Yesterday I (26F) had to work with one of my coworkers (23F) whom I considered a friend. I’ve known her for 5 months. In the past she was super nice and invited me to her house and out on the town along with a few of my other coworkers. I thought we were on good terms? Well yesterday I had to work a shift with just her, my boss, and a new trainee. She completely ignored me and tried her hardest to not look me in my face. She talked to everyone but me. It was weird? My boss was acting weird as well. I walked in thinking it was just a regular day and received weird passive aggression.
I know I didn’t do anything to her and I barely talk to her anymore bc she only works on call now. And to make matters weirder, I had to work with her like 3 days before that and everything was fine. So idk.
I have a feeling that my boss (40F) doesn’t like me anymore either. This is just a seasonal job and now that I only have a month left at the job her ‘nice’ mask is starting to come off. But she’s really close with my boss and I have a feeling that maybe my boss has been saying negative things about me and there was prob some mean girl gossip taking place before I entered the room.
I’m just super confused. But I see the writing on the wall. I work with all women. I feel Someone has been gossiping about me or trying to triangulate ppl to dislike me. I hate drama so I don’t plan on reaching out to her asking why she doesn’t talk to me anymore. That feels too close to begging for friendship and honestly I think they WANT to get a reaction out of me. I refuse to be manipulated.
Now I foresee my workplace environment being hostile and tense like yesterday. It’s just so hurtful when people switch on you out of nowhere. It leaves you overthinking about all the things you could have possibly done wrong. I just want to finish this job strong. I feel kind of ganged up on bc I am alone in this and they’re teaming up to make me feel uncomfortable. But I have a feeling the tables will turn in the end.

Season 5
After a triumphant treble last season, I aimed to repeat the feat and add a fourth with the AFC Champions League. Little did I know, due to Japan's season running from February to December, we'd only play the group stage this time around. So focus remained on the league and domestic cups. As if we failed to win the Champions League this time around we needed to ensure we qualified again for the second half of next season. So, starting as we meant to go on, it was time for transfers.
THE TRANSFERS
Out
Marcao - FLA - £240k
Shunsuke Nishikubo - Fujieda - £300k
Yuji Miki - Tochigi SC - £140k
Fuminori Tabuchi - Kashima Antlers - £300k
Itambé - Al-Fateh - £275k
Caio Cesar - Peterborough - £150k
Kiyohisa Kubo - Gamba Osaka - $400k
In
Hamode Kanaan - Ashdod - Free
Ryuta Sakai - Shonan Bellmare - £775k
Srdan Cvetkovic - Radnicki (SM) - £400k
Seiya Baba - Yokohama F. Marinos - £850k
Thanawat Suengchitthawon - Moangthong Utd - £825k
Yasuki Kimoto - Vissel Kobe - £275k
Our season began with the opportunity to gain another trophy as we faced Cerezo Osaka in the Fuji Xerox Super Cup. Japans answer to the Community Shield. This was a good litmus to see how we stacked up against our biggest challengers from last season with our new line up. This doubled as a testimonial of sorts for Komai Can't Communicate (But he can score) as he was retiring following this game. And score he did, we ran away with the game winning 7-0 and making us all very very excited for the season to come.
The AFC Champions League
We were drawn a decent group but not one that should cause us any issues for qualification, however, such is the way of the AFC Champions League, only one team from each group would qualify so we'd need to be at our best througout. In our group were South Korean side Pohang Stealers, Indonesian outfit Bali United and BG Pathum Utd from Thailand.
Pohang were our first opponents and we brushed them by the wayside winning 4-2 in Korea. We followed up with an impressive 5-1 win over Bali United which left us thinking this Champions League stuff isn't that hard now is it? BG Pathum United set out to prove me wrong, taking the lead early in Thailand. A late equaliser from Diego Medina secured our undefeated status however. We then played Bali United again, in Indonesia, we entered their home and didn't even wipe our feet as we smashed through them 4-0. Pohang were welcomed into our stadium and again, we beat them, a much more reasonable, from their perspective, 2-1 win all but confirmed our qualification and our goal difference was far superior to 2nd place BG Pathum, who we played next and were 3 points ahead. A draw would confirm our qualification but, a lesson was taught, NO ONE DRAWS WITH KYOTO SANGA TWICE! We won 3-1 and are in the second round of the contest. We would just have to wait till next season to play it.
The YBC Levian Cup
We, as defending champions of all Japanese Trophies entered in the second round were we faced the team we beat in last seasons final JEF United Chiba. Much like the finals our first leg tie ended 0-0. In the home leg we were 2-0 up after 50 minutes thanks to goals from Magnus Christensen and Srdan Cvetkovic but Karel Pojezny decided now would be a good time to show off his Crash Bandicoot slide dash impression as he took out a Chiba player on the 59th minute. Luckily for us, Full Blown Bazooka (A renamed Fugo Kazuka) ran clear after a counter attack and gave us a third as we ended the game with 10 men but also a spot in the round of 16.
Here we faced Renofa Yamaguchi, a team from the J2 league. And despite us going 4-0 they fought back to make it 4-3. Fortunately, once again, another late goal, this time from Takeshi Yamauchi set us up with a 2 goal lead going into the second leg. And what a bloody good job he did as we lost the second leg 2-1. We were heading to penalties here as well until a Full Blown Bazooka penalty in the 86th minute put us back in the lead on aggregate.
Shonan Bellmare were our quarter finals opponents. They held us to a 1-1 draw at their place, however, we gently ushered them to our stadium and trounced them 4-0. Meaning we were to take on Urawa Red Dragons in the semi's. And just like the semi in your trousers right now, yes yours, it was unimpressive. A narrow 1-0 win over 2 legs sent us to our second league cup final in a row.
The Emperors Cup.
Now, there's less games in this tournament as much like Paul McCartney's dating history, they're single legged affairs. That doesn't mean we made it easy on ourselves though. First off was Nagano Parceiro in the 2nd round. And boy howdy did we squeak through. It was 4-2 to us with just 8 minutes of time left to play when, young debutante Tomohiro Fukumoto decided to emulate his mentor Pojezny and absolutely massacre Parciero's striker and get himself sent off. Nagano clearly took that personally as they pulled another back almost instantly. Yuya Yamagisha scored for us on the 88th minute which seemed to save us 5-3! But, no, they scored again in the 93rd and again to level the scoring on the 95th. Moving us into extra time with a man less. Thankfully Yamagisha had other ideas as he scored a peach of a volley in the 96th minute to give us the win. 6-5 we're through.
The rest of the tournament was plain sailing, a 4-2 win over Machida Zelvia, 2-0 over FC Tokyo then a 5-0 demolition of Kagoshima meaning last seasons beaten finalists Vissel Kobe awaited us in the semi finals. Revenge was on their mind and they failed miserably at achieving it. We hammered through them 5-1 to set up a third Emperors Cup final in as many years this time facing Gamba Osaka.
The League
Now, the league, surprisingly is the shortest one to get through. We won and we won and we won and we won, but we also drew quite a lot, and lost once or twice. That's the story of the league really. We started to hit a rough patch due to injuries and general fixture congestion as our star man for much of the season Cvetkovic broke his leg and would be out for the remainder of the season. It was a month before the transfer window, so we powered through, drawing 3 of our next 4 games, the player we brought in to replace Cvetkovic, Thai winger Suengchitthawon, looked like a world beater, a player we could rely on to get us goals and fire us to glory, he signed the contract, he attended his first training session, he broke his foot. He..... broke his fucking foot before even sniffing the starting line up. Hello Darkness my old friend.
This left us 6 points behind league leaders Vissel Kobe with 4 games to go, the first of those 4 was against Kobe themselves. A win here, it's a 3 point gap, we can close that in 3 games if we play as I know we can. The league could still be ours. Well, could, but we lost to Kobe. 3-2, a last minute goal from their top scorer Ahmed Atef signed our league hopes death warrant. 9 points behind, 9 up for grabs. This may seem like the set up for a miracle. But, alas, it was not, we also lost our next 2 games against Nagoya Grampus and Kawasaki Frontale. A morale boosting 3-1 win over Jubilo Iwata on the last day did go somewhere to improving feeling about our impending Emperors cup final but the league was over, Vissel Kobe ensured the J1 Title stayed in Hanshin, just sadly, not on our side...... Pricks.
The Finals
The J League Cup, we won it last year and this time just Kashiwa Reysol were left to stop us from retaining the title. They took an early lead, a goal from Takahiro Akimoto in the 7th minute left us worried, but we equalised through Tatsuya Kusumoto in the 35th and then went and scored the deciding goal on 75 minutes, Kazuaki Sato, making his debut due to the previously mentioned injuries scored to win us the YBC Levian cup and give me my 6th trophy as a manager and 5th with Kyoto Sanga.
The Emperor's cup final was a turgid, boring affair, it's very sad that the last game of the season, hoefully an exciting paragraph offered up exactly 1 highlight in normal time, that highlight being a corner Osaka headed over in the 63rd minute. Extra time loomed, we were half expecting penalties as both my previous Emperor's Cup finals had been settled this way with varying results. Hiroaki Abe had other ideas though, the 19 year old Gamba Osaka academy graduate powered a header past my keeper and resigned us to another finals defeat and a disappointing end to our season.
Next season will soon be upon us, we have been drawn against Chiangrai United in the 2nd round of the AFC Champions League, we have a lot to look forward to, Japanese Football? I'M NOT FINISHED WITH YOU!

For the "older" crowd (30s+), how have you handled housing during seasonal work? Do you have private rooms, room mates of a similar age, or are you glamping in an RV?
Do you still own a home anywhere to return to between jobs or out-of-season?
I'm an early to mid-40s SINK, and recently realized I could quit my job tomorrow and still have secured enough of a pension, plus SS and a 401K for a decent retirement at 62 or 67 as it is. I've a good, modest nest egg for some expenses besides. This all makes me wonder why I'm working in an increasingly boring job in a location I don't really like when instead I could experience the world while covering expenses, before becoming truly old and decrepit.

