as she methodically carved the shape of wings into his flesh.
Blood poured from the wounds, soaking the ground beneath him. The crowd's chant grew louder, almost drowning out his cries. I watched in horror as the woman reached into the incisions, breaking the ribs and pulling them outward, creating a parody of wings.
Noah's agony was unbearable to witness. His screams turned to whimpers, his body convulsing in pain. The woman didn't stop until the work was complete, his lungs exposed and hanging grotesquely from his back.
They lifted Noah's broken body and placed him over the fire. The smell of burning flesh filled the air, making me gag. His life ebbed away as the flames consumed him, the once vibrant light in his eyes fading to nothing.
The woman turned to me, her expression devoid of mercy. "You will meet the same fate," she said, "He demands it."
The smell of burning flesh and the sight of his broken body over the fire was seared into my mind. Despair settled over me as I closed my eyes.
A deafening blast shattered the night. My eyes flew open to see the shaman stumbling backward, a gaping wound in her chest. She collapsed to the ground, her white eyes staring lifelessly into the void.
The villagers turned in shock as another shot rang out, this time hitting one of the men holding me. I twisted free from their grasp and saw the park ranger standing at the edge of the clearing, a pump-action shotgun in his hands. He fired again, the sound echoing through the forest, before one of them tackled him to the ground.
"Run!" he shouted, his voice raw and desperate. "Get the hell out of here!"
I didn't need to be told twice. I sprinted into the darkness, the chaos of the clearing fading behind me. Branches whipped at my face, and the snow underfoot made every step a struggle. I could hear the sounds of fighting and gunshots, but I forced myself to keep moving.
The cold air burned in my lungs, but adrenaline pushed me forward. I didn't stop until I reached the station, my legs threatening to give out from under me. I burst through the door and slammed it behind me.
Inside, Carl lay where we had left him, his face pale and twisted in pain. I stumbled to the radio, my hands trembling as I fumbled with the controls.
"Mayday, mayday!" I yelled into the microphone. "This is an emergency! We need help! Please, someone, come quickly!"
Static filled the room, punctuated by my ragged breaths. I repeated the call, my voice growing more frantic with each passing second. Finally, a voice crackled through the speaker. "This is Ranger Station Bravo. What's your location? Over."
I could barely form the words. "Olympic National Park! The ranger station near mount Christie! We're under attack! Please, send help!"
"Copy that. Help is on the way. Stay put and stay safe. Over."
I collapsed to the floor, my body trembling with exhaustion and fear. Carl moaned softly, his eyes fluttering open. "What… What happened? Where's Noah?”
Tears streamed down my face and I found myself choked up. “He’s gone, man. Help is coming.”
The minutes stretched into an eternity as we waited. The wind howled around the station, and every creak and groan of the structure set my nerves on edge. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched, that the forest itself was closing in on us.
The radio crackled again, this time with a different voice. "Helicopter en route, ETA fifteen minutes. Prepare for extraction."
I glanced at Carl, his eyes filled with confusion. "Hang on. We're getting out of here."
As the minutes ticked by, I couldn't help but think about the ranger. He had saved my life, but he hadn't made it back. My mind conjured up images of what might have happened to him, the cultists overwhelming him in the darkness. A sense of guilt gnawed at me, knowing he had sacrificed himself for us.
The sound of rotors cut through the night, growing louder as the helicopter approached. I ran to the window and saw its searchlight piercing the treetops, scanning for the station.
I helped Carl to his feet, supporting his weight as we made our way to the hatch. The helicopter hovered above, lowering a rescue basket. The wind from the rotors whipped the snow into a frenzy, but I didn't care. Salvation was finally here.
We secured Carl in the basket first, and I watched as he was hoisted up, disappearing into the safety of the helicopter. My turn was next. I realized that I was now alone and exposed. Fear coursing through me as I scanned around the edge of the forest, expecting to be grabbed and taken seconds before my rescue. But the moment never came. As I gripped the rope, I took one last look at the forest below. The flames of the bonfire still flickered in the distance.
I was lifted into the air, the ground falling away beneath me. The helicopter's crew pulled me inside, and I collapsed onto the floor still holding onto my pack, my body finally giving in to exhaustion. The doors closed, and the helicopter banked away, leaving the horrors of the park behind.
Weeks had passed since the harrowing events, but the memories clung to me like the bitter cold. I had returned to civilization, seeking solace in the familiar chaos of the city. I found a wealthy collector through a network of contacts. The artifacts fetched a price tenfold the cost of gear. The money was substantial, but as I held the cash, it felt like a hollow victory.
Noah's absence weighed heavily on me. His disappearance was chalked up as a missing persons case, and despite my best efforts to explain what had happened, no one believed me. The authorities conducted a search of the area, but they found no trace of the cult, the artifacts, or the clearing. It was as if the forest had swallowed up all the evidence.
I returned to the site where we had parked the truck. The dirt bikes were gone, stolen by opportunistic thieves, but the truck remained. I drove back in silence, the road winding through the dense forest. For a moment, I thought I saw the girl watching me from atop a ridge until I realized it was just paranoia. I stepped on the gas a little harder.
Back home, I checked the Tomb Raiders forum again. The post that had led us into the forest was gone, deleted without a trace. I messaged the mods, but apparently, they don’t keep records to maintain confidentiality. I wrote about our experience, detailing every terrifying moment, but the responses were skeptical at best. Most dismissed it as a work of fiction or a desperate cry for attention.
Time passed, and I tried to return to a semblance of normalcy. Yet, the wilderness called to me stronger than ever. It was my sanctuary, the only place where I could find peace amidst the turmoil. I spent more and more time outdoors than ever before, but now it always felt like I was just running from something.
Determined to prove what had happened, I returned to the forest with a camera and recording equipment. This time, I documented every step, capturing footage of the trees, the snow, and the eerie silence that hung in the air. I retraced our path, hoping to find the clearing again. But each night, as I reviewed the footage, something strange would happen. The files would be corrupted or entire segments missing.
I pressed on. I found the site where Noah had fallen, the ground still bearing faint traces of what had happened. I set up the camera and began to speak, recounting the events in detail. As I spoke, a cold wind swept through the clearing, and the camera's screen flickered. I finished my account and turned to check the recording, only to find the file corrupted once again, the footage replaced by static and a faint, mocking laughter.
I returned home, defeated and exhausted. My attempts to share what I had experienced were met with disbelief and ridicule. The files I managed to save were corrupted beyond recognition. It was as if the forest itself was conspiring against me.
Almost exactly one year later, as I browsed the forums, a new post caught my eye. It was cryptic, eerily similar to the one that had led us into the nightmare. It spoke of another trove of artifacts, hidden deep within the wilderness, waiting to be claimed.
The post was signed with a new name: Skygge. Different handle, same style. Another trap. They had taken so much from me, left scars that would never heal. I opened my drawer, my fingers brushing over the cold metal of my weapons. This was the moment I had been waiting for. This time, I'll be ready.
The forest’s secrets won't remain hidden forever.

An interesting pair of messages.
From Wall Street Journal, an article that decries the world-first achievement of having demonstrated that overpopulation can be overcome, as the global birth rate falls below replacement levels.
https://apple.news/ALpSDUhezSReJzgTRa6VipA
From United Nations Human Rights Office, a campaign promoting LGBTIQ+ allyship and choosing what is right over choosing what is easy.
https://www.unfe.org/what-we-do/our-campaigns/alliesinaction
The second item arrived by email so I’m quoting:
“Dear friends,
Equality cannot be won by the LGBTIQ+ community alone. We need allies who will help build a world with equality, freedom, and justice for all – no matter who we are or whom we love.
That is why UN Free & Equal is marking tomorrow's International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia with a new campaign celebrating the relationship between allies and the LGBTIQ+ community. Our allies are people who stand up for the rights of others. They choose what is right over what is easy.
In our campaign, you will hear from different #AlliesInAction who use their platforms and their voices to speak up for LGBTIQ+ equality. Actress and former Miss India Celina Jaitly, Cabo Verdean singer Mayra Andrade, and Márcia Mercury, the daughter of Brazilian singer Daniela Mercury and Malu Verçosa Mercury, all explain what it is that makes being an ally so important. Each have made an impact in the lives of LGBTIQ+ people they know and love, sometimes by taking a stand, and sometimes just by showing their support and acceptance.
You can also join the movement; explore the hashtag, share your story, and take action for LGBTIQ+ equality in your community. Visit our campaign page for eight simple ways to get started!
In solidarity,
The UN Free & Equal team”
The WSJ article conspicuously avoids mentioning anything to do with Pride directly but it does talk about Russia’s demographic complaints and quotes people talking about “reorientation” and “preference” so it’s not exactly subtle.
To the degree that Russia is complaining that Pride is a demography hazard, and has opted out, it’s nice to see that the Free and Equal campaign is asserting itself as still operative.

