Make a pirate with keyboard

**What will you be doing with this PC? Be as specific as possible, and include specific games or programs you will be using.**

• * Mostly video calls (I'm an online recruiter) but also some video editing. MSFS2020, X-Plane 12 (and recording within game).

**What is your maximum budget before rebates/shipping/taxes?**

• * $1600

**When do you plan on building/buying the PC? Note: beyond a week or two from today means any build you receive will be out of date when you want to buy.**

• * As soon as I can come up with a list/educate myself a bit (next couple of weeks hopefully).

**What, exactly, do you need included in the budget? (ToweOS/monitokeyboard/mouse/etc\)**

• * Just the ToweOS (I've got mouse/monitors/keyboard)

**Which country (and state/province) will you be purchasing the parts in? If you're in US, do you have access to a Microcenter location?**

• * Tennessee [USA]. Nothing nearby. I could make long road trip though if needed I suppose.

**If reusing any parts (including monitor(s)/keyboard/mouse/etc), what parts will you be reusing? Brands and models are appreciated.**

• * Nothing to re-use

**Will you be overclocking? If yes, are you interested in overclocking right away, or down the line? CPU and/or GPU?**

• * Don't hardly know what this is, so not likely.

**Are there any specific features or items you want/need in the build? (ex: SSD, large amount of storage or a RAID setup, CUDA or OpenCL support, etc)**

• * I'd appreciate greater than 1TB of storage. And I have no interest in a fancy looking tower (as in I'd never shell out extra money for anything flashy looking).

**Do you have any specific case preferences (Size like ITX/microATX/mid-towefull-tower, styles, colors, window or not, LED lighting, etc), or a particular color theme preference for the components?**

• * Smaller the tower the better (unless that means I run the risk of overheating or having a harder time with the build?)

**Do you need a copy of Windows included in the budget? If you do need one included, do you have a preference?**

• * Windows 11 would be phenomenal.

**Thanks everyone!*\*

So I built a PC, AMD 7950x in a ProArt 670e w/ 2x32GB G.Skill Trident 6000 and Gigabyte 4090. Everything working fine about 3 weeks, EXPO working fine but long boot bothering me. So I turn on Memory Context Restore. First reboot gets through splash screen but doesn't make it into Windows. Second reboot doesn't even see splash screen. I wait 15 mins due to possible memory training shenanigans. Never gets to splash again.
At this point I reset the BIOS by shorting the two pins for 15 secs. It resets (as confirmed by BIOS message on next startup) but has the problem I will describe below. I try reset again removing the battery, same problem, which is:
I can boot into Windows and everything works, except I can't get into the BIOS setup. And its not the kind where I can't hit the key. There is a splash screen and I hit the key and it doesn't proceed with normal boot but rather clears the screen as if it is going into BIOS and just sits there with a blank screen. It doesn't crash because the keyboard caps/num/scroll lock keys respond and I can ctrl+alt+del. But it never goes anywhere from there. I tried all four video outputs from the GPU and also the Integrated GPU out and nothing has an image.
Anyone seen something like this before?
Without BIOS there is no boot menu, so once this Windows dies it is dead for good :(

Hi everyone,
So my downstairs neighbors of my apartment complex have been having a nightly band practice (I’m talking like 6+ people with guitars & bases with amps, electric keyboard, drum set, and a very loud vocalist). This has been going on for a few months now. I first would knock on their door & tell them my apartment is vibrating and it’s too loud— they seem receptive in the moment & very apologetic but as soon as they close the door, it’s right back to band practice. I’ve brought it up to the HOA many times with >10 recorded audio clips of their practices within just the span of a single month but they have done nothing about it other than hitting me with a “Thanks for bringing it to our attention, we’ll speak with them.”
At this point, I’m at my wits end but thankfully I’m moving out of this apartment come end of June. Now I hate to stoop to this level, but I’d love to give them a little of their own medicine (without affecting any of my other neighboring apartments) before I finally bid my adieu. Please share any good petty ideas you have for me!
One I was thinking of was hiding a mini speaker containing their audio clips somewhere in the bush outside their window and playing it non stop & just loud enough to make em paranoid.
Let me live out your most petty of fantasies 😇 thanks in advance!