I want to know if I’m justified in being upset or if I am truly being a jerk. I, 33F, have been married to my wife, 33F, for 11 years. I love my wife; I do, but I am so upset and feel like I’m underappreciated. This needs background. I'm sorry for the technical details, but it’s how my brain processes and I believe it is necessary.
I want to preface this by saying that I am nowhere near perfect and have my issues and trauma that I know can make me a little difficult to deal with. I have a lot to work on myself, and I try my best to see my faults and mitigate them before they burden her and others.
Okay, details:
I have a labor-intensive job. I am in middle management now, so I work on the computer a lot, but I also go on the floor to keep my skills sharp and keep in touch with my crew. Computer work is mentally draining as opposed to physically draining, but I also get physically drained. I work 40+ hours a week. My job pays all the bills, living expenses, savings, 401K/retirement and health insurance.
My wife works from home. She has her own business that she loves. She sets her hours, can wake up when she wants, works when she feels like it, and is only bound by the constraints of her own time. (I admit, I’m jealous). Her take-home varies. On a good month, 1/3 of my income. She used to have a “regular” job, but it gave her so much anxiety she was miserable, and we were fine to support ourselves, so she quit and went into her business. I have zero issues when it comes to money. Relationships are partnerships, and I long agreed that I was fine doing the bulk of the money-making labor. I have more of a constitution for these things. I would rather have her be happy than have some extra cash.
We have 3 dogs and no children. Our house is small and doesn’t require much daily up-keep. We have a backyard that the dogs run around in all day; no need to do extra walks unless you want to (really, the backyard is huge). I cook dinner 2-3 times per week. I do the dishes and clean up 2-3 times a week. I do the laundry every other week (it only needs to be done once a week). We do takeaway 1-2 times a week and have at least 1 “do whatever” dinner per week. Obviously, this varies. I don’t mind this. I am an adult; I should do all these things to care for myself and my house. This is called being an adult. I grew up in a house where both parents had 2 jobs; I’ve been cooking and cleaning with my siblings since I can remember.
My Mon-Fri schedule:
4am -Wake up with the dogs
5am – work out (I have to work out for my job, IYKYK), feed the dogs
6am – go to work (work starts at 7am) after letting the dogs back in the bedroom, or they’ll bark all morning and wake up my wife
4pm - off work
430- 5pm – Home
5-530pm – Tues & Thur walk the dogs, M-W-F projects or relax
6pm – Free time (630pm – cook on my days)
7pm – eat dinnerelax
745 pm – prep for my morning (set up coffee, pack lunch, etc.)
8pm – bedtime
Additionally, I am in my Master’s program. During the fall and spring, I do homework or study. This summer, I am studying to take tests to advance my career and working on writing projects in hopes of one day being an author.
Saturday and Sunday are my off days. I wake up on Saturday when the dogs wake up naturally, get them out of the room, outside, fed, and relax on the couch. They are good dogs, mostly chill. I drink coffee and do my writing projects or study for school if needed. Sat, I usually get things done around the house: home improvement, my personal projects, mowing the lawn, cleaning, and fixing anything that needs fixing. There is usually about 5-6 hrs of labor on Saturdays. Sundays, I try my best just to chill.
My wife already has her degree, so she doesn’t go to school and doesn’t know what she wants to do in life, so she doesn’t go after a higher degree even though it would be extremely low cost due to my job offsetting tuition for her (and school is almost free for me). She has hobbies that she loves and creates things for herself, her family and me, which I appreciate. She enjoys baking, which I benefit from. But mainly, and this makes me sound like an ass, she just kind of bee-bops around, hanging out. Her anxiety keeps her from having a job outside the house, keeps her from attacking her business full steam, and keeps her from figuring out what she wants to do for school or life in general. She has mental health care, and she is better than she used to be. I am so proud of her progress. But even the projects she creates for herself, like gardening, she doesn’t attack with gusto. She doesn’t have to garden; she chooses to, and yet the plants are going to shit because she doesn’t go out to weed the garden and prep for planting season. I don't care, I do, but I don't because none of it is necessary. She has the ability to do literally whatever she wants.
Anyway, here’s my current issue:
The dogs sleep in the room, next to my wife’s side of the bed. They sleep all night and hardly ever wake up; they are good dogs. But they do get up around 5-6am on Saturdays, because their natural routine is to wake up with me at 4am M-F. To wake us up, they scratch on the gate that separates their area from the bed and prevents them from jumping on the bed. I’m a light sleeper; they can’t sleep on the bed, or I’ll wake up. On the weekends, I hear them scratching, and I wake up, and my wife stays asleep. I am vigilant about waking up because I don’t want them to suffer needing to go pee, or accidentally pee, or if they are sick and need to puke. I love my dogs; I do my best to care for them. My wife loves them equally, but I don’t think she shares in their morning care equally. Once I’m awake, I’m awake; there’s no going back to sleep for me. I wake up 6 days a week, and she wakes up maybe 1 because even on Sundays, I usually wake up from them scratching, even though she’s right next to them. If I hear them, I’m up. I can’t just wake her up and say, “Hey, the dogs,” because now I’m awake.
If she wakes up early, she’s miserable. She complains for the 30 minutes it takes to get them fed and settled, then she goes right back to sleep on the couch. On the occasion I don’t wake up on a Sunday, I’ll come out of the room around 8-9am, and she’ll be asleep, having been asleep since she took care of the dogs. Then, she’ll take a nap in the middle of the day. (I rarely nap, my issues, not hers.)
Last night, one of our dogs got hot and wanted out of the room; I woke up at 1am and opened the door. We’ve been concerned about the girl dog, so I checked she was okay and laid back down. My wife woke to ensure everything was fine but instantly went back to sleep. I know this because it famously takes me an hour to get back to sleep if I wake up crazy early. Then the dog we worried about cried out loudly (she must have turned wrong in her bed and hit something), so I sprang up to ensure she was okay. This was probably 3am. My wife (who didn’t hear it, only heard me say my dog's name) woke up, checked she was fine, then immediately went back to sleep. Then, of course, 515am rolls around, and the dogs are scratching to get out; they are fully awake. Who has to get up? Me.
I just want one freaking morning to sleep consistently. I want Sunday to rest in my bed and not have to wake up. That’s it! I want to sleep. I understand that my schedule is my schedule; I choose what I do, but I do it to better my life and hers. I work hard all day. I work hard to ensure a good future and keep earning good money. I pursue my passions on the side. I take care of the house, and I fix everything because she “doesn’t know how to do that stuff.” I do all the outside chores; I set up everything for summer, then again for winter, then again for summer, over and over, every year, year after year after year. I go to work day after day after day. I come home, and I do as much as I can. I just want to sleep on Sundays. I've expressed this before, and it'll get better for a month, then return to the same thing.
Set an alarm! Do something! She knows I hate it! She should think that I deserve sleep and actively do something to make sure I get it. It's one day! I keep the dogs quiet M-F in the morning. I actively make sure they don’t disturb her, and I made sure that when they go back in the room at 6am that it doesn’t bother her. She doesn't get out of bed Mon-Fri until 8 or 9am. I know because I see the notification for the backdoor being opened while I'm at work. She doesn't have to get up on Saturdays until 9 or 10am and gets to wake up naturally. Just SET AN ALARM ON SUNDAY. Why would you not think, damn, my wife works her ass off and falls asleep on the couch early most days cause she's so tired? How about I set an alarm on Sunday for 5am so she can get some sleep since she has to go to work Monday! Just something! Please!

Janet had a lot going for her Season 1 - (1) pregnancy shield, (2) ability to lie to and manipulate the others (and then go hide behind a door and eavesdrop or send in minions), and (3) production favor (eg, ability to exclude Kristen, Luke, and Zack from Big Bear).
What does she bring to Season 2? Jason offers nothing, and watching those two fight would be like watching paint dry. The show has a ton of camera kids. An apology tour? Can that be done without breaking the fourth wall? Does it work if she isn’t actually sorry for manipulating (just sorry that she got exposed on tv)? She couldn’t even cry on command during the finale.
I don’t see how anyone on The Valley could trust Jan or share drama with her after Season 1, which fully negates her purpose in life as a gossip. Michelle and Brittany might particularly feel distrustful after watching Season 1. We already have Jax and Kristen as messy informants and those two are at least charismatic, as is Jesse. Jan’s house is boring and messy, and lacks a pool - not a compelling party or all cast destination.
I’m at a loss. Part of me wants Kristen and Zack to fly in someone from Ohio, ala Miami Girl, to confirm some of the rumors we’ve seen on these subs about Jan the Fan. I’d even watch Scheana and Lala participate in that. But most of me wants serenity and babies for Kristen, and for K+Z to not F with Jan.
Also not sure if she will keep trying to make Jared Lips and Simon happen. My Mariposa senses are that Baskin meant it when he said no new (expensive) main characters on The Valley, meaning no Scheana, Brock, Lala, Jared or Simon….
TLDR - has Janet run through all the gas in her (small) tank? Will she be left on the sidelines while the rest of the cast speeds ahead with divorces, new partners, more kids, new houses, and (I hope for Brit) mommy jobs from someone other than Jax’s plastic surgeon?

Tldr; I didn't quit, stuck out the shift, and my manager actually made it up to me in the end. Nothing crazy happened. Still plan on quitting (need more consistent hours), whether that is end-of-season or sooner, not sure.
I had some people interested in an update in my last thread, so I figured I'd just make a quick one to be done with this.
When I made my post on Friday, I was pissed off. Venting mostly. I was not expecting it to take off like it did. I will say that I still think what happened was bullshit, but after talking to my manager in person at the end of my shift, things were much better, and we squashed the beef.
I appreciate everyone that commented and especially those that left very level-headed comments. Even the ones that were harsh were helpful in seeing it from my manager's perspective. I do think I was being a little sensitive, especially due to previous frustrations that I had commented about in the last thread. The short of it is that my manager is still new to her position, but not GMing, and she is under a ton of pressure from the higher-ups -- which includes her immediate boss as well as our contract employers (the team that runs the ballpark I work at). So she has two groups of higher-ups she has to answer to, before she makes any decision. Not just a single owner or a district manager or what have you. She's not entirely absolved of her weird decision-making though just because of that, in my opinion.
So, for the actual events of yesterday, nothing really crazy or dramatic happened. Beforehand, I had actually typed up a resignation letter and put it in my bag just in case. If she had been rude or dismissive towards me, I would have absolutely turned it in and walked out. I was still angry at work, admittedly, but I didn't let it show to my coworkers as to not ruin the vibe. I was cold towards her though.
She came up to me near the beginning of the shift and asked me jokingly if I was still mad at her. I can't remember my exact words but I think I said "maybe." She told me she'd check in with me later.
Had my shift, it was nice. Not hard at all. One thing I neglected to mention in my previous post is that this was a separate event from the usual baseball games, and it was actually a women's soccer game. I know there is the off chance that somebody knows what I'm talking about here, but I'm fine with that. I did actually volunteer for this shift beyond my normal schedule, so even though I had to forego plans with my boyfriend, I was still prepared to have to work.
Once the end of the shift came, I went down to the manager's office to pick up a tip out from a previous game. She handed it to me and followed me out to the time clock, and asked me again if I was still mad at her. I was still a little miffed so she had me walk with her to talk about it.
She was actually very apologetic and treated me with respect in the conversation. She heard me out, wasn't rude or anything, and I really appreciated her taking the time to talk with me. Basically the entire decision was out of her hands like some of you suggested. I told her that I get that. I told her that I was upset with her at first about the situation, but once I made the post it became clearer to me that there was more at play. Again, I still think what happened was bullshit, but now I can at least see her side of it. In all fairness, the club couldn't have been run with just one server yesterday, so it was good I was there.
Anyways, at the end of the conversation, she gave me a piece of merch that I had been eyeing for the event. It was an exclusive giveaway item. I'm sorry guys but I have to say I'm a sucker for free stuff. She really stuck her neck out to get it for me and I am very grateful for that. She asked me if we were still friends, I said yes, and we hugged it out.
I'm still looking for another job though, just because this one doesn't offer enough hours (or tips) for me personally.
Sorry for the long post, again thank you to everybody who commented on the last one!

• our clan's name: Evil
• Your system(s): We have players on all platforms (playstation, Xbox and PC)
• Where are most of your clan members located (country/time zones): We are a mixed group US EST, MST, PST, we also regularly play with players from the UK and Canada as well.
• When do you usually play (include times and time zone): Most of us play after about 4-5:00PM MST on weekdays as we have day jobs, however on weekends we are usually a lot more active.
• Tell us more about your clan (ex: how many members, requirements to join if any, focus on PvE/PvP/both, why should people join your clan, how do you communicate/organize events): We are a smaller group around 6-7 active players at the moment as we've lost a couple of members to attrition, we are interested in players with any level of skill . We are ideally looking to bring in as many as we can prior to the release of the Final Shape. We have a solid group of players that regularly play through and enjoy endgame content, however we also love teaching raids, dungeons, and everything else! Most of our members don't primarily play PVP and much prefer PVE, however we will do bannetrials, etc. if there are good rewards and/or someone needs help with something. A few things that we do require below:
  • Some level of maturity. We don't have any age requirements, my Son and Daughter both play and are 16 and 18 respectively, my son has been playing with me since he was 7 , however if you do join we do ask that you maintain some level of decency and maturity while playing with the group. We are mostly adults with day jobs and lives our own and play destiny as a means of relaxing and having fun. None of us want or will tolerate drama of any kind. We do use profanity occasionally, so be advised if that is something that you are not comfortable with. We do not tolerate racism, sexism, homophobia or bigotry of any kind and any of these will result in an immediate and permanent ban.
  • In order to be invited, you MUST be active in our discord. This does not mean that you have to make a required amount of posts or anything, however you MUST have a mic. and be willing to join in the occasional raid, dungeon, seasonal activity, etc. and be willing to communicate via mic. Don't be socially anxious, we're all really nice and as "normal" as they come, promise! We also love helping and teaching newer players.
  • As stated above, we understand completely that family and life obligations will always come first. We only ask that if you will be absent for an extended period of time, just communicate with an admin and/or the main chat and let everyone know you'll be back.
• What is the best way to contact your clan (reply in the thread, website, Twitter, etc.)?: If interested in joining, please reply to the comment here, or send me a DM and I will send you an invite! We would love to have you for the Final Shape and beyond!