So i work in construction usually 10-12 hours Monday-Friday i make probably 60k a year but i have 24k in credit card debt also paying 800 a month in child support, rent, bills etc. My sister recommended the air national guard and mentioned sign on bonuses i know some of y’all are gonna be at me for only wanting to join for the money but no matter what even if i were to join i give everything 100% when it comes to work so they would be getting a hard worker but i am kind of stuck with this debt also i am not considering active duty because i have a 2 year old and i just don’t think i could be away from her for long periods of time just wondering if being in the reserves is even worth it?

Introduction

Christian religious education is defined as the process where by Christian learning takes place. It often involves “teaching which enables practicing Christians to adopt and deepen their Christian belief, values and dispositions to experience and act in a Christian way. It depends to a greater extent on how this process is adopted and practiced in different churches.

Different practices in Christian education in local churches

At some degree of certainty that all Christian churches have a similar aim’s and practices. The liturgical aspect is of paramount importance in the Trinitarian belief and practices in that it serves as introduction to what Christianity is all about. This is where the process of Cognitive learning takes places it involves the worship service where hymns are sang, lessons extracted from the books of the bible are read, sermon often punctuated with exhortation, admonishment and instruction in righteous living is delivered and prayers are said. It also involves the celebration of the holy Eucharist which Jesus Christ himself, recognized as the head of the church, initiated based on experience acquired in the worship service, it can be seen as Christian religious education is a confessional churchly activity of evangelism, instruction and nurture.
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I assure that “Youth are the most critical of all critics when it comes to religion”. Today, common inhabitants do pray and accept the holiness in church for Christ which they are aware that Christ constitutes the sacred bread and wine, but do not entirely act upon worshipping and fail to confront the thoughts and feelings to masses which would spread dignity of godliness among selves. The moral lies in the fact that this creates lackness to reach spiritual beliefs through worship and liturgy resulting in declination the faith which affects the divine nature approaching positivity.
Christian education is a vital important part in youth development. For Christian education to be explored, generation of today should be brought into contact through various practices. In the early centuries, reformers emphasized and trusted true faith and doctrines, to change and reform behaviour as the only solution for salvation in Christian education. Christian school movements prove a challenge as a messenger to convey god’s given mission and honour god.

Traditional approach

This approach was practiced since many decades and is still continued to be practiced which helps in binding and governing the ethics and morality within the religion and belief. Since beginning described, in leaving our homeland to teach the gospels throughout the world through scriptures, god conveyed his message – by sending his son Jesus for us, the Holy Spirit, the Holy Church, and Baptism for building unity.
Christianity consists of three things – Religious faith, way of life and community of mankind towards salvation are most important. The most vital of all belief preached is that there is only one god. The term Christian does not imply on the fact that a Christian should grow up in a Christian community, but precisely accepts Christian faith and belief, follows and leads the path of life on which Jesus walked on and made mankind accept Christian community through involvement and participation physically and mentally, as a result, traditional approach is how the local churches and preachers go about conducting their services. The apostle’s creed was apparently developed to summarize the Christian doctrine for man who baptised himself.

Theological and Biblical approach

This approach is regarded as an abstract discipline which teaches what bible is written. It is the study of god expressing god’s thought. The movement of bible indicates the doctrines to the kerygma to didache, to theological ethics, to revealed truth, to the way of living in Christian community.
God’s salvation to the world, worshipping the holy spirit, baptizing people in the name of god, preaching gospels as the word of god, share Christ’s own body and blood as bread and wine in holy communion, repenting and confessing god’s forgiveness etc are the concepts of theological and biblical foundation to Christian education. Even though mankind is aware but fail to involve due to the increasing evil and greed.
The service is organized to accept the call of god and to love him and others and which aims to gather people to worship him in return allowing him to take control over the world and through his presence spread peace, righteousness, justice, joy and helps in the growth of the life in an individual through increased faith.

Activities organized and performed in different local churches through to these practices

Some churches develop the initiative of the worshippers by confessing their faith in the words of the apostle creed. Each activity is correlated and composes a range of varied elements. Their current activities reflect the lives of an individual and drive them for a purpose through various numbers of activities to attain a better quality of life.
Due to activities, all age group gain variety of skills through many spiritual centred activities. Church acts as an interpreter between god and the worshippers to support in training the composition of these activities which are far more complex to solve a disturbed youth. They have to thereby standardize their curriculum and activities in regards to implement it. Different denominations organize activities to resolve the aim therefore to meet the need of the youth. Curriculum should be more focused than just on providing knowledge.
Activities are necessarily planned to build youth commitment. I believe it is necessary to reach them, i.e. train them to be strong future leaders. They should be kept one step ahead, for their life is very challenging. I believe that the best way to outreach youths mind is to be a youth like them to understand their psychology as it differs from every individual. The same activities do get affected as the youth is choosy and subtle.