I believe the one piece could be the pirate king for a few reasons. The first and most obvious reason is that the pirate king can unite all the crews and pirates in to one piece under his command. Another point that could thurther prove my theory is that Roger and his crew probably would have laughed if they figured out ,'you are the one the one piece/the treasure you have been looking for'. Also, with joyboy being the first pirate and asumeably the first pirate king, him hiding (or being) the one piece would make sense. Luffy's dream of being the pirate king would also be more connected to finding the one piece this way. In conclusion, I think that the pirate king could be the one piece due to what I mentioned above.
PS: this is my first theory so if it's not that good thats why

I've been playing Metroid Prime Remastered and I am loving the hell out of it. It's a great balance of easy and hard. Except for two areas: Phendra Drifts- Space Pirate Outpost section Phazon Mines
Neither of these areas have save stations to make the halfway points. Something that would be VERY useful in those areas. I died ALOT in those areas. And I'm currently stuck on the Phazon Mines... I have only 4 to 5 energy tanks left to get. I already have 55 missiles, all beams (except the magma beam), spider ball, morph ball bomb (barely gets used), boost ball, scan and thermal visors, super boots, gravity suit (ironically increased my damage output in that phendra drifts section and decreased damage received in that area.), and such. So idk what I'm do8ng wrong... I'm strafing and beam charging and using missiles. But after the elite pirate (stupidly easy when you stand behind its canaster. It was WAY too easy.) I die due to the wave beam Pirates... they deal alot of damage and their shots are sporadic. Same with the regular beam ones. Those two deal ALOT of damage... and can't get much maneuvering due to their placement. Does anyone got any tactics I can use for each room? (I found one with the first beam trooper. If you move the plasma cannon at it... it hides and makes it easy to kill. Idk why. XD. I think that one is a coward. It won't even jump down to attack me! XD.). Anyway... help please? Maybe even a list of every energy tank and missile I can grab up to this point? Idk. Just anything that can help. I also use the duel stick control with some motion controls for precise aim (useless in groups btw.).
Edit: I Have 8 energy tanks, 55 missiles, regular beam, super missiles, wave beam, ice beam, wave buster, spider ball, boost ball, morph bombs, morph ball, combat visor, scan visor, thermal visor, varia suit, and gravity suit.

I was playing ArcheAge when I got diagnosed with cancer. I survived but those days were precious somehow, I didn’t know if I would survive so spending it on here felt both terrifying and exciting.
I ended up getting a ship. Myself and my friends would transport packs for gold. Some of the best memories in any MMO over something so simple. Dodging pirates added a real sense of dread.
I loved every minute of it. When I recovered I took a break from MMOs, nowadays I make cardgaming videos and work on content full time. I can attribute a huge chunk of that career path to this game.
I’ll miss it.

I'm new to PC building, I know a few things but I'm not an expert. I want to make a PC for gaming for the long-term since I don't want to replace my PC. I made a list on Newegg; it won't be where I buy it, but it makes lists pretty nicely. Is this list any good? and are there any bottlenecks I can replace with something cheaper?
-AMD Ryzen 5 7600
-MSI PRO B650-S WIFI
-CORSAIR Vengeance 64GB (32GB x 2)
-MSI Ventus GeForce RTX 3060 12GB GDDR6
-Fractal Design Focus G Black ATX Mid Tower
-Seasonic FOCUS GX-850, 850W 80+ Gold
-Samsung 980 PRO SSD 1TB, PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280
-DeepCool AG400 BK, 120mm Static Fan
-Microsoft Windows 11 Home 64-bit, DVD-OEM
-ASRock Phantom PG27Q15R2A 27" QHD (2560 x 1440) 165Hz (144Hz compatible)
-AOC Agon Tournament-Grade RGB Gaming USB 2.0 Type-A Mechanical Keyboard Cherry MX Blue Switches
-Logitech G PRO X Superlight Wireless Gaming Mouse, Ultra-lightweight, HERO 25K Sensor
-Razer BlackShark V2 X Gaming Headset 7.1 Surround Sound Capable, 50mm Drivers
-ARCTIC MX-4 (4g) - Premium Performance Thermal Paste

Certain hotkeys are missing from the menu, including place building and re-make last building, etc. No google searches bring up a solution that works with the steam client, everyone seems to point to the CnCnet client instead as a solution. I'd prefer to stay in the steam ecosystem - does anyone know a fix that works for these keyboard shortcuts? The game functions completely fine otherwise!