Peace,
Manawar

-i believe that he’s SCARED to succeed and actually turn into something good. he feels unavailable to accept and truly relish being good, hence his self-destructive behavior. he feels so much guilt that can't be expressed due to his high, untouched status in the media. he’s too famous and well known to tear that all down just because he’s made bad choices. he has to suck them up and hide them because he LIKES being celebrated and his high status, because it gives him self-worth, but he KNOWS he doesn't deserve it and shouldn't be seen as a good guy, because he knows deep down that he's done so much wrong and ruined so much, that being such a largely relevant person isn't what he should deserve, and that adds to his cesspool of guilt, and makes him the pessimistic asshole he knows he is. he’s scared to reveal his shitty truth, because he knows that it’s bad, and no one would like him and see him as the same ‘bojack horseman’ they all know. the reason he depends so much on being a public figure, and even being seen in a good light as a ‘helpful’ (referring to when he ‘admitted’ to what happened with sarah lynn) is because of his past. he grew up as a scapegoat. ignored and seen as the crash of his parents’ relationship, which roots his seek for approval and power. growing up, he had NO approval or support from his parents, which makes him the most codependent-independent person you’d expect. yes, he’s independent, and can do things completely on his own, and for his own, mostly inferred from having to raise yourself as a child, (and even taking care of his parents as a kid) can cause independence to where he just feels like he can't trust anyone, which is why he struggled with getting into rehab and AA; he couldn't trust to talk about what he’s done to move past it. he had a reputation to uphold, so he bottled it and bottled it because everything bad he’s done will ruin his career. he knows that he’s a bad person, and hides it to the best ability. hiding all of this builds his walls on guilt. yet, he’s codependent. he can't be alone, because he leaves him alone with his guilt and fear. that's why he sticks around with princess carolynn. princess carolynn knows all of the bad things he’s done, and that makes him feel safe around her. she chooses to be around him, even though he’s bad. he has his trust on her to the point that he almost completely depends on her. his jobs? he asks princess carolynn to get them for him. she’s the reason he’s relevant, and he knows it. he relies on her for everything. attention, being his closest friend, keeping him popular, getting him movie roles; everything. he takes this for granted, and pc lets him. it's the cycle he’s so obviously used to. but there’s more to his story. yes, he’s a piece of shit addict that seems to only hurt more than he helps, so that's why in season 6 when he gets this job at the university, it seems to be the most pure, happy version of bojack we see. he’s sober, he's a new person to these kids, as well as a role model, in a sense. he’s an ex-actor, and i believe that his students look up to him for that. a famous celebrity comes and teaches you how to act, and it helps. he loves being horse professor to these kids, and enjoys it because these kids don't know the ‘bad bojack’. they only know the ‘kind, professor horse' bojack, and that's how he wanted it to be. so when he was afraid of being caught up in his past drama after his change, his thought was immediately, ‘i don't want these kids to think i’m a bad person’ and genuinely cares for them, so when pc comes into his class and notices a student, he goes out of his way to try and make sure that kid doesn't fall down the same path he did; miserable and regretting his career choice.

I am currently a junior at Stanford, but I'm graduating winter 2026.
Due to a series of health complications that have been documented (both physical health + mental illness) and the Advising Office is aware of, I've had terrible grades my first two years at Stanford, several failing grades, and only mediocre grades my third year (including one failed class). I plan to retake most of the failed classes, although two of them I can't retake, and in general now that my health issues have been resolved, my grades are finally starting to be on the up.
I am an international student on an F-1 visa, and I would like to stay in the US after graduating. I am studying economics. My GPA is currently around 2.3. I believe that by the end of my undergraduate career, I can get it up to 3.3 or 3.4. I've got excellent extracurricular accomplishments in university, good quality research, and good job interview performance. I've never been put on probation or such, because again, this is explained by health complications so I was excused.
What are jobs I should be looking at or aiming for? What are internships I should be applying to for the next summer, given my GPA probably has a ceiling on how much it can improve just in the fall during internship application season? What types of companies might offer me an interview given this fact? I can get doctor's notes, etc. certifying my health complications that drove academic performance issues.