Changing activities for tomorrow

Here the question is voiced that, what substantial change can be brought apart from the current activities to eradicate the above upcoming and dynamic problems in nature with respect to behavioural management or of what medication of healing would work out.
I would comment, the activities in the practices should be expanded and conduct likewise programmes workshops on educating purity before marriage, sex, child abuse, exploitation, rape, adultery, adolescence sex, teenage mothers, drugs addiction, aids, and divorce. Workshops, seminars for sex, abuse, peer mentoring, identifying preventive measures instead of curative measures targeting the social, political and the economical factors would be effective for incorporating the overall issues to bring the insight of the good and evil sides of every consequence, discussion on essential real life skills. Our goal is to create “world changers”, inviting the sacrifiers of evil and giving and sharing healthy priorities to save ourselves and the world, before it becomes a terrible fate and a debt for our own selves.
As the world is in unsafe fists of crime, terrorism, corruption, violence, youth have been diverted to a fast-paced and expects instant opportunities. Perhaps, the approaches of these local activities tend to be helpful and may bring positive results but I still feel that there is something missing, to monitor the youth from within. In an article – Practical: The Role of the Full-Time Youth Pastor in the Local Church, by Graeme Codrington, Denomination: Baptist (All), submitted on, May 18, 1997, states that, “In a world that is so busy, and demands so much of all of its inhabitants, young people need a secure environment, where they can experiment and decide who they want to be. They need significant people to be there to help them through this process. They need role models to follow”.
Above statement eventually satisfies the fact that these folks are craving for friendly support socially and for stimulation. Overall factors which conglomerate are peers, parents, teachers, church members and Christian community. All factors rely on one common feature which constitutes leadership. Ironically, most youth do understand the surrounding factors but the factors themselves become tough unknowingly that they can’t quite control the situation which then becomes too late to recover. The task is questioned commonly as what kind of leader a person should be to prove creditability and capability to influence the youth to pursue the direction towards god? In an article again stated by, Graeme Codrington, Denomination: Baptist (All), – Practical: The Role of the Full-Time Youth Pastor in the Local Church, submitted on, May 18, 1997, “Young people are not just “little adults” (cf. Elkind 1984:18). They are complex individuals who are battling to deal with the awesome transformation of their bodies, minds, and emotions. They are in a time of transition and growth, developing from the birthed bundle of potential to a fully integrated, functional member of society. The church is in a unique position to assist in this process”. Church as a role model fosters spiritual growth in every youth making them responsible to participate in Christian faith; she is a sign for an entrance of the god’s kingdom to the world of salvation, repentance, justice and peace to bring equality. She struggles hard and performs her duties wholly and solemnly reminds parents to structure their offspring’s life in Christian formation.
Church members acting as supporters, preach to establish and to promote a platform and share to encourage several types of civic, cultural, religious educational associations. In an article by Arthur Paul Boer – What must a Pastor know? Reflection on Congregational studies defines on writer James Hopewell’s statement saying beyond the embarrassment. “He has also observed that churches are sometimes chagrined by the change of hypocrisy and lament that they cannot measure upto ideals of Christian community”. Writer James Hopewell referred by Arthur Paul Boer notes that Christian leaders are incharge and build a church thereby rise in hypocrites. I observe practically that, though the world is changing, church strategy is also changing in complementing the growth. It still targets the set mission. Even though, somewhere in the corner hypocrites do exist but church leaders aim to find out what is the outcome in the people from the traditional, theological and biblical practices.
Perhaps according my research, I suggest they experiment bringing out good approaches to youth’s growth. Instead of the current activities followed in churches I would want to suggest the approach can be focused to bring in the outcome irrespective to exploration and innovation of ideas and thoughts for internal and external behaviour of an individual related to the surroundings around him, deepening of commitments to the teaching, provide opportunities to analyse socially and theologically and viewing his life in a theological manner. To build a framework of an activity consist of – to have an experience “like us”, to sense new boundaries by exploring new links to every Christian among themselves and to god across social and cultural boundaries.
In addition, exploration and inventive programmes can be executed to judge youth’s spirituality. Daily opportunities resulting in disorientation gets support through mission of god. Integration conceptual activities also can help in building and to capture ‘a born leader’. Church leader serves them as task leaders in the corrosion and freeing the task of a disconnected mind by planning tactics and dividing the burden of other’s through consultation. As the purpose is commitment, to serve the lost, skill based leadership formation training programmes can be organized to develop an effective leader so as to sustain the capability and capacity of the leader to solve the complaints lies in the dimensions of the ability. Workshops on intersections to shape boundaries of an individual and communities through theological and biblical language, symbols, and rituals to attain certain centered objectives.
As growth of globalization is tremendous, these leaders come across and face new opportunities and challenges. I believe they help in building an integral performance in conducting entrepreneurial business-based activities, describing the activities because youth’s mind is business-oriented, therefore the activities are to be structured keeping business in mind involving biblical and theological approaches with the existing resources for a business oriented youth. They tend to produce facilitate management sources to sustain and develop faith and love. When the youth develops a church from within, he will be able to observe and analyse the holistic environment.
The activities require presence of not only church members but also worshippers for youth development in successful implementation of these practices. Some worshippers form in small groups, some large varied to race culture. Arthur Paul Boer also examines simultaneously that when a group of pastors were having service of congregation, one among them exclaimed in deep breath “It showed me I’m not alone”. So often in our churches we berate ourselves for problems we face: not enough men, too few youth, preponderance of a certain race or culture. He is clear with the fact that a single person fails, unity increases strength. We ourselves give birth to a problem and then strive hard to face it because as there are few leaders left to catch a grip to support a large community. Due to less number of youth, less support is achieved to sustain the laws and policies of the church and unable to accomplish god’s mission. It is not only one who contributes but many. Above mentioned statement “It showed me I’m not alone” expresses that each race and culture form their own group; build small churches for their own community within their own boundaries, where god expects togetherness, wholeness. It requires lot of efforts to help small churches grow whereas large church with mass contribution grows as their already exist efforts in large numbers which take over the chained actions for development. Whether single church group or many, big or small, the development is important.
On this contradiction, I would suggest that this also includes that in small group the development is paid more attention and given a close eye, problems are spotted quickly and easily to meet the challenges. No matter how large or small challenges occur, the way we approach it is unique and comprehensive as this brings out effects of development in the youth. Whereas in large it becomes difficult to assist as there are more than one individuals. Due to small groups according to races and culture, differentiation exists. But the important criterion is group commitment and work effort in all sets of practice for congregations in any race or culture for a healthy youth so that to accomplish god’s mission. As a result both objectives are co-related to each other.
To understand the nature of Christian youth it is a very distinguished and a unique phenomenon. Due to the increasing issues of ‘peer pressure’, this has led to the obstruction in the development of youth. There are negative as well as positive aspects of it. Negative aspects influence a weaker mind. It is the most consistent findings revealed in observation. Due to the inquisitive innocence, an innocent becomes a prey of the negative aspect, thereby exploited and develops an evil companionship where he adopts negative qualities and habits. But there is positive aspects as in there are some groups who work towards peer relationship. Here innocent gets an opportunity to identify his fear, weakness and have control over his own power. The peer mentors play the part in organizing programmes to understand the behaviour. They interact with the teens and open lines of communication, build up action plans to change the behaviour by using the discipline skills wherever necessary. As church members play an integrate role, it is a challenge for them to develop the youth and make Christian education reachable to them.
Teachers are responsible preachers. Youth growth depends on a teacher infact they are the true facilitators of our learning, are Baptist figures and true authors of an individual’s life book. They also act as the resource developer and planner setting the curriculum for the healthy growth of an individual, depending how the curriculum is designed with the kind and level of leadership skills to recognize the youth psychology. Parents play a significant role in Christian education. They are the promising leaders which shape up Christianity, infact are the real teachers of Christian education. Parents act as a moral standard and support, therefore can synchronize to their growing youth to be aware from their early hood to gain knowledge in Christian faith and this is done when they themselves too experience a fullness of church.
Misunderstandings and miscommunication between parents and their children are one of the issues which follow breakings in the development of the youth. Due to parent’s own principles, for respect and love of family values often creates harmness to the children’s growth which tempts them to behave against them. Thus youth becomes a totalitarian of his own life by going against the values and ethics and unknowingly gets stucked in the torturous situations. Most Christian youth, fail to act upon the 10 commandments of bible.
I must say, I myself as a youth in my real life experience have observed that the originality of the commandments has changed excessively and replaced with the following:
Thou must worship money
Thou must “lyrically” murder
Thou must have evil possession
Thou must have sex
Thou must enjoy drug addiction
Thou must prosper, worship own self
Thou must not feel guilty
Thou must have no respect for ancestral values
Thou must not serve, sacrifice
Thou must differentiate
Due to the above, youth fails to feel guilty in which guiltness is a part of our conscience creating a false belief system as an obstacle in his maturity and creating structure of his own. Under such circumstances he avoids promoting prayer, sacrifice, grace, redemption, worship and meditation, atonement. Considering money and sex are the only two things reliable to satisfy the needs, creating a limitation and a boundary for establishing personal spiritual growth and development.
In general terms, when the efforts of religious and educational institutions, society lack to perform the planned task for Christian education, a positive approach is expected and constructed to gain knowledge and teaching through parents and teachers. Youth must be aware of guiltiness which is a gift from god to help us in being and doing well.
Still the question is raised in a Journal: Volume 5 Number 4, October 2003 by Author Charlene Tan, “Can Christian teachers and parents teach Christian beliefs without indoctrinating their students and children?”
Yes, they can teach Christian beliefs without indoctrinating their students and children they need to be careful when a child is to be handled as their minds are immature. At times it is difficult to understand them because their way of thinking is varied. Firstly before going to the next process, the first process has to be resolved. As teachers and parents are the role models for the development. In order to develop and understand these three role models should be systematically developed first. Only by abiding this rule, they can achieve the development in child. But the point lies beneath that how teachers and parents can prove themselves as an effective source of development by keeping in mind the relative factor of Child’s mind compatibility and psychology? As there are variations in psychological behavior teachers and parents should be mentally prepared, be changeable and adjustment oriented accordingly.
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The political and current affair of the nation is affected by corruption and evilness rationally which gave birth to vivid factors like jealousy, modesty and so on, making human’s built a tendency to mislead the positive factors. The situations have made the teachers adapt those inequalities within them, affecting the surrounding factors. Parents have too due to their increasing self priority created barriers of understanding among their families.
Many people are often drawn towards the attention of the church because of their felt needs and not for spiritual needs.
For instance, it does occur that why the youth is tuned out of his own way? Even in their interaction with their own members it tends to happen with them that they fail to hear a word said to them – stating “I didn’t hear a word you said?”, even though it is obvious that they have said something relating to us. This proves a kind of negligence in contacting the positive mechanism which grows in the back of our minds. Such system blocks all the wanted and useful messages allowing us to hear and see only what our mind tells us to hear and believe. As this tendency is increased in the youth generation, it is creating gaps between a believer and faith of god.
The question is – How? How can we overcome this problem? Youth have themselves developed a capacity in mind to hear only what pleasures them without taking a decision that whether it is false or truth. My query is – How we can bring these groups of youth closer to god? Unconsciously resulting in unexpected calamities and unknowingly they are unable to repent it wisely. Due to this increasing factor, youth can’t get a grip of effective communication and develop themselves internally. Here the parents then enter the scene to play their role.