I have used a keyboard in nearly every single racing game my entire life, and so I am very used to using it, of course. I have 120 hours in ACC, and I now wonder how much time I may be losing with the use of just a keyboard. I feel like I am pretty competitive in public lobbies, on tracks such as Monza, Hungaroring, Zolder, and Zandvoort. One track I feel really confident on is Brands Hatch, where I run high 1:24s on the stock Aggressive setup. However, it seems like almost nobody uses keyboard, and so it makes me wonder if I would be faster on a wheel. What do you think?

Timestamp
Hello all,
I have quite a bit for sale. Please note, all of these keyboards will come fully built and as is. I am getting out of this hobby and will try to make decent prices for all. Everything is first come, first serve as long as original price is met.
Google Drive Link with Timestamp

Ramaworks Moss Zenith x Ion 65%	FR4 Half Plate, JWK switches (lubed), GMK Katakana WOB	Price: $400 PP G&S
Keycult No. 2/65 Powder Black/Blue	Aluminum Plate, KC hotswap PCB, Owlab Latte Switches (lubed, I believe), Aluvia Keycaps	Price: $700 G&S
Kalamcult No. 2/65 Unfinished Purple	Aluminum Plate, Original KC hotswap PCB, Owlab Neon switches, Aluvia Keycaps	Price: $900 G&S - note, this is not in perfect condition, slight blemishes on edge where it meets purple weight. Can send pictures to interested buyer
Kalamcult No2. TKL Polycarb/Red	Aluminum Plate (Silver), Red Kalamcult PCB (Solder),	Price: $450 G&S
Mr Suit by OwLabs	POM Plate, Hotswap PCB, Boba LT switches (lubed), all foams, original case. GMK Civilization keycaps. Slight blemishes to polished weight. Babypowder coat in perfect condition	Price: $600 G&S
Neo65 Brand New Unbuilt Purple/Dusk	This comes stock with everything that it would come from OwLabs. This is the battery/bluetooth version.	Price: $150 G&S

Please feel free to ask any questions, I am only a message away.