When you want to build head-to-toe strength — and you want to look awesome doing it — there are few lifts that can compete with the hardcore nature of the log press. The unstable, unwieldy log bar will have your entire body working in overdrive to clean it off the ground, up your belly and chest, and heft it into the air. Meanwhile, the neutral grips inside the bar allow you to do all of this with your shoulders in a less compromising position than they would be with a barbell lift.
Whether you’re looking to compete in strongman or just to add another strength-building lift to your repertoire, the log press can set you on the right path.
A shirtless, bearded person performs a log press.
Credit: Dmitriy Khitrin / Shutterstock
It’s got a heftier buy-in than a regular barbell press. Whereas barbells typically weigh in at 45 pounds, eight-inch diameter log bars weigh 50 pounds; 10-inch log bars come in closer to 72 pounds; and 12-inch bars get as heavy as 134 pounds. Not for the faint of heart, the log press will not only showcase your strength — it’ll build it, too.
How to Do the Log Press
Benefits of the Log Press
Muscles Worked by the Log Press
Who Should Do the Log Press
Log Press Sets and Reps
Log Press Variations
Log Press Alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Do the Log Press
Learning the log press may seem intimidating, and not without reason. To lift the 10-inch bar alone, you’ll need to be comfortable pressing over 70 pounds above your head. But if you’ve got that covered, all it takes is a little know-how and a lot of practice.
While strict presses are also possible, this guide discusses a push press version, where you get increased engagement — and loading potential — from your lower body.
Step 1 — Pull the Log Off the Floor
A person wearing pink shorts prepares to deadlift a log implement.
Credit: Worlds Strongest Gay – Rob Kearney / YouTube
Start in a deadlift position, hinged at your hips with bent knees. Position your feet a bit wider than shoulder-width and turn your feet slightly outwards. The log should be touching your shins. Grip the handles and pull your shoulder blades back and down. Drive through your legs to pull the log to your hips.
Form Tip: Tilt the log away from you by driving your wrists forward. You won’t scrape your legs and it’ll be easier to lap the log (see next step) as you can rotate the log into your hips.
Step 2 — Lap the Log
A person wearing pink shorts cleans a log bar into their lap.
Credit: Worlds Strongest Gay – Rob Kearney / YouTube
Once the bar is at hip level, squat down until the bottoms of your thighs are parallel with the floor. The bar should sit on top of your thighs, and your elbows should flare outwards. This position is referred to as, “lapping” the log.
Form Tip: Keep the log pressed firmly against your chest and stomach. If there’s any space between your body and the log, it’ll make the clean more difficult to execute.
Step 3 — Clean the Log
A person wearing pink shorts supporting a strongman log implement in the front rack position
Credit: Worlds Strongest Gay – Rob Kearney / YouTube
Though it’s called a “clean”, cleaning a log is mechanically different than the barbell variation. From the lap position, explosively stand up, driving you hips forward and rolling the log up your stomach and chest. As the log ascends, bring your elbows in and under the implement so that you end up in the front rack position.
Form Tip: You want your elbows up as high as you can get them, which means the bar will needs to sit on your upper chest and press into your neck. It’s not the most comfortable position, but it should last only but a few seconds.
Step 4 — Press Overhead
A person wearing pink shorts locks out a log bar overhead using a jerk technique.
Credit: Worlds Strongest Gay – Rob Kearney / YouTube
There are two primary ways you can lock out the log overhead. First, you can implement a split jerk, where you simultaneously drive the bar under head and dip under it by staggering your legs. The other option is the more standard push press, where you dip down a few inches and then explode up, using that leg drive to lock out your arms.
Form Tip: If you’re new to the log press, we suggest sticking with the push press option as it’s technically easier to master.
Step 5 — Lower With Control
A person wearing pink shorts lowers a log bar to their chest.
Credit: Worlds Strongest Gay – Rob Kearney / YouTube
Lower the log with control so it falls in front of your face (instead of onto your face). Catch the bar on your chest with a generous bend of your knees so your body can absorb the weight. Reset and repeat.
Form Tip: If you’re lifting a max effort press or are completing your last rep of the set, you can drop the log by letting your arms swing down in front of your body and dropping it onto the pads.
Benefits of the Log Press
The benefits of the log press are legion — as are the bragging rights you get when your lifting buddy films you crushing a new log press personal record. It’s not just about building more strength and power, either (though it is about that). The log press also puts your shoulders in a relatively stable position, making this a potentially more accessible form of overhead pressing than barbell pressing for those with shoulder issues.
Massive Pressing Potential
Unlike a barbell, the log bar has neutral grips. Since your shoulders won’t be in such a compromised position — that is, flared outwards — you’ll potentially increase the load you’re able to press by quite a significant sum. You can use that neutral grip to build your overhead strength even more than you could with your shoulders locked into the position a barbell puts them in.
Your body and muscles can therefore become accustomed to moving much bigger weights. As such, when you do go back to the barbell, you may well be able to handle pressing significantly heavier loads.
Full-Body Hypertrophy
The log press may be an overhead press at heart, but it won’t only challenge your shoulders. This move also taps into your triceps, lats, traps, core, and even leg strength in a huge way.
You’ll build muscle across your entire body, particularly your upper body. When training the log press for hypertrophy, you’ll go a bit lighter than you will when you’re going for max strength. But either way, working under such an intense stimulus will challenge your muscles to grow.
More Shoulder-Friendly
Although the log press is an intimidating lift, keep in mind that you’ll be using neutral-grip handles. This means that your shoulders will be in a less compromised position than they are during a barbell press, where your grip is horizontally-oriented. So you can lift even heavier in a position that’s better for your shoulders — a win-win for strength and longevity.
Full-Body Power and Conditioning
If you’re using a push press or jerk to heft the log over head instead of performing a strict press, you’ll need to generate huge amounts of power throughout your entire body. Everything from your toes to your fingertips need to be working together in an explosive fashion to successfully complete this lift.
Because this move requires you to generate so much power throughout your entire body, you’ll get your conditioning work in, too. From pulling and rolling the log bar into the rack position to using a full-body leg drive to lock it out overhead, you’re being both explosive and controlling your form all over your body. With so many moving parts, even one heavy rep can make you breathless — stringing together multiple reps can become a solid part of your conditioning routine.
Muscles Worked by the Log Press
The log press taps into so many different parts of your body. Here are some of the big movers.
Shoulders
Since this is, at the end of the day, an overhead press, your shoulders might be the first thing that comes to your mind with this lift. Sure enough, the log press requires and will develop very strong and stable shoulders.
Triceps
You can’t lock out heavy weights without some pretty powerful, well-developed triceps. In order to not let your triceps become a quick limiting factor to your log press, make sure you’re not neglecting them in the rest of your training.
Traps
In order to support the weight of the log overhead — and to help your shoulders out in the front rack position and with the end of the clean — you need strong traps. Without engaging your traps, you’ll have a difficult time setting up this lift properly and stabilizing it on top.
Lats
As you’re pulling the bar from the floor to your lap and rolling it up your body to set yourself up for the actual press, you’ll need your lats. They’ll help drive the pulling that begins this lift and — as they do in the bench press — will help you stabilize the lift during the pressing part of the movement.
Core
Falling over during your log press would not be optimal, to say the least. To keep your body steady, you’ll need a strong core — which is exactly what the log press will help you develop. Your core will also help you transmit force from your legs to your upper body when you’re using your leg drive to hoist the log bar overhead.
Quads
Finally, the log press will help you develop powerful quads. Sure, they won’t work them to the same extent that barbell squats will, but you’ll still be squatting in unstable conditions to get up into starting position. Then — unless you’re strict pressing — you’ll need your quads to generate a whole lot of power through your leg drive.
Who Should Do the Log Press
The log press doesn’t mess around when it comes to how much power you need to generate to hoist it over your head. With a buy-in weight of at least 50 pounds (for the smallest type of log bar), you need to be able to efficiently translate all your body’s power and strength into pressing prowess. A lot of different kinds of athletes might want to develop exactly that.
Strongwomen and Strongmen
Athletes who compete in strongman competitions will almost certainly want to train with the log press.
Not only is this often a competition lift in itself, but it also has direct carryover into other potential competition lifts, like the monster dumbbell press.
Weightlifters
Weightlifters will likely want to stick to a majority of barbell lifts, since the technique with a barbell is so specific and different from the log pressing technique. However, both competition lifts for weightlifters involve developing tremendous overhead strength and stability. A weightlifter may be looking for strength-building, shoulder-saving variety in their training during the offseason. If so, the log press might be an effective — and fun — way to do so.
Powerlifters
Unlike strongmen and weightlifters, powerlifters don’t overhead press in competition. However, many powerlifters might want to develop their overhead strength in the off-season for well-rounded strength. Overhead work can also help powerlifters develop stronger lats, traps, and shoulders, all of which are important for their big three competition lifts.
Because of the neutral grip provided by the log press, this might be a desirable overhead variation for powerlifters. It’ll be less taxing on your shoulders because of the grip orientation, which is exactly what you might need when you don’t want to set your shoulders up for failure during your bench pressing sessions.
Non-Competitive Gymgoers
You don’t have to be the biggest lifter on the block to benefit from — and enjoy — the log press. If you have access to one in your gym and are able to safely press it overhead, you might benefit a lot from the log press.
Not only will the training variety potentially add a lot of fun to your routine, but learning such a cool lift can be a great confidence-booster that keeps you coming back for more. Additionally, the neutral grip that the log bar provides might be great for non-competitive lifters who are looking for ways to press overhead without compromising their shoulders with horizontally-oriented grips.
Log Press Sets and Reps
Generally speaking, when you’re working with the log press, you’re probably looking to build max strength. That said, the log press has plenty of uses for hypertrophy and even conditioning.
For Max Strength
While you’re still learning the log press, work in the higher rep ranges before trying to max out and work in the lower, strength-building ranges. When you’re ready to develop max overhead strength with the log press, aim for three to five sets of two to five reps. You’ll want the weight to be heavy and approach failure — but make sure you’re able to maintain safe form throughout.
For Building Muscle
When you’re working toward hypertrophy with less involved, lighter lifts, you might be able to push toward failure with rep schemes between six and 12 to 15 reps. But lifting even moderately heavy with a log press might enable you to build a significant amount of muscle using fewer reps.
Because so much of your body is involved and you can move so much weight with this lift, higher rep counts will build muscle but also cross into endurance and conditioning territory. You’ll likely be able to build a hefty amount of muscle with three sets in the five to 10 rep range.
For Conditioning
Because the log press involves your entire body — literally from head to toe — and allows you to lift so heavily, you’re likely to get your heart rate up pretty high. Training the log press for conditioning will help you get stronger and more cardiovascularly fit all at the same time. How you approach this really depends on your experience and overall fitness level.
For some, you might consider eight reps to be more conditioning than you normally integrate into your training. For others, cranking out as many solid reps as possible in 60 seconds would be a more apt form of conditioning.
Log Press Variations
A log bar is such a highly-specific piece of equipment — but that doesn’t mean it can only help you complete one lift. Check out these log press variations to see how you can add even more spice to your log pressing life.
Log Viper Press
If the log press itself isn’t quite enough of a conditioning challenge for you, you might want to try the log viper press on for size. Instead of bringing the log bar back down to the front rack position between each rep, you’ll bring it back down beneath your chest.
Then, you’ll use your hip extension to take the bar in one swift movement over your head to lockout. It’ll look more like a snatch than a push press. This variation involves more hips and even more power than the original version, which you might love if you’re looking to develop as much explosivity as possible.
Strict Log Press
For the log strict press, you’ll be performing a log press — but without any momentum from your lower body. This takes the push or jerk element out of the move, which means you’ll be able to move less weight than you otherwise could.
But just because you’re moving less weight doesn’t mean it’s an inferior move. Being able to strict press build a great deal of core stability, not to mention places an even larger emphasis on your upper body muscles. Sure, they’ll be hefting less weight. However, without assistance from your lower body, it becomes entirely about how much your shoulders and upper body can move on their own.
Block Log Press
Want to eliminate the clean from the move? This way, you can focus solely on upper body strength and power without worrying about the awkwardness of the start of the move. In that case, start with the log on blocks just below your shoulders.
Doing this can serve as a great introduction to the move for beginners who haven’t quite gotten their heads around the awkward clean portion yet. It’s also a great option for advanced lifters who want to load up as heavy as possible for higher reps.
Log Press Alternatives
Don’t have access to a log? Not a problem. There’s another specialty bar that can help you press heavy overhead with a neutral grip. And if your gym doesn’t have any specialty bars to offer, you can still use a good old-fashioned barbell to get the job done.
Swiss Bar Press
While it’s not a log, the Swiss bar has one huge — and hugely important — similarity to the log bar. It comes with neutral grips, too. This means that you’ll be able to move weight overhead with your palms facing each other even if you don’t have access to a log bar.
This preserves the shoulder-saving aspect of the log press while still allowing you to put big weight above you. While it’s still a specialty bar, many gyms are more likely to have a Swiss bar than they are to have a log. In that way, this press is a great alternative for aspiring athletes without access to all the coolest strongman equipment.
Barbell Clean & Jerk
Because the implement is so different, the barbell clean & jerk requires different movement mechanics than the log press. So, it’s not a directly transferable skill. But, being proficient at one can potentially help you develop the body awareness to learn the other.
Plus, the barbell clean & jerk enables you to push a tremendous amount of weight overhead. If you’re looking to push a max amount of weight overhead without access to a log, this lift is an excellent option.
Get Pressing
Looking to compete in strongman and strongwoman events? Learning the log press will be a crucial part of your journey, because you’re likely to come across it as an official event. Even if you don’t have aspirations to compete, you might be looking for a way to push big weight overhead without a punishing shoulder angle. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that this is one of the coolest-looking lifts around.
Frequently Asked Questions
Folks who are just learning strongman and strongwoman lifts often have a lot of questions. And questions are good — they mean you’re paying attention and are more likely to learn what you need to succeed. Here are some questions that a lot of people have about the log press.
Do you need to learn the log press for strongman and strongwoman competitions?
Unlike powerlifting and weightlifting meets — which always feature the same lifts and competition structure — strongman and strongwoman competitions or more unpredictable. They don’t always feature the same lifts and feats of strength. That said, many competitions do feature the log press itself or other overhead variations. So, it’s worth learning if you can.
What if I don’t have access to a log bar?
Maybe you’re trying to compete, or maybe you just want to learn the log press because it looks and feels so darn cool. Whatever your motivations, you don’t have to despair if you don’t have access to the exact equipment the lift calls for.
So many strongman events rely on lifters being able to adapt to moving extremely heavy, extremely awkward implements. If you don’t have access to a log bar, get creative in your training — maybe with a Swiss bar, or maybe with a (sturdy) implement of your own making — to practice getting big weights overhead.
How much do log bars weigh?
That depends. Different log bars have different dimensions and diameters, all of which have their own unique advantages for training. While eight-inch log bars weigh 50 pounds, their 10-inch cousins are closer to 72 pounds. And 12-inch log bars can get as heavy as 134 pounds.
Smaller bars allow you to train with a bigger range of motion. So even though they’re lighter, they might challenge you more since you have to push them through more time under tension due to the larger range of motion.

A little background: last summer the horse our family had been leasing for 2.5 years was taken from us in a sudden and cruel way ( not death but think owner gifting him to us one day us scoping out boarding options and than ghosting / blocking us the next never allowing us to say goodbye to the horse ). This was devastating to us all I took it very hard and my daughter who was 3 when we leased the horse just didn’t understand what was happening.
We knew we loved having a horse in our lives and decided to explore the option of buying so that we wouldn’t encounter another situation like this. We visited a few horses 2 we really liked and almost bought one but in ultimately decided against it.
There were a number of reasons I decided it wasn’t the best decision but it was mostly because finances and the worry / responsibility of caring for a horse for the rest of its life not knowing what may pop up for the horse or us financially. It just made me feel very insecure and I would do anything to keep animals and not rehome them but a horse is much different than a dog and cat in terms of housing etc and it’s important to pause and consider this. I also didn’t want to add the extra stress of that responsibility on to my family now. Even though I knew it was the right decision I was heart broken and it was very difficult.
Now: I’ve been plugged into a lesson barn for the last 7 months taking lessons weekly and I am really enjoying it! Our old lease horse knew his job and we knew how to ride him. He loved trail riding but I realized outside of him I truly didn’t know how to ride a horse so if I ever do want to own and revisit it I need to truly learn to ride. I am really progressing in my riding and it’s completely different from what we did with my lease horse so I am learning new things and really enjoy the small successes of something finally clicking I have been working on. Also just being in a lesson barn environment has exposed me to so many different aspects of horse care taking and riding.
I love my lessons but felt that they are so fast and I don’t get a ton of 1:1 time with the horse outside of catching grooming tacking and riding. Also the horses at the lesson barn are pretty indifferent to humans and attention because they are just passed through many hands and used by many riders throughout the day. I was really missing having a bond with 1 particular horse and being able to have more relaxed barn time. Also my daughter isn’t interested in lessons but likes to groom and lead and she wasn’t getting that. Anyway I made a post on FB in a few local horse groups and found the perfect lease situation for our family. We have been leasing the horse for the past 6 months and we are really enjoying it. The lease is affordable the owner is great the barn is very laid back and peaceful.
All this to say… saying hi to horse ownership was very difficult but it was the best decision for me and my family. I remember calling my husband the day I said no to the horse and made a final decision to not pursue other horses and I was sobbing. I wouldn’t have though then that I would he as happy as I am with my current set up that is not ownership. I am grateful to be able to enjoy horses in different ways and not feel stressed of the financial burden and longevity/ unknown of ownership. My lessons and lease are costly but they are more affordable snd temporary. I have been able to modify work / finances to cover these and not feel stressed working extra shifts not being able to have time to truly enjoy my horse etc. I do think I still long to own a horse and maybe I will one day in a different season of life but for now I am happy.
If anyone read this and is on the fence about horse ownership I would encourage you to reach out in local horse groups and write what you are looking for lessons, lease, bonding time etc. I am sure there are owners out there that would love to share their horses. It can truly be the best of both worlds without the stress and commitment!