The main question lies whether the local churches fulfill and meet to mature disciples in Christian education?

As stated above, ‘youth’ are the most critical of all critics when it comes to religion. In this modern era, youth is distracted to church because they are building castles in air due to the unmaterialistic desire. Youth today have focused their vision to crave success and prosperity for their rising life graph; they exploit their own ones due to greed and selfishness. During the primary phase of struggle and hard work, youth craves to achieve prosperity, at the same time, do thank god and accept his involvement for success, but hand in hand, lack to follow the bibles ethics which says to respect others in and with unity. Due to the competition and growth politically, more often youth seem to push the fellow mates and strive to takeover their place. They themselves are unaware that they give birth to exploitation and inequality. And due to inequality, unity is declined, wherein bible does not specify inequality. In a book source, Pastor – “Rick Warren’ – illustrates in his book – The Purpose-Driven Church -“The issue is church health, not church growth!” declares warren. “if your church is healthy, growth will occur naturally. Healthy consistent growth is the result of balancing the five biblical purposes of the church.”
In addition to this he also declares that “If u concentrate on building people, God will build the church”.
I agree at a certain point with the above statement. I herewith would want to magnify on “How would one build a healthy youth for a healthy church”? In this sense I believe that both are co-related with each other. Again the issue arises in my mind ‘How will the church be healthy if the youth is unhealthy?’ The issue can’t be only concentrated on church. For a church to survive, the basic foundation is the youth and for the youth to be saved and attracted the church has to be healthy. In my knowledge it is a ‘Vicious Circle’.
Local churches upto some extent do specifically fulfill the discipleship through the practices and play a great emphasis in fulfilling and conveying the message of god to us, but still lack to read the minds and bring the youth closer to her, for which she has to upgrade her atmospheric appearance with new packages to reach the youth in a new taste due to the competitive modernism which is hovering on the youth.
The latter part can play the best part coz when first falls in place, everything else falls in place, from the beginning to the end, from all angles in all walks of life. Towards a healthy faith, healthy church can turn and seed a growth of spirituality through which mankind will grow spiritually from within thereby causing church growth.
Author Perry G. Down states in his book – “Teaching for spiritual growth” that ‘how can we best enable Christians to grow towards maturity?’ For this question he suggests three key concepts- ministry, believer, and purpose. But my understanding says that these concepts are incomplete somewhere to create a bond in reaching the results because today’s youth is attracted towards the unrealistic worldly matters, but has resulted in declination towards the god’s spiritual growth. The major role connecting these three concepts is commitment and effort. As the church ministry is the foundation pillar, the main aim is how much measure of commitment is valued and given to achieve the target successfully. Mankind is able to commit only when he chooses the right direction in fear and is able but this is unfortunate as the alien world tend to let us unidentify the type of strategies of growth for maturity. By identifying the type of strategies of growth, we can understand the level of growth required towards maturity at which we can be spiritual. Another reason for in growth is fear. As the youth fears to face unexpected problems, the efforts are less and require the hierarchy’s support.
Author Gary C. Newton stated in his book – “Going towards spiritual maturity” quotes the principle that “God is ultimately responsible for all spiritual growth”. The question arises at this point that if god is responsible for everything, what will be the purpose and role of human? I comment that while god supplies the resources like bible, church, Holy Spirit, baptism, it is also our responsibility to supply effort and commitment to utilize those resources and give results to god. In bible, Paul highlights this principle of his personal lifestyle and in his teachings comparing with the example of a soldier or athlete to illustrate the amount of sincerity and efforts. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27), Paul states that “In a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize”. I herewith conclude in a Christian race all runners (ministry, believers, purpose) will fail to get a prize if there is no effort that is commitment from everyone.
Along with the concept of ministry, believer, purpose; effort is also the key concept and it has to be achieved from the youth as well. A healthy youth will gain efforts only when the growth will favour them from within, when the forces of the ministry believers and youth will collide with each other to form a healthy growth.
This will create a mutual relationship between god’s provisional resources and our active involvement in process which is more clearly in Philippians 2:12-13: “Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is god who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose”. This principle is intricate but the application is clear.
If one is to grow towards maturity in Christ then one must cultivate and demonstrate the efforts with passion, Philippians 2:17-18: ” But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you be glad and rejoice with me”.
Therefore the conclusion lies in the above concept, both; effort of the youth along with the work of ministry, believers proves in the healthiness of the church. In the book “Youth At Risk” by Peter Christian Olsen, 2003, he highlights four basic needs which he has clearly created an awareness of the effects that affects the development of youth:
Acceptance – belonging
New beginnings and second chances – forgiveness
Significance – generosity
Freedom – independence
I agree with his confirmation that he examines in deriving the above developmental needs from the provision of the Almighty’s resources as the absence of these needs do intentionally contribute in how they shape the personality, maturity, responsibility and stability of emotions. He emphasizes Christian community in respond to the needs determining that, the resources will be polishing youth through support during the fear and avoid them from destruction. At times the concepts will be foreign, indigestive for youth because unable to realize its importance. Rather the community need not re-interpret or change the language but simplify their thoughts and improve their visionary and understanding by change in structure through a friendly communication by becoming an effective leader to bridge the gap between the church and the youth. Therefore forces and efforts are needed for decision making which is an effective key in respond to ministry believer and purpose for a possibility of a healthy youth to build a healthy church, which will make the church flourish.

Supporting surveys

According to a survey, some findings proved that church fails to answer every question of the youth.

Q.1 In what way and sense is Christian religion, faith and church viewed by today’s modern youth?

Youth of today’s modern era is firm on the point stating that inspiration is lacked in religion; they feel that the world is divided through religion and is the major factor which is affecting the growth. A 17-year-old Jude from Kent says confidently that “He does not agree with the church who talks on subject morality” and is “Overfilled with traditionality”.
Youth pick their ideas which suit their taste through various religious beliefs. There are few in bunch who strongly believe, there exist only single religion which has controlled the truth. Young generation refer to perform all activities as per their own desire which in return less importance to the religious belief are being given, which gives birth to the side effects of the conduct.

Q.2 Why do young crowd feel that Christianity is not a ‘happening’ cultural activity?

An 18-year-old Marcus said that he left church when he was 15 because the teachings did not amuse him and it did not interest him of anything as a youth.
The major quest, a struggle for a religion is to impose an exertion of force of involvement in terms of attraction. I usually attend church service wherein I find young ones missing the services. I kept questioning myself that, where the young crowd has disappeared? Surprisingly the young ones have taken charge for the attendance of the church. In this consequence the church should give priority to change its curriculum and its way of presenting the services with new attractive packages for enhancement.

Q.3 Are the young preachers practicing different approaches in Christianity declining. What are your suggestions?