Chapter 1

Concept art for Sybil
Of Men and Ghost Ships, Book 1: Chapter 19
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As Alen woke up from the procedure, his view was taken up by lots of tools and instruments and, of course, the woman in red. At least she seemed somewhat satisfied this time. "All his vitals are stable. Give him a few minutes for the last of the anesthesia to wear off, and he should be good to send back."
Alen tried to sit up, got light-headed, and laid back down. Instead, he looked over at the woman in red. "So it's done? You cut off my foot and replaced it?"
The woman's glare was icy cold as she answered. "I saved your life and gave you a temporary replacement for a mangled limb, yes."
Alen felt a little embarrassed, realizing how he must have sounded. "Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to imply I wasn't grateful. It's just a lot to take in, you know? But I appreciate everything you did for me and all." Then, realizing he didn't even know what to call her, he added. "Oh, I'm sorry, I just realized I don't know your name."
A little of the ice seemed to melt as the woman folded her arms. Her expression now looked bored, if anything, but somehow Alen felt like he was less on her bad side than a moment ago. "Yes, well, you may call me Sybil, and you're welcome, I suppose. Now, try sitting up again and see if you can put some weight on your new foot so I can see if there are any needed adjustments."
Alen sat up a little slower this time, and the world seemed content to stay in place. After another moment, he grabbed hold of a rail and eased himself down onto his feet, one of which was now shiny and metallic. As soon as it made contact with the ground, he felt a jolt shoot up through his leg and into his spine, and he immediately took all his weight off the foot and raised it, noticing it was heavier than before as he did so.
The woman in red gave him an indecipherable look. "Too much pain for you to handle?"
Alen shook his head. "Not pain exactly...but it felt...I don't know...wrong, I guess? It's kind of hard to describe..."
The woman tilted her head. "Kind of like it's asleep but not quite, right?"
Alen eased his foot down again and nodded. "Something like that, yeah..."
With a nod, the woman seemed satisfied. "That's to be expected. Now try taking a few steps while holding onto the railing for balance."
Alen took a few steps, and while his foot felt wrong, it got easier with every step. The woman nodded. "Alright. I'd recommend using a walking cane for a day or two until you get comfortable with the feeling. You may feel some pain from time to time, and there are several therapies we can use to deal with that, but for now, I want you to focus on learning to walk with your temporary foot."
A new voice Alen wasn't familiar with spoke up from behind him. "Huh, I didn't know you had such a nice bedside manner. Does that mean I just have to break a leg to get on your good side?"
Alen turned around to see a much more around-the-edges man watching. He looked like he might be a bit overweight, but Alen could tell under any fat also sat a considerable amount of muscle. The woman's voice dripped with acid as she responded to the man. "A polite cockroach is a more tolerable cockroach. You should try giving more respect if you want to receive it!"
The man chuckled. "I'd say right back at you, but that'd be starting a fight we don't have time for, so how about we call it a draw for now and move on. Now, how about we get you back to your friends, kid."
Remembering something the woman had said earlier, Alen turned back to her. "Wait, you mentioned therapies? Shouldn't you tell me about them now if I'm leaving the ship?"
The man shook his head. "Yeah, about that kid... Your stay has been somewhat extended. I'll explain as we walk." He then turned to Vanessa, who'd apparently been observing from the corner for a while. "You too. Erik is back with the rest of your people."
Vanessa nodded. "Then I shall accompany you."
-
As Carter explained the situation, the kid seemed quiet. He just shrugged it off as the kid was probably focusing on walking with his new foot and cane, but the kid spouted off as soon as he finished. "We have to go back and get them!"
Carter shook his head. "Even if the pirates haven't already picked them up, there's too many ships for us to deal with now. Sorry, but it's too late."
The kid didn't seem ready to give up as he glared at Carter. "You shouldn't have left them back there to begin with!"
Realizing the kid had been through a lot recently, Carter decided to take it a bit easy on him, but he still took a slightly harsh tone to drive home what he was about to say. "Listen, kid, as much as you wish it wasn't so, in this universe, 'should' and 'can' very rarely match up as much as you'd like. We did our best and gave the pirates a bloody nose on the way out, but you all shouldn't have picked that fight to begin with. If you want to blame someone for your troubles, blame your captain. Although I'd say he's already paid the price for his choices. So how about you just say thanks for saving your ass, and we move on, eh kid?"
The kid was quiet a moment before he responded, his voice sounding less confrontational than a moment ago. "Fine... thanks for saving my ass. But stop calling me kid. My name is Alen."
Carter nodded. "That's fair, Alen. Anyway, you seem to have gotten on one of Sybil's good sides, or at least as good a side as I've seen that part of her have, so I might put you in charge of making any requests your people might have while you're our guests. Think you're up to it?"
The kid, Alen, looked back at Vanessa, who didn't seem to have much to add, before turning back to Carter. "I guess? How long are we gonna be here, though? Can't you just drop us off at a nearby planet or station?"