I got into Destiny when my fiance' at the time, now wife, bought the game for me two months before we got married. I had just gotten out of the military and was going through a sort of identity crisis. Destiny was my distraction from my changing circumstances and I was hooked once I got PS Plus and realized what a strike was when I ran Devil's Lair.
I've followed the story closely and besides a few points in my life where life changed and I has to step away from the game (new jobs, kids, etc.) I would still return to finish expansions or "catch up" on seasonal content.
I knew everything was leading up to this expansion and now that it's over I guess I kinda feel lost? When I haven't worked, been raising my kids, being a spouse, or any other adult thing, I usually logged in at night and spent what little free time ive ever had in the evening or at night playing this game.
I'm worried that now this part of the journey is over that everything that comes after is going to be hard to top, that the game might lose its luster. Kind of how I felt after watching Endgame (since we all can't help but compare) and pretty much just dropped out from watching subsequent films. Will Bungie manage to maintain the same novelty the game has more or less maintained over the last ten years?
Do I jump ship? Got outside and touch grass? My wife doesn't game and is frankly overstimulated by them; she even said she felt some type of way by me having this same conversation with her.
The Final Shape was a beautiful game and Bungie executed wonderfully and I will always be grateful to have had the opportunity to play it. But I guess over the last 24 hours I've sort of felt a sense of loss (though not as comparable to Cayde-6's last radio message).
Am I alone when it comes to feeling these "feels"? Do I finally grow up, shelf the game, and move on with my life? Watch Monday's Bungie Stream anyways? Just trying to figure where to go from here as I didn't expect a game to cause me what feels like a midlife crisis.

I want to apply for a job at Kmart but the hire age says 15.
The issue is im turning 15 on the 16th (its the 9th right now) would i be able to apply and due to the call backs if i get it and the interviewing I'd be 15 then right so it's okay??
help.

We got together last summer. My first relationship, I was 26 now 27.
First months were great. I've always been anxious in the face of a relationship, so I was in the beginning of this one too. But differently to how it transpired later on. In the beginning I was very anxious about whether she truly liked me. I was jealous almost, afraid that if she went out and I wasnt there she might be hit on and like it. That faded after some time though. But towards October I started getting anxiety from the relationship. I'm working through it in therapy right now, it's hard to place the exact reason. I think it was a combination of not recognizing my boundaries and thus not being able to communicate them. I'm quite introverted and I think I needed more alone time, but I didn't understand that for myself because why would I want to be alone away from my girlfriend? Also the fact that I don't like my job but didn't know what new career I wanted to pursue. And also my seasonal depression starting. The anxiety expressed itself in doubt, whether we were right for each other or if we were even compatible. But I couldn't understand why I was having those thoughts.
I'm an overthinker and when a thought like that starts it doesn't go away. Month by month the anxiety got worse and worse. I got so sensitive. She wanted to plan the future and my gut was anxiety ridden at the thought of it. We had these longs discussions and I was paralyzed. I cried and was almost mute. My whole body was under the spell of anxiety. She got anxiety over not being able to plan or talk about moving in together and I was a mess. I've never experienced such an intense anxiety before and I wasn't there for her at all. I could barely take care of myself. I was crying over little thing and a small disagreement made me completely broken.
We broke up in March. She told me that if I feel ready to love her as she loves me, I should contact her. But I told her that I think she should forget about me. I'm not quite sure she feels like she wants me to contact her anymore after I said that, and I don't think I'll ever be sure that I've gotten to the root of the anxiety I had. As my therapist has told me, we can't work with a relationship you're not in anymore. I still think about her every day. Some days I'm glad it's over because I don't have to experience that anxiety again. But some days I miss her so much. And I can't seem to let go, because for me it feels like the feelings for one another is still there. But the anxiety, which I still don't quite understand, will come back if we were to try again. We have been no contact since the breakup.
I get these urges to contact her, but I can't bring myself to do it. It feels selfish.
I've been talking with my therapist about going abroad next winter to escape my seasonal depression and experience something new. I think I'm having a hard time committing to it because I haven't really let go of my relationship. I've felt so lonely, as such I've been on dating apps explicitly looking for short-term relationships in my profile. Just companionship or whatever. It probably isn't good for me. It doesn't look good either, I understand that. But I've just been feeling so lost. It didn't make sense to myself that I broke up emotionally, other than that the anxiety must have been a sign that something was wrong.
I've also thought about the fact that if I ever were to contact her again, she most likely wouldn't be sympathetic to my going on the apps. Which is fair.
I don't know how to come to terms with this. I've tried to be honest and followed my heart throughout but it feels like I'm emotionally doomed. If I can't understand the root of my anxiety, how will I ever be able to pursue a relationship again? With her, or with someone else?

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Understanding the fundamental principles of SEO is crucial for optimizing a website's performance and driving organic traffic. Industry experts emphasize the significance of staying updated with the ever-evolving algorithms and trends to maintain a competitive edge. By learning from seasoned professionals, individuals can gain valuable insights into the dynamic nature of search engine optimization.
Digital marketing techniques play a vital role in SEO training, integrating strategies such as content marketing, social media optimization, and link building. These complementary practices enhance the visibility and credibility of a website, ultimately improving its search engine ranking.
Check out the SEO Elite Circle SEO Training by Julian Goldie.

Why is SEO Training Important?

SEO training is vital as it equips individuals and businesses with the necessary skills to optimize their websites, climb up the SERPs, and enhance online visibility, thereby opening up numerous career opportunities in the digital marketing industry.
Search engine optimization (SEO) is no longer just a buzzword in the digital landscape; it has become a fundamental aspect of online success. Professionals who have undergone comprehensive SEO training gain insights into the algorithms that drive search engine results, allowing them to fine-tune their websites for maximum visibility. With top-notch SEO skills, businesses can attract more organic traffic, boost their online presence, and ultimately increase their revenue streams. Individuals with expertise in SEO can position themselves as valuable assets in the competitive digital marketing job market, commanding higher salaries and better career prospects.
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The Best SEO Training Course in Birmingham

In Birmingham, SEO Elite Circle stands out as the premier SEO training course, providing top-notch education and guidance on SEO practices under the expert tutelage of Julian Goldie, making it the go-to choice for aspiring digital marketers across the UK.
Check out the SEO Elite Circle SEO Training by Julian Goldie.

Why is SEO Elite Circle the Best SEO Training Course in Birmingham?

SEO Elite Circle is considered the best SEO training course in Birmingham due to its expertly crafted curriculum, led by Julian Goldie, which covers all critical aspects of digital marketing and SEO techniques essential for achieving success.
The curriculum of SEO Elite Circle includes in-depth modules on keyword research, on-page optimization, off-page SEO strategies, and analytics interpretation. Students gain practical skills in developing effective SEO strategies, conducting website audits, and optimizing content for search engines. Julian Goldie's extensive experience and insights play a significant role in shaping the course content, ensuring it stays current with industry trends and best practices. His expertise in content marketing, link building, and SEO analytics adds immense value to the training, providing students with a well-rounded understanding of SEO."
Check out the SEO Elite Circle SEO Training by Julian Goldie.

Who is Julian Goldie and Why is He Qualified to Teach SEO?

Julian Goldie is a renowned SEO expert and digital marketing consultant with years of experience, making him exceptionally qualified to teach SEO and share his extensive knowledge and practical insights with students.
Julian has worked with a wide range of clients, from small businesses to multinational corporations, helping them improve their online presence and increase their visibility in search engine results pages. His expertise in keyword research, on-page optimization, link building strategies, and content marketing has led to significant improvements in organic traffic and search engine rankings for his clients.
Julian's successful track record in achieving top rankings for competitive keywords showcases his deep understanding of search engine algorithms and trends. Students enrolling in the SEO Elite Circle course not only benefit from Julian's vast experience but also gain practical tips and industry insights that are essential in navigating the ever-evolving landscape of SEO.
Check out the SEO Elite Circle SEO Training by Julian Goldie.

What Will You Learn in SEO Elite Circle?

In the SEO Elite Circle course, you will gain comprehensive knowledge and practical skills in various aspects of SEO, including keyword research, on-page SEO techniques, link building strategies, and local SEO tactics, ensuring you have a well-rounded understanding of search engine optimization.
Check out the SEO Elite Circle SEO Training by Julian Goldie.

Keyword Research and Optimization

Keyword research and optimization are fundamental skills taught in the SEO Elite Circle course, focusing on identifying high-value keywords and using them effectively to climb up the SERPs.
One of the primary techniques used for effective keyword research is analyzing search volume and competition. By evaluating the search volume of different keywords, SEO practitioners can gauge the level of interest and potential traffic those keywords can bring. Assessing the level of competition for those keywords helps in determining the feasibility of ranking for them. It's crucial to strike a balance between search volume and competition to target keywords that offer a good opportunity for ranking and driving organic traffic.
Check out the SEO Elite Circle SEO Training by Julian Goldie.

On-page SEO Techniques

On-page SEO techniques covered in the SEO Elite Circle course focus on optimizing various elements within your website, such as content, meta tags, and internal linking, to enhance its search engine performance.
The course delves deep into the art of title optimization, emphasizing the importance of crafting compelling and keyword-rich titles that accurately reflect the content on each page. It also stresses the significance of using headers effectively to structure content and improve readability. Participants are taught how to properly optimize images by incorporating relevant keywords in alt text and file names, thereby boosting image search visibility. Ensuring that the website's content seamlessly aligns with the targeted keywords is a crucial aspect preached in the training sessions to enhance overall SEO efficacy.
Check out the SEO Elite Circle SEO Training by Julian Goldie.

Link Building Strategies

The SEO Elite Circle course delves into link building strategies, teaching you how to acquire high-quality backlinks that boost your website's authority and improve its search engine rankings.
One essential link building method discussed is guest blogging, where you can create valuable content for other reputable websites in exchange for a backlink to your own site. This not only helps drive traffic but also establishes your credibility in your industry. The course emphasizes the importance of acquiring backlinks from authoritative sites as these carry more weight with search engines. It guides you on how to reach out to such sites and create mutually beneficial relationships that result in valuable backlinks.
Check out the SEO Elite Circle SEO Training by Julian Goldie.

Local SEO Tactics

Local SEO tactics are an essential part of the SEO Elite Circle course, focusing on optimizing your online presence for local search results, including setting up and managing your Google My Business profile.
Local SEO plays a crucial role in helping businesses connect with their target audience in specific geographic locations. By implementing tailored strategies for local optimization, companies can increase their visibility in search engine results when potential customers are looking for products or services in their area. Some effective tactics for optimizing local searches include optimizing website content with local keywords, obtaining customer reviews on platforms like Yelp, ensuring NAP consistency across online directories, and creating location-specific landing pages to cater to local audiences.
Check out the SEO Elite Circle SEO Training by Julian Goldie.

What Are the Benefits of SEO Training?

SEO training offers numerous benefits, including increased website traffic, improved search engine rankings, enhanced online visibility, and the ability to generate more leads and sales, making it a valuable investment for individuals and businesses alike.

Increase Website Traffic

One of the primary benefits of SEO training is the ability to increase website traffic by optimizing your site to rank higher on search engines, making it more accessible to potential visitors.
Implementing effective SEO techniques plays a vital role in enhancing the visibility of your website, ensuring that it appears prominently in search engine results pages. By targeting relevant keywords and creating high-quality content, you can attract a steady stream of organic traffic to your site.
This influx of visitors not only boosts your website's online presence but also increases the likelihood of engaging with a wider audience and potential customers. As traffic grows, businesses can experience improved brand awareness, enhanced credibility, and ultimately drive revenue growth.
Check out the SEO Elite Circle SEO Training by Julian Goldie.