As the attendance of the youth in church has declined, but on the other hand people practicing approaches are increasing in numbers. The following is revealed through one of the youths that more the deepening are the studies of the bible, more a person becomes a hypocrite of the Christian leadership and unintentionally accepts and performs the lifestyle of the clergy right or wrong at times unknowingly. In such case, the practices are affected and become different from those which are to be precise. Seen are still some true Christian youngsters who are different in their attitude and conduct, but in spite of such difference, they are not involved into the immorality and violence activities with other youths. They present themselves as they are from a different unknown religion, but practice the religion and it

Before I get slandered I would like to point out that I am neutral on this topic and have no inclination to pick a side due to the fact that I am not close enough to the situation to claim wrong doing of either side.
My original understanding from a Historical perspective(please correct me if I am wrong) is that the state of Israel was established around 1948 after WW2. Long before this however I believe it was the Jews who originally inhabited the land that is modern day Israel/Palestine.
The Jews were then kicked out of this land by the Christian’s after being blamed for the death of christ, who was actually killed by the roman’s but the roman’s then turned Christian. They then spread across Europe searching for a place to stay (some stayed in Jerusalem but many were killed the crusades that would follow in the coming years).
Many Jews were not welcomed by the newly Christian states on an equal level, many of them were forced into segregation or had severe laws placed upon them. Many Jews were prohibited from owning property and as a population, they became scapegoats for issues that arose in the community. The post WW1 “stab in the back myth” is a good example of this alongside the blood lybles (which stated that Jews used the blood of children in their rituals) and pogroms across Europe.
From around 1933-1941 many Jews were forced to leave many areas across europe, mainly Germany, and were “dumped” into other nations across Europe and the Americas. The Jews held some connection to Jerusalem and a few wanted their own homeland to establish their own identity (Zionism). At the time (I believe it was called Palestine at this point) the state was under the control of the British, who were less than inclined to have this state as a “dumping ground” for German Jews.
From 1945 onwards my knowledge is limited, but based off of the Historical knowledge around the pre WW2 period I am struggling to understand wether the issue that has arisen due to these two nations being placed in the same proximity is really just the fault of a long standing Anti-Semitic sentiment in Europe.
I know humanity likes to think that we have changed in our views towards other humans, but we have not. One thing I have noticed around my home town, is that Jewish schools and synagogues are having to have security guards stand outside to stop people from attacking the students (talking around 5-12 years olds).
While I also understand that there has been a significant amount of Muslim hate as well, it has been actively protested against in the recent years, and to my knowledge anti-Semitism has not in the same manner.
This is not to say that either side is necessarily better than the other in anyway, and to be honest both sides have done as equally horrible things as the other. I am just struggling to understand why one side was received so much support and the other is being condemned.
Just to clarify the word “genocide”: I understand that the actions being taken place in the state have been called genocidal by some people, however it is not genocide by definition. The Holocaust is an example of genocide, the actions, whil horrible and irredeemable, are not genocidal and more so the victims of war (crimes). The death toll in WW2 was not held in the same regard dispute the number of civilians murdered and innocent death.
Again, I am not supporting one side or the other, I am simply interested in the cold hard facts about the situation and why there has been so much hate directed towards Israel.
note: sorry for all the words, just had a lot of info.

Genre-Bending Prompts: Spark Your First Sentence, Unleash Your Imagination!

Feeling stuck in a genre rut? Let's break free with first sentences that twist expectations and set the stage for genre-bending brilliance! Choose your favorite, or use it as inspiration to craft your own:
Science Fiction:

1. The android detective knelt beside the glowing corpse, its artificial tears mixing with the victim's synthetic blood, the neon cityscape reflecting in its metallic eyes.
2. The wormhole spat them out into a chaotic tapestry of fused timelines, where dinosaurs roamed alongside flying cars and a samurai dueled a cyborg.
3. The message arrived in binary code, translated to a single chilling sentence: "Your reality is an illusion, and they are coming for you."

Fantasy:

1. The dragon shifter disguised as a human librarian clutched the forbidden grimoire, its ancient magic thrumming against his scales, as the witch hunters stormed the library.
2. The prophecy whispered of a child born under a blood moon, destined to unite the warring elf and orc clans, but the chosen one was a sarcastic gnome with a penchant for pastries.
3. The portal shimmered, revealing a world cloaked in perpetual twilight, where ethereal beings traded wishes for stolen dreams.

Mystery:

1. The rain-slicked cobblestones gleamed under the gaslight, reflecting the accusing gaze of the gargoyle perched atop the cathedral, its secret known only to the dead man at its feet.
2. The private investigator, notorious for her unorthodox methods and pet talking raven, received a cryptic clue: "The killer walks among shadows, whispering secrets to the wind."
3. The locked room mystery deepened as the impossible became apparent: the victim vanished into thin air, leaving behind only a single playing card with a riddle scrawled in blood.

Romance:

1. The time-traveling prince fell in love with the street artist who painted murals of his forgotten future, their romance defying the barriers of time and societal expectations.
2. The grumpy werewolf CEO and the sunshine-optimistic florist collided in a hilarious clash of personalities, their forced proximity igniting a love that transcended stereotypes.
3. The arranged marriage between the warrior princess and the bookish prince seemed doomed, until a shared love of ancient prophecies and forbidden magic sparked an unexpected passion.

Bonus: Combine genres for even more unique stories!

1. The cyberpunk samurai drew his katana, neon lights reflecting off its polished blade, ready to face the dragon guarding the virtual reality server.
2. The detective, half-man, half-mermaid, investigated the murder on a floating city in the sky, where secrets hid beneath the shimmering waves.
3. The time-traveling chef served a dish from ancient Rome to a group of aliens disguised as humans, hoping to win their trust and prevent an intergalactic war.

Remember, these are just starting points. Let your imagination run wild, weave in subplots, unexpected twists, and remember, the most extraordinary stories often begin with a single, genre-bending spark. Happy writing!

I'm currently an OJT student and 1 month nalang, matatapos na ako. So far so good pa naman sa umpisa, not until I was task to promote their raffle promo by registering the consumers account. 2 weeks ko na ginagawa to and I hate doin this actually since I have social anxiety but I have to push myself dahil OJT student lang naman ako.
Here's the thing, may 3 guards and head guard (hindi ko alam tawag dun sorry) na nagbabantay sa station kung saan nag babayad mga customers. Each day, may iba't-ibang guard na nakabantay. Yung dalawa dun ayos silang pakisamahan. I just like the fact na hindi sila nangengealam sa strategy ko ng pag approach at pakikipag usap sa mga customers dun. But the other guard and that head guard, ibang usapan na sakin yan. Yung guard na to kapag nag eexplain na ako sa kausap ko na customers about sa raffle, bigla bigla sya mag sasalita na "Oo na alam na nila yan." o kaya naman "Oo na, Sige na" na parang nang aasar. Hindi ko rin gusto yung mga immature jokes nila lalo na kapag nasa harap ako ng mga customers. I tend to act formally and politely in front of them pero yung guard at head guard na yun they always mock the way I spoke habang kausap ko mga customers dun. Example inuulit-ulit nila yung mga sinasabi ko in a mocking tone. Nakikitawa ako pero deep inside naasar na ako. And the more they do it, lalo bumababa confident ko.
Kanina lang hindi ko na kinaya yung pang-aasar nila. My trainee supervisor gave me extra task to do. Kung nung una ireregister ko lang sila at kukunin yung isang receipt nila, ngayun naman kailangan ko ng isulat yung consumers name, their cellphone numbers and account number. Dahil sa nag-iisang OJT lang ako, nahihirapan ako na ipagsabay-sabay lahat. Natatakot ako dahil sunod-sunod mga dumadating na nag paparegister at baka mainip na sila sa pag antay kaya nililimit ko lang talaga mga ireregister ko. But out of nowhere, nag volunteer tung isang guard na mag lista and sila din mismo nag tatawag ng mag paparegister (dahil may makukuhang benefit). But the problem here ay nag iisa lang ako na nag reregister using cellphone. May mga times pa na delay ang pag reload o pag send ng otp kaya habang tawag ng tawag ng mag reregister ang guard at naglilista, patambak naman ng patambak tung nagpaparegister sakin. Tapos ang mas nakakainis pa ang akala nung guard na yun ay picture lang ang ginagawa ko sa pag register. Pero hindi yun ganun lang! Time consuming kung walang qr sa receipt ng customers. May mga times pa na malabo na yung qr kaya mano mano pa ang pag log-in sa mga account nila. Kaya in the end yung guard na yun at yung head guard na yun pinag tutulungan na ako. I can hear them saying na ambagal ko daw, na nasasayang daw mga customers dahil nag sisialisan na sila at nung nag sabi na ako sa window nung trainee supervisor ko sa minor problem ng pag register which is yung hindi makareceive ng otp ang mga nagpaparegister, yung 2 dun sa likod tumawa na at inulit-ulit yung sinabi ko sa trainee supervisor namin in mocking tone. Hindi ko na kinaya ang ginagawa nila kaya sumagot na ako in sarcasm na "Sorry ah delay kasi sending ng otp eh... buti nga po kayo nag susulat lang. Palit po kaya tayo no?" Hindi sila nanahimik bagkus tumawa lang at pinagpatuloy pag mock sakin. I just focus myself sa mga customer and nag reason na ako bakit matagal mag send otp.
Alam ko na medyo bastos yung pag sagot ko pero deep inside wala akong pinag sisisihan na nasabi ko yun. I feel disrespected at feeling ko rin napapahiya na ako sa mga customers dun. Nag-ooverthink na ako at every time na pumipikit ako, naiimagine ko narin yung mga tao dun na tinatawanan ako. Naiiyak at ayaw ko na gawin to. Nasa point na ako na ayaw ko na pumasok pero wala naman akong choice diba... I'm questioning kung bakit nangyayare sakin yung mga bagay na ayaw kung gawin sakin. Kaya hindi ko yun ginagawa sa kapwa ko eh... ayaw ko na talaga... pero ojt lang naman ako eh... kaya wala akong karapatan mag sabi ng hinanakit ko...
Sorry kung mahaba and hopefully nagets nyo parin point ko... gusto ko lang talaga mag rant...
Thankyou for reaching this far and have a great day. 😊
🚫Kung maisip nyo man ito irepost, wag po sana thankyouu ulit ♡

If you need help or are thinking about ending your life, Please reach out to someone in your life or comment on this post. We are here to support you.
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1-877-927-8387 Open 24/7 VA Vet Centers offer counseling Vet Centers are local, community-based confidential counseling centers that support war Veterans, active-duty Servicemembers, and military family members with post-deployment readjustment services. The goal of every Vet Center is to provide a broad range of counseling, outreach, referral, and assessment services, collectively called readjustment counseling services, to facilitate high-quality post-war readjustment and reintegration. Readjustment counseling services at a Vet Center allow war Veterans a satisfying post-war readjustment to civilian life and provide active-duty Servicemembers a confidential resource for post-war assistance. Military families also receive no-cost marriage and family therapy and supportive services for military-related issues. Vet Centers provide bereavement counseling to surviving parents, spouses, partners, children, and siblings of Servicemembers, which include federally activated Reserve and National Guard personnel, who die of any cause while on military active-duty. Vet Centers provide confidential military sexual trauma counseling to all military Veterans and active-duty Servicemembers, to include federally activated Reserve and National Guard personnel, no matter their duty location, era of service, or whether the trauma incident was reported to authorities.
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By Rahman Yaacob - May 16, 2024
Negotiations over a “code of conduct” (COC) in the South China Sea between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China waxed and waned for two decades.
Last July, in a bid to expedite an agreement, a three-year deadline was agreed to conclude the talks.
Nothing comes easy in this multifaceted dispute. Even the title of the agreement to hurry along the talks – Guidelines for Accelerating the Early Conclusion of an Effective and Substantive COC – arguably reflects the urgency but also the complexity.
China, Taiwan, and four ASEAN member states – Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam – each have overlapping maritime claims to the South China Sea. The negotiations for the code, however, involved all ten ASEAN members with its consensus model and China.
Two major points will likely derail the objective of accelerating negotiations for a code to manage the South China Sea disputes peacefully.

“One ASEAN negotiator explained that some ASEAN negotiators turn up ill-prepared, often needing to consult their capitals for instructions on almost every discussion point.”

The first issue is the state of the talks themselves, where trust between the parties is plainly lacking. ASEAN negotiators privately explain that even agreeing on the geographical area the code should cover – termed the Zone of Applicability – has proven difficult because of the different parts claimed in the South China Sea, whereas officials on the Chinese side believe some ASEAN states are asking for the sky – i.e., demanding China to give up its sovereignty in the South China Sea. Only then, ASEAN negotiators see China changing the goalposts during the negotiations.
But not all blame is sheeted to China. Some ASEAN members are seen as laggards in the negotiations, not fully committed to the process, not believing they have much at stake in the disputes.
One ASEAN negotiator explained that some ASEAN negotiators turn up ill-prepared, often needing to consult their capitals for instructions on almost every discussion point, hampering progress, despite meetings being held five and six times annually. Wry humour has taken hold, with jokes about another agreement between ASEAN and China within the next few years to “Accelerate Further the Already Accelerating Process for the Early Conclusion of an Effective and Substantive COC”.
The second issue concerns the quality of the outcome. There are doubts whether China will be willing to sign a legally binding agreement, given that it has already dismissed the outcome of the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s ruling in 2016 against its claims in the South China Sea.
Should that hurdle be overcome, there are concerns about implementation of the code. Will there be an effective mechanism to monitor and enforce any violation?
If not, what does the code amount to? And also, given that ASEAN operates with a consensus decision-making process, will the deadline push ASEAN members to water down the substance of the agreement?

“Setting a deadline for negotiations on a code of conduct doesn’t necessarily hasten an agreement.”

Talks on the code of conduct, it must be acknowledged, are only part of the broader ASEAN engagement with China on the South China Sea. ASEAN’s efforts with China stretch back years, to 1990 when Indonesia held the first workshop on the South China Sea involving the different claimants. In the decades since, there have been efforts to engage in joint cooperation on extracting resources and protecting the environment in the disputed waters.
Yet, 34 years on, militarisation has been the dominant theme. China’s artificial islands bristle with military facilities and long runways. Beijing has adopted a more aggressive approach to asserting its claims, lasing, using water cannons, and ramming against other claimants’ boats. Vietnam has expanded its presence and deployed missiles. The Philippines is seeking to fortify its position.
So setting a deadline for negotiations on a code of conduct doesn’t necessarily hasten an agreement. Meantime, ASEAN claimants should continue to build up their capabilities and work with other external powers, such as Australia and Japan, to defend their maritime interests. Sometimes, the potential ability to inflict military pain on the other party may be just the instrument for diplomacy to work well.
This story originally appeared on The Interpreter, published by the Lowy Institute for International Policy.
https://www.bairdmaritime.com/security/non-naval-security/coast-guard/opinion-a-code-of-conduct-wont-solve-the-south-china-sea-crisis/