Improve Search Engine Rankings

SEO training equips you with the skills to improve your search engine rankings, ensuring your website appears higher on Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs), which enhances its credibility and visibility.
One of the key factors that influence search engine rankings is the relevance of your website's content. Search engines prioritize websites that provide valuable and high-quality content to users. Keyword optimization is crucial as well; incorporating relevant keywords strategically throughout your website helps search engines understand what your site is about.
Staying updated with the latest SEO best practices is essential in this ever-evolving digital landscape. Algorithms used by search engines frequently change, so keeping abreast of these changes and adjusting your SEO strategies accordingly is crucial.
Improved search engine rankings can significantly impact your business's success. Higher visibility on SERPs leads to increased organic traffic, potential for more conversions, and ultimately, higher revenue generation.
Check out the SEO Elite Circle SEO Training by Julian Goldie.

Boost Online Visibility and Brand Awareness

Boosting online visibility and brand awareness is another significant benefit of SEO training, as it helps your business reach a broader audience and establish a stronger online presence.
By optimizing your website's content, structure, and backend data, SEO techniques enable search engines to better understand and rank your pages, ultimately leading to higher organic search traffic. In the realm of digital marketing, a strong online presence is crucial for building brand credibility and trust among consumers. When your brand consistently appears at the top of search results, it reinforces your authority in the industry and enhances brand recall. Over time, this heightened brand awareness translates to increased customer loyalty, improved conversion rates, and sustainable business growth.
Check out the SEO Elite Circle SEO Training by Julian Goldie.

Generate More Leads and Sales

Effective SEO training can help you generate more leads and sales by optimizing your website to attract targeted traffic and improve conversion rates, ultimately boosting your business's revenue.
By focusing on search engine optimization (SEO), you can ensure that your website is easily discoverable by potential customers looking for products or services related to your business. This targeted traffic is essential as it brings in individuals who are already interested in what you offer, increasing the chances of converting them into paying customers.
Targeted traffic not only drives higher quality leads but also improves the overall ROI on your marketing efforts.
Check out the SEO Elite Circle SEO Training by Julian Goldie.

How Can You Enroll in SEO Elite Circle?

Enrolling in the SEO Elite Circle course is straightforward, with options for both online registration and in-person training sessions, making it accessible for a wide range of students interested in enhancing their SEO skills.
Check out the SEO Elite Circle SEO Training by Julian Goldie.

Online Registration

Online registration for the SEO Elite Circle course offers the convenience of virtual training and flexible learning schedules, making it easier for students to access high-quality SEO education from anywhere.
Upon choosing to enroll in the course, students can follow a simple registration process that typically involves filling out an online form with basic personal details and payment information. This streamlined method eliminates the need for physical paperwork or in-person visits, saving both time and effort for applicants.
One of the key benefits of virtual training is the ability to learn at one's own pace and in a comfortable environment, without the constraints of a traditional classroom setting. This allows individuals to fit their studies around existing commitments, such as work or family responsibilities, promoting a healthy work-life balance.
The flexibility of virtual training means that students can access course materials and lectures at any time, enabling them to revisit challenging topics or review content for better understanding. This personalized approach to learning enhances retention and comprehension, ultimately leading to improved academic performance.
Check out the SEO Elite Circle SEO Training by Julian Goldie.

In-person Training Sessions

In-person training sessions for the SEO Elite Circle course are conducted at designated training centers, providing a classroom environment where students can interact directly with trainers and peers.
One of the key advantages of attending these sessions in-person is the opportunity for real-time interaction and engagement in a traditional classroom setting. This setup allows students to ask questions, participate in discussions, and receive immediate feedback from experienced instructors.
Moreover, the physical presence of classmates fosters collaboration and networking, creating a dynamic learning atmosphere where knowledge sharing and peer support are encouraged.
Check out the SEO Elite Circle SEO Training by Julian Goldie.

What Do Past Students Say About SEO Elite Circle?

Past students of the SEO Elite Circle course have provided overwhelmingly positive feedback, highlighting their success stories and the valuable knowledge and skills they gained from the program.
One student, for example, mentioned that after completing the course, they saw a significant increase in website traffic and a boost in their search engine rankings. Another student shared how the course helped them land a high-paying job in digital marketing due to the specialized skills they acquired. The hands-on exercises and real-world case studies in the course were also praised for providing practical insights that could be directly applied to their own projects.
Check out the SEO Elite Circle SEO Training by Julian Goldie.

Conclusion: Invest in Your SEO Skills with SEO Elite Circle

Investing in your SEO skills with the SEO Elite Circle course is a strategic move for anyone looking to advance their career in digital marketing, as it provides comprehensive training and practical insights essential for success.
The course, curated by a seasoned expert in the field, offers a unique opportunity to tap into the wealth of knowledge and experience that Julian Goldie brings to the table.
By enrolling in this program, participants gain access to cutting-edge strategies, tools, and techniques that can transform their approach to SEO and propel their growth in the competitive digital landscape.
The long-term advantages of mastering advanced SEO skills extend far beyond immediate career opportunities, paving the way for sustained success, increased visibility, and credibility in the industry.
Check out the SEO Elite Circle SEO Training by Julian Goldie.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is SEO Training Birmingham?

SEO Training Birmingham refers to a comprehensive training program that teaches individuals and businesses in the Birmingham area about the principles, strategies, and techniques of search engine optimization (SEO). It equips participants with the knowledge and skills to improve their website's visibility and ranking on search engine results pages.

Why should I consider SEO Training Birmingham?

SEO is a vital aspect of online marketing and having a solid understanding of it can greatly benefit your business. By enrolling in SEO Training Birmingham, you will gain practical insights and hands-on experience that can help you improve your website's search engine ranking and drive more traffic and potential customers to your site.

Who is the best candidate for SEO Training Birmingham?

SEO Training Birmingham is suitable for individuals who are looking to enhance their digital marketing skills, business owners who want to improve their website's visibility, and marketing professionals who want to stay updated with the latest SEO trends and techniques. Whether you are a beginner or have some experience in SEO, this training program can benefit you.

What can I expect to learn from SEO Training Birmingham?

SEO Training Birmingham covers a wide range of topics, including keyword research, on-page optimization, link building, content creation, and analytics. You will also learn how to develop effective SEO strategies and techniques that can help you improve your website's search engine ranking and drive more organic traffic to your site.

Is SEO Training Birmingham worth the investment?

Absolutely. SEO is a constantly evolving field, and staying updated with the latest trends and techniques is crucial for online success. By investing in SEO Training Birmingham, you will equip yourself with the necessary skills and knowledge to improve your website's search engine ranking and attract more potential customers, making it a valuable investment.

How do I enroll in SEO Training Birmingham?

Enrolling in SEO Training Birmingham is easy. Simply visit our website and register for the course. You will have access to all the course materials, including video tutorials, interactive activities, and quizzes, which you can complete at your own pace. Our course is designed to be flexible and convenient for learners, so you can fit it into your busy schedule.
Check out the SEO Elite Circle SEO Training by Julian Goldie.

The heat and the pressure are on—for our planet, and for one more World War.
Last Week in Collapse: June 2-8, 2024
This is Last Week in Collapse, a weekly newsletter compiling some of the most important, timely, useful, soul-crushing, ironic, stunning, exhausting, or otherwise must-see/can’t-look-away moments in Collapse.
This is the 128th newsletter. You can find the May 26-June edition here if you missed it last week. You can also receive these posts (with images) every Sunday in your email inbox with Substack.
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Bengaluru broke a 133-year rain record by almost 10mm last Sunday, with 111mm (4.37 inches) of rain falling in a single day. In Sri Lanka, some 24,000 people were displaced by recent flooding. A heat wave swept through the southwest United States and northern Mexico. Part of Niger already broke its June temperature record. Parts of New South Wales, Australia broke nighttime temperatures as well; so did the Philippines, and Vietnam. And a heat wave in Greece.
“Atmospheric blocking” happens when regions of the atmosphere remain stationary for days or weeks, imposing similar weather on a region for a while. A study released in Nature Communications looked at Svalbard, which is warming faster than the Arctic, which is itself warming faster than most of the rest of the planet. The researchers claim that atmospheric blocking has resulted in warmer & wetter conditions in Svalbard, which is driving its ice loss. “The augmented blocking in the Ural and Scandinavian regions in the future combined with the projected declines in sea ice, and increases in sea surface temperatures and moisture availability, will likely increase the magnitude and frequency of exceptional rainfall incidents similar to the 2016 occurrence, posing further hazards to the population and ecosystems in Svalbard.”
A paywalled study in Nature Climate Change emphasizes “in the absence of a global tipping point there is no safety margin within which permafrost loss would be acceptable.” The summary states that permafrost melt does not have a worldwide tipping point, but rather several local temperature thresholds. Permafrost worldwide is expected to be all melted once global temperature gains hit 5 or 6 °C.
We are currently in the brief neutral period between El Niño and La Niña, expected to begin around August. Meteorologists expect temperatures in the eastern Pacific to decline for between 1 and 3 years—and for stronger Atlantic hurricanes. A 14-page report from the WMO forecasts a particularly wet summer for Central America.
Monsoon storms in Sri Lanka killed 14, mostly by falling trees, though others drowned or were covered by landslides. Texas saw “canteloupe-size hail” fall during a freak tornado; some think it is a record size for the region. Experts say some 23% of Africa’s land has been degraded, by five major factors: 1) invasive species, 2) climate change, including Drought and flooding, 3) resource extraction, 4) deforestation, and 5) pollution, including algal blooms. Poverty, population growth, and resource dependencies have aggravated the problem, says the article.
In Kashmir, a glacier Collapsed, sending three plunging into the ice, one of whom has still not been found. In the Philippines, a volcanic mud landslide swept into a village; volcano alerts were raised to 2 (on a 0-5 scale). Rising sea levels are displacing residents of one of Panama’s islands (pop: ~1,200); others will follow. Greece is gearing up for a fierce wildfire season ahead. And, in a moment of hopeful news, Sweden is banning bottom trawling in its “marine protected areas.”
In the EU, early polling appears to show a “greenlash,”, a backlash to the Green Alliance—and perhaps a loss of some 30% of their 72 current seats in the EU Parliament (705 total). Some blame the “moral superiority complex” of Greens, while others believe it is their lack of compromise on important issues. Farmer protests also damaged Green sentiment; now future sweeping climate reforms will probably have to wait years to get passed, since conservatives are expected to make gains. Most results will emerge within 24 hours of this post.
Worldwide, 39% of environmental journalists have faced threats due to their reporting—according to a 112-page report by the Earth Journalism Network. Most of the threats came to reporters writing about illegal extraction operations.
Roughly 20% of sealife near the surface is expected to face a “triple threat” of climate hazards: extreme heat, oxygen loss and acidification. Some of these species will die in place; others will be forced into progressively smaller living spaces. Most of the danger lies in the northern Pacific. The full study in AGU Advances has more.
The UN Secretary-General announced that we are on the “highway to climate hell.” And we aren’t wearing any seatbelts. The EU Copernicus Programme says last May was the hottest on record. This means the last 12 months were the hottest on record, with each consecutive month setting a new monthly record. Our planet is supposedly on the edge of 1.5 °C temperature increase, but some think we’ve already surpassed it.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released a 27-page report, “Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update 2024-2028,” predicting short-term temperatures exceeding the 1.5 °C mark.

“The global mean near-surface temperature for each year between 2024 and 2028 is predicted to be between 1.1°C and 1.9°C higher than the average over the years 1850-1900. It is likely (80% chance) that global mean near-surface temperature will exceed 1.5°C above the 1850-1900 average levels for at least one year between 2024 and 2028. It is about as likely as not (47%) that the five-year mean will exceed this threshold….Arctic warming over the next five extended winters (November to March), relative to the average of the 1991-2020 period, is predicted to be more than three times as large as the warming in global mean temperature. Predicted precipitation patterns for 2024, relative to the 1991-2020 average, suggest an increased chance of low rainfall over North-East Brazil and an increased chance of wet conditions in the African Sahel, consistent with the warmer-than-usual temperatures in the North Atlantic….

The Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy released its 2024 Environmental Policy Index, and the 204 pages illustrate the state of sustainability in 180 countries, according to 58 indicators. The document, full of useful graphics and accessible summaries, presents a world in escalating danger of global heating, pollution, and biodiversity loss. It is well worth skimming. These kinds of climate reports usually seem to me like, overall, much more time was spent making them than people spend reading them…

“Only five countries — Estonia, Finland, Greece, Timor-Leste, and the United Kingdom — cut their GHG emissions at the rate needed to reach zero by 2050….After climate change, biodiversity loss has emerged as the most serious and irreversible environmental crisis….As of 2022, aggregated GHG emissions were falling in 60 countries but still rising in 128…. Human activities, namely the combustion of fossil fuels, of which CO2 is an inevitable byproduct, have caused a nearly 50 percent of the increase in CO2 levels in the atmosphere since the industrial revolution, with atmospheric concentration surpassing 426 parts per million in April 2024 — a level higher than at any point in human history….China, the United States, and India are pivotal, accounting for over half of global GHG emissions…China used more cement in two years (2020 and 2021) than the United States did in the entire twentieth century….Air pollution remains the most serious environmental threat to public health. Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter less than 2.5 µm in diameter (PM2.5) caused 7.8 million premature deaths in 2021, close to 12 percent of global deaths…” -selections from the first third of the report

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Mexico saw its first human case of a bird flu strain, H5N2, in a dead man supposedly with no known previous exposure to animals. Two turkey farms got outbreaks in Minnesota, and Iowa’s first dairy farm reported bird flu as well. American health authorities expect H5N1 human cases to rise in the coming weeks. Bird flu was also found in San Francisco last week. Millions of human vaccine doses for bird flu are being prepared for the United States this summer.
Citigroup says the United States is already in a recession, though other institutions disagree. Nevertheless, junk bonds are becoming even more junky, and economists agree that the economy is at least slowing down. Credit card debt is reportedly rising, and the “personal savings rate” has dropped to pre-COVID levels. “America’s debt accumulation over the last seven years is akin to the costs of a world war,” says the article. Cuts to the Federal Reserve interest rate are coming, and the rise of tariffs is unlikely to stop soon. And Europe’s strongest economy, Germany, is not seeing a strong recovery from last year’s recession.
Thousands are starving in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, where Drought and school dropouts have also worsened. Investigators claim in a new report that both sides in the Tigray War committed grave war crimes and “acts of genocide” in the conflict, which ended (on paper, anyway) in November 2022; intercommunal violence continues at a lower intensity.
The American Heart Association released a report projecting the rates of heart illnesses by 2050, and they believe the rate of hypertension among adults will rise from about 51% in 2020 to 61% in 2060. Diabetes rates are expected to jump from about 16% in 2020 to almost 27% in 2050; and obesity rates will expand 17% to over 60%... A number of other heart conditions are expected to worsen as well, though at least high cholesterol rates are expected to decrease.
A 12-page report by Oil Change International says what we all know: most nations are failing to meet climate targets. “Some G7 countries are massively expanding fossil fuel production at home, while others are investing in more fossil fuel infrastructure abroad.” China is, far and away, adding more renewable energy capacity than any other nations on earth, supposedly adding “over 90% of all renewable capacity mentioned in NDCs {nationally determined contributions}” in the 2020s so far.
The U.S. FDA has unanimously recommended a new vaccine be developed to address the JN.1 COVID variant. Vaccine-manufacturers say that a new vaccine could arrive as early as mid-August. A 242-page prepublication report on the long-term dangers of Long COVID, with a view to planning future impacts on Social Security.

“Even individuals with a mild initial course of illness can develop Long COVID with severe health effects….Women are twice as likely as men to experience Long COVID….Long COVID can cause more than 200 symptoms and affects each person differently….There currently is no curative treatment for Long COVID itself. Management of the condition is based on current knowledge about treating the associated health effects and other sequelae….Long COVID symptoms generally improve over time, although preliminary studies suggest that recover can plateau 6-12 months after acute infection. Studies have shown that only 18-22 percent of those who have persistent symptoms at 5-6 months following infection have fully recovered by 1 year. Among those who do not improve, most remain stable, but some worsen.” -selections from the study summary

Germany reported African swine flu in some pigs in the northeast. Monkeypox cases remain in the United States, and at higher rates than last year, despite waning media coverage. And four strains of dengue fever, yes four, are still sweeping through Brazil with no end in sight.
A number of current & former employees at OpenAI are warning of the careless pursuit of dominance of the artificial intelligence arena—and the supposed 70% chance that AI could bring about “doom” for humanity. Some of the computer scientists believe that a general intelligence (AGI) could arrive as soon as 2027—a generation earlier than previous estimates of roughly 2050. "The world isn’t ready, and we aren’t ready," said one dissenting researcher.
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The intervention into Haiti is almost ready to go, but gangsters in Haiti have escalated attacks against police in advance of the Kenya-led operation, set to begin in a week or two. “The gangs are just waiting for the Kenyans, they’re just cracking their knuckles and stretching out.…It’s going to be a battle if not a bloodbath of a war, because the gangs are ready,” said one ex-diplomat. A new PM has been installed, Garry Conille, a guy who previously served as PM for 4 about months in 2011-2012. Gangs vying for power control roughly 80% of Port-Au-Prince; will they remain fragmented upon the arrival of an outside coalition, or make an alliance of convenience to oppose police intervention?
Although New Caledonia’s state of emergency has ended, over $1B of damage has been wrought by rioters opposing an expansion of voting rights. Analysts say that the Pacific island’s abundant nickel reserves—essential for France’s renewable energy push—have seen their extraction obstructed by recent events. A curfew remains in place, and social cohesion has been seriously damaged by the protests and the central government’s reactions.
President Biden issued new orders restricting the flow of migrants and asylum-seekers at the Mexico border. At the U.S./Canada border, migrant arrivals have spiked 1000%+ in the last 3 years. Days before the EU election, Portugal instituted stronger controls over immigration. On the Poland/Belarus border, a Polish soldier died, after being stabbed by a migrant from Belarus.
Georgia’s controversial foreign agents bill has been signed into law despite strong protests from the masses. Some call the law a form of Russian hybrid warfare, though Russia contends that allowing foreign media funding functions as a kind of anti-Russian hybrid warfare on its own.
South Korea suspended a military agreement with North Korea over their waste balloons sent into the South. This will result in a more militarized border, outside the DMZ, in the coming months. President Putin is also planning a visit to Pyongyang, which has been long-supplying materiel to Russia for use in Ukraine. A border clash between Chinese and Indian forces took place in their contested mountains—using only sticks and stones.
Conditions in Gaza are said to be “beyond crisis levels” for the 1M+ people who have been displaced from Rafah, as the Israeli advance continues—despite calls from the ICJ to halt the operation. “The sounds, the smells, the everyday life, are horrific and apocalyptic,” said one observer. Killings in the West Bank have now exceeded 500 since October 7, and aid deliveries have sunk 65%+ since the Rafah offensive began. A strike on a school killed 45 people sheltering there, according to Gaza officials. In the coastal settlement of al-Mawasi, where many IDPs moved after the Rafah invasion began, toilets are so scarce that over 4,000 people share a single latrine.
The battlefield is expanding; in some ways, it has always been all-encompassing, and it’s only now that the world is re-learning it. Ukraine has sent soldiers to Syria to fight Wagner Group mercenaries operating in the failed state. Ukraine had earlier intervened in Sudan to combat Russian forces operating in the country. Ukraine also struck an air defense unit inside Russia for the first time, marking another escalation in the War. Russia struck Ukraine’s largest hydroelectric power plant in Dnipro, which is now in “critical condition.” Russia reportedly intends to restart the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant at some point, though international regulators argue that it would be unsafe to turn Europe’s largest nuclear facility online while War still rages around it. Half of Ukraine’s electrical generation has been taken offline. Although weapons are reaching Ukraine’s frontlines, they are not enough to change the tide of the War—and are still outnumbered by Russian soldiers & munitions. Ukraine is also crowd-sourcing 3D-printing drone parts to support their drone fleets—a key part of future modern warfare.
Russia also claims that French military instructors within Ukraine present a lawful military target for Russian forces—and an opportunity to start WWIII. But others believe the flashpoint may come from elsewhere—Taiwan, or the unfolding Israel/Hamas/Hezbollah/Iran conflict, which are intensifying on the Lebanon/Israel border. Russia is also taking over Niger’s uranium reserves, once held by a French corporation. And four Russian sea vessels will be visiting Cuba—but not carrying nuclear weapons.
Around Sudan’s capital, looters, checkpoints, and violence have been established. Several torture chambers have been discovered, and the smell of death hangs in the air of a few neighborhoods, contested by both sides. The number of displaced people is approaching 10M. Russia is supposedly playing both sides to its advantage. “All over Sudan, people are going hungry because they have lost everything, the economy has collapsed, and armed men frequently steal what little aid is available,” said one reporter. The insurgent RSF forces are said to not only be fighting for the future, but fighting over history as well. The National Museum has become a cemetery for RSF fighters. University archives have been burned. And ancient artifacts have been cleared out, sold to mysterious buyers, stashed away in unknown places, or simply destroyed… Other horror stories are still emerging; this article details some of the worst recent tales in the War.
One major NATO supplies provider claims that a decade of arms accumulation is coming, to replenish stockpiles given to Ukraine and in advance of a potential open War between China and whatever western nations decide to participate. China announced its intention to detain vessels moving into its alleged national waters near the Philippines—and presumably to sink those which resist. Ukraine used up six years’ worth of shoulder-fired missiles, like javelins, in just one year. The development of the F-35 will exceed $2T, although the U.S. military is planning on using it less than previously expected. NATO is also planning its rapid-transit troop corridors through Europe to the expected frontlines of a potential open War against Russia.
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Select comments/threads from the subreddit last week suggest:
-It is a common refrain that the education system is a bellwether for Collapse. It is also a symbol—alongside our food system, plastic dependency, state militaries, and many other institutions—of how difficult it apparently is to change course. The institutional friction and incentives are burnt in. This detailed post on the (American) school system and the “metacrisis” and much more. Several thorough comments build on the OP’s thesis. Peek into teachers for a glimpse into our doomed future.
-People in southern California are evidently closing their eyes and ears to Collapse, if this weekly observation is to be believed. The author writes about their unfulfilled hope that humanity might turn the ship around during the COVID period, cognitive biases, the persistence of COVID denial, plastics, and the early burning sun.
-Society is closing in on a Doom-Awakening, says the comments on this post. Some disagree (see the above observation).
-Nothing works, and everything is breaking—say many terrific comments in this self-post about the lack of empathy, passion, quality products, and the atrocious job market.
Got any feedback, questions, comments, complaints, upvotes, hurricane advice, bird flu tips, cheap off-grid land, etc.? Check out the Last Week in Collapse SubStack if you don’t want to check collapse every Sunday, you can receive this newsletter sent to your (or someone else’s) email inbox every weekend. What did I forget this week?