Being eaten.
No, I do not mean being on the receiving end as someone goes down on you. Sex seems to be popular in fiction these days, if the shitty Fifty Shades of Grey is any indication, and I sorely, desperately wish what I was about to write was all fiction. Then I could sprinkle some gratuitous sex on it, go to a publisher, and hope that it would sell. Then I would be not risking my job altogether sharing this so that strangers on the Internet would at least know of my suffering in having to watch human beings die brutal, bloody deaths to satisfy a desire even more primal than sex and far less pleasurable.
Yes, I’m talking about eating. And about being literally, bona fide eaten. An incredulous notion in modern society, where we live in concrete houses and walk on asphalt streets. Where the animals we encounter are anywhere between little quacking ducks and crotch-high geese. We live free of our early ancestor’s fear of becoming something else’s food. Crocodile, tiger, lion - pick your customer. It, in most cases, starts with the intense pressure of clamp-strong jaws, driving teeth into parts of your body where teeth should not be stabbing into. Depending on how lucky you are, there will likely be hellish pain lasting anywhere from seconds to minutes (that I am willing to bet feels much longer) before death takes you. What happens to your consciousness after that is a popular debate. What happens to your body is not. You get chewed into a consistency similar to hamburger patties in some cases, swallowed whole in others. Different vehicles to the same destination of an acidic stomach. Your useful parts are broken down into a mushy soup. The rest are ejected from the back end.
A shitty way to go, literally and metaphorically. A living human being, full of emotions and dreams and hope, turned into lifeless steak, soup then shit. At least three out of five young men and women whose last days I will recount below went that way. The other two… well, let’s say that it has been three weeks at this time of writing, and I do not have much hope.
The day started with Matthew dropping several paper files in beige covers on my desk. When I opened it and saw a report complete with pictures of grinning people on the first page, I knew right there and then that it was going to be anything but a normal day at work.
“Missing?” I asked, eyebrows raising. It was the single possibility. Police could have pictures on their desks for all kinds of stuff, but not us rangers. Only then did I notice the tight line Matthew’s lips had pressed into.
“Not like that, no.” He shook his head. “None of them got lost. All five came down here from Sydney, stayed at Winston Ward’s place. That’s Ward’s daughter, Madeleine.” His fingers pressed on the picture of a girl at the top of the page. Hair dyed blue and with the brightest smile of the bunch, I noticed. “She and one other, Cathy, their Indigenous guide, are the two still missing.” Matthew pointed next to the picture below Madeleine. Cathy was dark-skinned and had a hiking stick resting above her shoulder, clearly posing for some sort of promotional photo. “And these three, well…”
I took a quick glance at the other photos. Steve Wilson had the build of a runner, wiry and dressed in a tank top to match. Lisa Mooney, blonde with gold-rimmed glasses. Ashley Lo - his curly dark hair tied back into a ponytail. I knew I would not have to pay extra-close attention to their appearance. Two missing.
“I don’t know, man. Kind of wanted your input on it, too.” Matthew shook his head. “Best you see it for yourself. The police could not decide if it was murder or an animal attack, so they requested us. Found all three of them ripped apart. Caught, well, a suspect, I suppose, on their own cam-”
“You kidding? A suspect and they could not decide if it’s an animal attack or not?”
“I know, Tom, watch it for yourself and tell me I’m not crazy. Hells, they didn’t just have the pictures. Caught the damned killings on film, and still can’t decide if he, it - whatever - is man or animal. I will send the footage over in a bit. Some photos are in there, too. Just don’t puke up your breakfast. I’m seriously thinking of going vegan.”
What the fuck?
I frowned. Matthew could not wait for someone to share his hell, I supposed, and quickly retreated back into his office, leaving me alone with the papers.
Here are the facts.
Winston Ward, your typical real estate rich guy, bought some bushland last year next to our park. His plan was straightforward - setting up lavish air-conditioned bungalows amidst the Australian bush, complete with five-star hotel facilities such as private pools and a fine dining restaurant. A luxury retreat amidst trees and shrubs, letting you enjoy the best of nature and avoiding the worst. No insect stings, soaking rains or blistering heat that the normal campers had to suffer. Just a couple of hours drive from Sydney to boot. All well and good, except for the fact that it came alarmingly close to intruding on national park’s land. So Parks and Wildlife Service took notice and kept a close eye on Ward’s project. So far, even though he has not opened his retreat and nothing illegal had been done, Ward became a popular name among us rangers. Just in case.
I certainly did not expect his name - or his family’s name, rather - to come up this way.
It had been Ashley’s idea. An Ecology graduate, he wanted to make a documentary about Aboriginal people’s way of sustainable living among nature. He got his girlfriend, Madeleine Ward, into it, alongside fellow graduates Steve and Lisa. Madeleine easily secured the filming spot with her father. They hired Cathy as the expert for the film, and the five of them occupied two bungalows. Living in the lap of luxury while trying to promote sustainability. Three cameras were installed. Two security cams for each bungalow, expectedly. The third was a camera trap, the kind used on wildlife trails to capture pictures and videos of animals. Likely intended for fun.
As much as I respect the purpose of their never-finished documentary, I find twenty six-year-old Ashley rather hypocritical, and rather gross given how Madeleine only turned eighteen three months ago. But not to speak ill of the dead, I suppose.
I braced myself as I turned the page for the photos, and failed to stop the dry-heave that came up. Three bodies, gnawed clean of flesh. Strands of dark curly hair on the first mangled head identified it as Ashley’s. The skull was smashed open, its insides, empty where a brain had been licked clean, caked with dried blood. Shattered pieces of his bones were strewn over muddy soil, brown rain water filling in troughs where the marrow that had been sucked out. Steve and Lisa was in roughly a familiar state, and I shivered at how disturbingly clean the bones were. Take away the skull that clearly showed the remains to be human, and it could have been a smokehouse’s dump - filled with finished ribs and chicken wings.
And yet, the final photo proved even more unsettling.
It was a still taken from one of the security cameras. At night, judging from the grey filter. It was still bright enough, however, for me to make out the grassy front of a bungalow. Bushes and shrubs lined the far end. A dark figure loomed over them, casting a long shadow.
I shivered once more.
I had walked into the bushes hundreds, if not thousands, of times. I knew how dense they could be - reaching up to your chests in many places. That figure - standing on two legs with long arms drooping at its side - barely had its knees covered by the shrubs. The photo, even though grainy, was clear enough for me to make out a domed head resting upon a neck so thick the figure might as well be said to lack one. Matching broad shoulders held up that neck, deltoids bulging. The… thing, apparently, had little hair as far as I could see.
I did not notice how hard I had clenched my jaws until a cramp-like pain made me grunt. Matthew could not be fucking with me, could he? I had worked with the guy for years. I called the local police station. The woman on the other end confirmed it. Unless a whole station was in on the prank with Matthew - an idea equally impossible as what I was seeing - it seemed like we had won the reverse lottery of missing and dead people cases.
As much as the Internet likes to make fun of its deadly wildlife, most of Australia has no large land predators. Dingoes are pretty much your average dog. The huge crocs live way too far to the north and sharks do not magically appear in the middle of bushlands. Neither looked like some psychopathic, cannibalistic basketball player wearing a shaved-clean, badly proportioned gorilla suit. The police’s best option was us, I could tell, but as far as me and Matthew went, we were equally clueless.
I shook my head and rubbed my temples - for a moment questioning my sense of reality. That was until an alert jabbed into the screen of my desktop. Matthew’s email.
Here is the footage, Tom. Crazy stuff. I got them to send us a scan of Madeleine’s journal, too. Found where those kids were seen last.
An unholy amount of files came in a link he attached.
The rest of my day was spent going through them all. I still know not what to make of what I saw, and I need time to collect myself before I can write of what I have seen on those tapes.
I need a nap. And dinner. But no meat. I agree with Matthew. As much as I loved a nice scotch fillet, I’m probably going vegan for a while.

Just to be clear, I am not endorsing tarot reading or any specific tarot reader. This is my personal experience with Tarot.

Background

Last year (in 2023), I took a sabbatical for personal reasons. I had been working in that organization for more than five years and had a very good relationship with the CEO. Once my sabbatical ended and I tried to return to the same organization, I was told that I was not needed anymore.
Apart from the feeling of betrayal, I also realized I had a gap of five months. I started applying frantically, but for a couple of months, I did not receive a single call.
(Note: It was peak recession then, and layoffs were happening all across.)
The gap on my resume started to widen, and even my personal circles weren't offering much support.

Finding the Right Tarot Reader

A friend suggested some tarot readers they had worked with in the past. Among them, I chose the one who met the following criteria:

1. Understands working professionals or has prior work experience working with professionals.
2. Has a good number of neutral reviews on either Google, Quora, Reddit, or Tripadvisor.

The tarot reader I found met all the criteria I had, and I went ahead and booked a session with them.
PS: I am not sharing the tarot reader's name because I don't want to give the impression that I am promoting someone. I just want to share my story and experience with tarot.

Sessions 1 & 2 - Awareness

With the tarot reader, I had a couple of sessions where we just delved into why I was let go and why I wasn't able to find the right opportunities. They pointed out some insightful things that were actually repelling good opportunities away.

Session 3 - Attracting the Right Opportunities

In this session, the tarot reader pointed out the aspects I needed to work on to find the right opportunities. They also explained the timeline of when these opportunities would arrive and what I needed to do until then.
Within 30 to 40 days, I was approached by three recruiters, and all three gave me interview opportunities.

Session 4 - Interview Preparation

The fourth session happened once the interviews were scheduled. The primary area of discussion revolved around the pitfalls I was highly likely to face.
My resume gap, my reason for leaving, and what I had been doing for eight months were some key points that I worked on with the tarot reader. In almost all the interviews, these points became the turning point or the reasons for rejection.

Session 5 - Negotiating

So, of the three interviews, I got offers from two companies, and both companies knew I had a gap on my resume. As a result, both offered me around 20% less than my previous salary.
I was actually okay with this, but my tarot reader suggested that I shouldn't settle for less. She actually helped me negotiate a 10% salary increase with one company, while the other company rejected me for negotiating, stating that I was in no position to demand more salary.

Conclusion

It has been over a year, and today I have my appraisal meeting at the current company. It just hit me that I was able to dodge a bullet because of tarot. I have been following this great group for over a year and I just want to thank all the great tarot readers out there who have helped people like me and others find their way.
Thank you!
PS: I have explained my whole story on another subreddit that you can find on my profile.

I noticed that quite a few international tournaments that I quite enjoyed in the past have just been taken off the calendar in recent years without much explanation.
Most notably, I first noticed it with the Six-Red World Championship. It was last held in the 22/23 season and I didn't know if there was a reason it wasn't held last season. After looking it up, I found this on the WST website : "The Six Red World Championship 2024 has been postponed at the request of the promoter" for the 23/24 season but nothing since and it's not (yet) on the calendar for the upcoming 24/25 season.
Then there's the Turkish Masters which was a new addition in the 21/22 season and I know they had some organisational issues there in 22/23 which is why the WST Classic was hastily added to replace it. But there doesn't seem to have been any effort to bring that one back since. Similar thing with the Indian and Gibraltar Opens, the former of which has been abandoned since 2019 for no reason that I could find other than the pandemic making it impossible for a while. These last three the WST now lists as "previous events".
Now looking at the European Masters, I don't see it listed yet in the calendar for the upcoming season either. And they haven't gone to anywhere other than Germany for the last two years after the pandemic for that tournament which is kinda pointless since Germany already has the German Masters.
I like having more international tournaments on because it makes snooker more international, more global. But the impression that I get is that the pandemic provided a good excuse for the WST to quietly drop a lot of these tournaments which were probably quite laborious to organize with unknown, local organizations on the ground and were probably not really financially worth the hassle. I like the tournaments in China but do we really need 5 of them?
But fine, keep the 5 Chinese tournaments, they are keeping the interest in snooker alive these days after all, but then drop the Home Nations series that nobody seems to care about except for the Welsh Open because that one at least has some history, go to the Republic of Ireland instead of Northern Ireland (because why has the Tour never been to the Republic yet?) and make the other two actual European events for their ridiculously named "European series" that last season only involved the UK and Germany. And maybe you could go someplace else in the world outside of Europe for the Players series, there's really no big reason for them to have to stay in the UK.
But it seems that now that they have their Saudi and Chinese sugar daddies, the organizers of the WST don't see the worth behind actually expanding snooker more globally. They talk big about that but really they only mean Saudi and China (and maybe some other Middle East oil states in the future).
EDIT: added links for information from the WST

Hi I’m currently employed as a hotel security guard, I live with my girlfriend and we’re expecting parents. I barely make enough currently to support the 2 of us and supplement with DoorDash. I’m very excited to be a dad, but also very scared for my family’s future because while there is room for promotion and raises at my current job it’s unlikely due to the seniority of my coworkers, and how little prior experience I have in security. Even if I did get promoted to a supervisor role I’d only be making $40,000 a year and while much better than the $16 per hour I’m currently making I feel like it’s a lot of kissing up just to be able to meet my family’s minimum needs.
For context I currently have an AA in Communication, 3 years of sales experience, less than a year of management experience and I’m in a decent amount of debt. I’ve always had a multitude of interests and unfortunately being a jack of all trades and a master of none doesn’t pay much. Despite how little I make now I really enjoy security, so much so I considered getting my class D license and possibly even my armed guard license. However these careers are typically high risk and take me away from my new family. My dad was a Corrections Officer and he never got to be around much from always working long hours and weekends. I really want to be there for my kid and I don’t know if continuing this career is the best idea.
I’ve always been very tech savvy and have a passion for video games. I’ve always wanted to learn coding, but never believed in myself enough to learn. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to give my baby a better future though. I just don’t know where to even begin. A lot of the coding boot camps are expensive and some are even scams, plus what if I get overwhelmed and can’t complete them? I know of a free coding bootcamp that I plan to learn basics with, but a certificate to prove my skill set would really help in my opinion. I’ve also looked at some Video Game story development programs for writers because I’m an amateur author myself, but isn’t that kinda like a creative writing degree where it basically means nothing to most people? Regardless I would want to learn coding primarily.
And as far as career paths go I don’t know what to pick. Data analytics would work with my communications and marketing background for certain jobs, but my gf pointed out I’d probably be bored after a day of drowning in numbers. I like the idea of cybersecurity and ethical hacking, but I’m a little nervous about the seemingly freelance nature of it. Then there’s video game development, which is probably what I’m the most interested in, but probably requires the most skill because it requires both art and coding. I understand that there are many aspects to gaming industry, and every dude who likes video games wants to make them it seems, but it would genuinely be my dream job.
I currently work nights and as stated before I barely make enough for my gf and I to live let alone shell out money for tuition so I don’t think traditional college will work for me. I could probably get a scholarship, but I don’t know where to start on that either. All I know is I’m willing to make whatever sacrifices I have to in order for my family to be safe and happy and taken care of. If this baby was born today we’d probably have to give them up for adoption and that breaks my heart, but we have about 8 months to get our shit together and nothing’s stopping me so point me in a direction so I can get this done and turn my life around.

A Philosopher’s Stone..!
The ancient kingdom learned how to manufacture it, and was going to use it to end all world conflicts.
Either a large stone itself is physically at Laugh Tale for people to take a piece (One Piece) from, or the means to produce it was written on a Poneglyph. Regardless it was left behind upon the collapse of the Ancient Kingdom.
This is likely what started the great war in the past. Everyone fought for possession of this miraculous object. People did what they wanted whenever they got it.
Created the indestructible Poneglyphs. Note the important ones are Red, much like a Philosopher Stone.
Shandora was made into a city of solid gold.
The Devil Fruit could possibly be a product.
The world’s geography was possibly warped through the abuse of the stone.
The various races were created through human transmutation. Essentially Chimeras.
Even if you used the stone to solve all the problems existence inevitably becomes meaningless. Money has no value. No one dies. No one gets sick. Etc.
The WG won custody over the stone by gathering 20 nations to obliterate the Ancient Kingdom. Then the 20 kingdoms swore to never let anyone know that this object existed by erasing most of history; However, someone had to remain. To guard the secret. So that no one in the future finds out.
The sovereigns left that task to Saint Imu, who drank the Elixir of Life. Along the way Imu’s task, and obsession got the better of him/her. Imu went insane.
As this task got harder Imu likely provided the Gorosei with the means to extend their lifespans. In exchange they act as Imu’s proxies. So no one knows exactly how old they actually are. They likely fake their own deaths, and change their identities throughout time. Much like how they changed the name/type of Luffy’s DF.
The Philosopher’s Stone is always red. Imu’s eyes are a deep red. Likely a side effect from constantly drinking the Elixir of Life.
The Roger Pirates had found out that this was left behind for humanity to use. That’s why they all laughed. Anyone who manages to get to the last island should have already acquired all there is.
Despite this Roger last words were if you manage to find the treasure all your wildest dreams could come true.
The catch is after learning the truth about the history of their world… You wouldn’t want to trap yourself in it forever. It’s better to live, and die.
Once the world finds out this stone exists many will begin to seek it again for selfish reasons.
Perhaps Oda dragged out the OP series because FMA existed. Which was centered around seeking this object too. Now that FMAB is done we get to see that’s what it was.
Only time will tell!