We got together last summer. My first relationship, I was 26 now 27.
First months were great, but towards October I started getting anxiety in the relationship. I'm working through it in therapy right now, it's hard to place the exact reason. I think it was a combination of not recognizing my boundaries and thus not being able to communicate them. I'm quite introverted and I think I needed more alone time, but I didn't understand that for myself because why would I want to be alone away from my girlfriend? Also the fact that I don't like my job but didn't know what new career I wanted to pursue. And also my seasonal depression starting. The anxiety expressed itself in doubt, whether we were right for each other or if we were even compatible. But I couldn't understand why I was having those thoughts.
I'm an overthinker and when a thought like that starts it doesn't go away. Month by month the anxiety got worse and worse. I got so sensitive. She wanted to plan the future and my gut was anxiety ridden at the thought of it. She got anxiety over not being able to plan or talk about moving in together and I was a mess. I've never experienced such an intense anxiety before and I wasn't there for her at all. I could barely take care of myself. I was crying over little thing and a small disagreement made me completely broken.
We broke up in March. She told me that if I feel ready to love her as she loves me, I should contact her. But I told her that I think she should forget about me. I'm not quite sure she feels like she wants me to contact her anymore after I said that, and I don't think I'll ever be sure that I've gotten to the root of the anxiety I had. As my therapist has told me, we can't work with a relationship you're not in anymore. I still think about her every day. Some days I'm glad it's over because I don't have to experience that anxiety again. But some days I miss her so much. And I can't seem to let go, because for me it feels like the feelings for one another is still there. But the anxiety, which I still don't quite understand, will come back if we were to try again. We have been no contact since the breakup.
I get these urges to contact her, but I can't bring myself to do it. It feels selfish.
I've been talking with my therapist about going abroad next winter to escape my seasonal depression and experience something new. I think I'm having a hard time committing to it because I haven't really let go of my relationship. I've felt so lonely, as such I've been on dating apps explicitly looking for short-term relationships in my profile. Just companionship or whatever. It probably isn't good for me. It doesn't look good either, I understand that. But I've just been feeling so lost. It didn't make sense to myself that I broke up emotionally, other than that the anxiety must have been a sign that something was wrong.
I've also thought about the fact that if I ever were to contact her again, she most likely wouldn't be sympathetic to my going on the apps. Which is fair.
I don't know how to come to terms with this. I've tried to be honest and followed my heart throughout but it feels like I'm emotionally doomed. If I can't understand the root of my anxiety, how will I ever be able to pursue a relationship again? With her, or with someone else?

We got together last summer. My first relationship, I was 26 now 27.
First months were great, but towards October I started getting anxiety in the relationship. I'm working through it in therapy right now, it's hard to place the exact reason. I think it was a combination of not recognizing my boundaries and thus not being able to communicate them. I'm quite introverted and I think I needed more alone time, but I didn't understand that for myself because why would I want to be alone away from my girlfriend? Also the fact that I don't like my job but didn't know what new career I wanted to pursue. And also my seasonal depression starting. The anxiety expressed itself in doubt, whether we were right for each other or if we were even compatible. But I couldn't understand why I was having those thoughts.
I'm an overthinker and when a thought like that starts it doesn't go away. Month by month the anxiety got worse and worse. I got so sensitive. She wanted to plan the future and my gut was anxiety ridden at the thought of it. She got anxiety over not being able to plan or talk about moving in together and I was a mess. I've never experienced such an intense anxiety before and I wasn't there for her at all. I could barely take care of myself. I was crying over little thing and a small disagreement made me completely broken.
We broke up in March. She told me that if I feel ready to love her as she loves me, I should contact her. But I told her that I think she should forget about me. I'm not quite sure she feels like she wants me to contact her anymore after I said that, and I don't think I'll ever be sure that I've gotten to the root of the anxiety I had. As my therapist has told me, we can't work with a relationship you're not in anymore. I still think about her every day. Some days I'm glad it's over because I don't have to experience that anxiety again. But some days I miss her so much. And I can't seem to let go, because for me it feels like the feelings for one another is still there. But the anxiety, which I still don't quite understand, will come back if we were to try again. We have been no contact since the breakup.
I get these urges to contact her, but I can't bring myself to do it. It feels selfish.
I've been talking with my therapist about going abroad next winter to escape my seasonal depression and experience something new. I think I'm having a hard time committing to it because I haven't really let go of my relationship. I've felt so lonely, as such I've been on dating apps explicitly looking for short-term relationships in my profile. Just companionship or whatever. It probably isn't good for me. It doesn't look good either, I understand that. But I've just been feeling so lost. It didn't make sense to myself that I broke up emotionally, other than that the anxiety must have been a sign that something was wrong.
I've also thought about the fact that if I ever were to contact her again, she most likely wouldn't be sympathetic to my going on the apps. Which is fair.
I don't know how to come to terms with this. I've tried to be honest and followed my heart throughout but it feels like I'm emotionally doomed. If I can't understand the root of my anxiety, how will I ever be able to pursue a relationship again? With her, or with someone else?

I live in Watertown, NY. The by law for lawns is extremely vague and open to lose interpretation. We have native species plant garden / habitat and foods we can eat to offset the prices at grocery stores, especially with 4 kids. We keep a variety of raised beds, in ground beds, composting, and have a garbage garden barrier which we had been told wasn't a problem at all.
We have a code enforcement officer who is , ,"abusing his power across the city. He has taken the very loose by law, and use it to cite us. The first year we met him, he was friendly and seemed to enjoy learning and walk through. We have brought him on our property three different times and told him about each plant when it flowers, why we have it, where it is, etc.
Last year he talked us into going to criminal Court. He had stated that this would help us get an exemption and then ghosted us with any communication. The case was dismissed. After court, we agreed to show him again. On our property he told us,"you don't belong in this city. You should just move. I don't care or like how this looks."
Fast forward to this year, and he said a notice in the mail that said "you have 5 days to fix this or somebody will come in and cut everything." We were fortunate enough that even though it arrived two days post date to have a weekend. All it was there at the time were violets and some wild flowers we had already had paths through. We had gone through and further exaggerated the paths. Our food crops had started growing in the raised beds as well. The wildflowers are in segmented garden beds. We always keep the easement and just outside of our garden Barier here cut down to dirt, which has been his main standpoint. Everything was well within code.
We went to Syracuse for our son's 10 birthday. Our homeschooled teen stayed home to do work and make stuff for her brother. She ended up calling us, and telling us that people were in our yard , there was no knock at the door, and they were cutting down our garden. My husband immediately started the feed to our security camera, setting the alarms off on it, flashing the lights, and telling them to get off our property through it. I asked her to call so I could speak to the foreman. I asked him for 5 mins to call our public defender from the previous year, he said ok. Then once off the phone with me said, "I'm not fucking waiting, finish the job" to his crew in front of our teen. Our mailman heard him tell the crew to also "get inside The boxes". They destroyed absolutely EVERYTHING we had. To top it off, they broke a rake, took away all of the plants (we have been composting the plants and soils since 2018), and spread a bunch of weeds with their careless destruction.
Then we got a bill from code enforcement for $459. I got a quote to replace one of every plant we had from a local nursery of $560. This did not include the food plants, putting new beds up, the extra signage, getting more soil, the gas to get the soil, the labor in the gardens, the water needed to reestablish, the now food costs we will incur (we have an extremely short growing season in our area), etc for ourselves.
We have since seen both code enforcement and the hired contractor both driving by and eyeing our yard. Our mailman saw him putting a permit across the street, leaving and intentionally driving back by to take photos while driving of our yard.
We are trying first and foremost to work with City council to change the bylaws for protection for what we use our own property for, but I need advice on what we legally can ask for / do with the harassment from This code officer

1) PT SUP and FT SUP approach me convinced I was a black lady who put in her two weeks notice a week ago. I said no. They ask for my name. I gave my first name. Then they ask for my last name. I felt like I was attacked. Before they walked off, PT SUP said they were looking for black lady to write her up as an excuse for me being grilled.
2) A month later, 2nd FT SUP assigned me to do another set due to heavy volume. Once I was done and only thing left were irregs for last trailer that driver is loading, I clocked out and immediately same FT SUP text me why I walked off job and said his supervisor (a division manager) said we aren't done. I felt micromanaged!
First of all, I was last preloader and half of drivers on this side left. I came back next day. I was told that it was mistake. I was told a black dude who took over my regular trucks walked off the job an hour before. One of drivers reported and made a fuss that the preloader didn't finish loading. This driver thought it was me since I typically load those sets but driver should have realize I don't load like others due to my ocd and other drivers mention how meticulous I am and no misloads. I told 3rd FT sup since 2nd SUP did not come in next day that if driver thought I would do that and willing to throw me under the bus then I request to do another set. 3rd FT SUP said no don't we will communicate and tell driver you were assigned to do another set. I request to be sent home.
I'm about to file on this driver and division manager. I don't think 2nd FT sup was at fault; he was a messenger. I need to know what kind of grievance this is for mistaking me for other people's work ethics twice (1) wrong ethnicity (2) wrong gender and attacking me saying job abandonment on three separate occasions.
I also was not one approaching them. I was approached in person and texted.
My gosh, what is wrong with these managers? I'm minding my own business and they be attacking my person because they thought I was that person they were gunning for.
This part isn't necessary since it is fixed.
Few months prior, 3rd occasion has been resolved. PT sup retaliates after I reported micromanaging about needing permission to go to restroom after PT Sup radio that I left the job. His retaliaton were sly comments, verbal threats, salting and never sending help. I felt watched and micromanaged. PT sup was constantly watching. I was gone for less than 5 minutes at most. It was addressed and I was relocated as requested. He followed and try to take over my new line. On same day I was relocated to new line, PT SUP attacked security guard and blocked exit. I reported the altercation between this PT SUP and security guard. Apparently, security guard take care of their own. He was fired. Then it was changed to suspension cause he is bff with a steward and PT SUP was supposed to be seasonal. Once 2ND FT SUP came back from vacation, PT SUP was officially in lay off purge.

hey dearies,
my follow Sera bot lane enjoyers probably know this problem:
Your supports thinking they HAVE to play Senna first time, simply because you picked Sera. This has 2 problems for your ranked game:

1. First timing a champ in ranked is not good and your support will most likely not be of much help to you.
2. Senna is just not that good with Sera this season (its an outdated assumption by clueless support players). She sits at 48% winrate all the time. Below average.

What Sera really wants as support (at least I do) is a beefy CC tank like Naut, Rell, Alistar, Braum, Thresh, etc.
Essential you want someone who is not just another squishy target for the enemy. Instead you want setup CC and follow up (Naut and Rell for example make it really easy to R combo btw). Yet for some reason support players think ANYTHING with Sera bot is good, but those picks. Senna/Sona first time, Karma (wtf?) or some other random mage supports.
Now here is the new legendary tech I developed to get what we want without even using chat or getting into any weird discussions/arguments: The Draven-Mask
Step 1: Secure that your picking AFTER your support in champ selection. Swap if necessary.
Step 2: Hover Draven as your intended pick! Don't use chat. Don't type anything. Just appear as this super confident Draven player, who is just waiting for his support to lock in Nautilus so you can destroy bot lane early. This is our mask.
This stimulates your supports brain and makes them believe they have to pick a CC/engage/tanky support now as setup for Draven instead of some flimsy Senna that they never played before.
Step 3: After they lock in Naut/Rell/Leona/Thresh/Rakan/etc. you just pick Sera as usual.
Boom done. You avoided the first time Senna/Sona, dodged any weird discussions and manipulated your support into picking something usefull that they probably played before or might even main. Improves your winrate in the long run. Try it for yourself, it really does work amazingly well. This is not a joke post. It really works and I encourage you to try it out.
As an added bonus if you're like me:
Step 4 (optional): Mute your support in champ select, so you don't even know if they feel tricked or anything and just play the game focussing on your play and let them do their job.