Carter chuckled. "If only it were that easy. Try asking some of your more...experienced sailors about the Sybil. They might have an interesting story or two for ya! Don't worry too much, though. We'll do our best not to live up to all the stories."
That seemed to have distracted Alen enough so that he shut up for a bit, and they walked in silence the rest of the way.
-
Carter looked at the hold full of people. Well, full might have been an exaggeration. Even with the escape pods, they didn't take up a whole lot of room. In the end, they'd only pulled in about half the stranded crew on time, but they still outnumbered the Sybil's "crew" of one many times over, which meant some precautions needed to be taken.
As Alen rejoined the rest of his crew members, Carter stepped forward and raised his voice to be heard over the din of the bay. "Attention crew of the Trader's Vigilance. I am Carter, Captain of the Sybil on which you now reside. Some of you, particularly the older sailors, might be familiar with some of the stories about the Sybil. You might have been told that she's haunted and that no living person who's ever set foot in her halls has ever been seen or heard from again. I'll be honest with you; those stories are more true than not. However, this time, and this time only, the Sybil has agreed to make an exception to that second bit so long as you play by her rules!"
Of course, it was Erik who raised his hand to ask a question. Carter nodded toward the large alien. "Yes?"
Of course, the crazy alien was grinning. "You speak about your ship as though she is alive. Even more so than most captains!"
Carter nodded. "That's because she is! I'll say this, the Sybil can be temperamental, cruel, and even sadistic at times! You do NOT want to get on her bad side! Even I can't save you if you're stupid enough to do that!"
There was more than a bit of grumbling in response, and Carter held up his hands to get their attention. "Now, like I said, you all get a one-time exemption to that, so long as you play by her rules. They are as follows."
Carter held up a hand with the index finger pointing up. "First, during your stay here, you will be allotted access to one deck, including rooms to sleep in, a mess hall, bathrooms, and even a rec room, even if it's a little bare bones. You are not to leave that deck without my direct permission for any reason. Doing so WILL put your health, sanity, and life in extreme peril!"
More grumbling, and Carter held up his hand with two fingers raised. "Second, as long as you remain our guests, all weapons and armor must be left in the escape pods! If, for some reason, you wish to do any maintenance on them, you must do so within the confines of your pod. Removing weapons from the pod will be punishable by your immediate eviction from the ship, with or without your escape pod! And if there is any question about the Sybil's ability to detect weapons, let me tell you that right now, eleven of you have guns on your person, fifteen have knives, and thirteen of you have other weapons of less common or otherwise improvised design."
This time, the grumbling was louder, but Carter cut them off. "If you don't like that, you are welcome to remain in your escape pods as long as you prefer, and we'll arrange for food to be brought to you!"
A bit of the grumbling died down, and Carter decided to finish things up and raised his third finger. "Third and final, if something that seems like an AI appears and issues any order or commands to you, you are to obey those orders immediately and without question. They will not issue orders merely on a whim, but they do not have to explain their reasons either. Remember, you are their guests, and they are granting you a rare exception to their usual policy of not allowing outsiders to set foot within their halls. You'd do best to stay on their good side. Is that clear?"
This time, the mumbling went on a bit longer, and Carter allowed it for a moment before speaking again. "Alright. Those of you who want to remain in your pods are welcome to do so. The rest of you who currently have weapons on your person, please deposit them into your escape pods, and I'll take you to your deck."
There was a flurry of movement. Unsurprisingly, no one wanted to stay in the pods alone aboard a ghost ship. However, a moment later, Carter received a report from the girl through his earpiece. He walked up to one of the men and addressed them. "Excuese me, mister..?"
The man straightened up and even gave Cater a salute. Something that didn't sit too well with him. "Harris, sir!"
Carter nodded. "Well, mister Harris, I'm going to assume that you just forgot about the pocket knife you have in your lower cargo pocket on your pants and that you did not retain it with malicious intent, but you'll want to deposit it into your escape pod immediately."
The man, Harris, patted his pocket and grinned sheepishly enough that Carter couldn't tell if it was an act or not. "Of course, sir! My apologies!"
Carter just shook his head. "Don't apologize, just don't do it again. I won't be able to save you if you break a rule a second time."
The rest of the stranded crew sorted out their issues in relatively short order, and Carter led them to their temporary housing area.
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Well, sounds like almost all of the characters have gotten to know each other. Now to see how well they all get along!
My Wiki has all my chapters and stories, including the short series and stories that I write for an occasional change of pace or style!
As a reminder, "Of Men and Dragons" Books 1 and 2 are available to purchase in e-book or physical form. (Both softcover and hardcovers are available!) Book 3 is almost done being edited, so I'll just have to get the cover art and formatting done, and it will be available to purchase as well! Hopefully, in no more than a month or two! (Barring more Amazon drama like last time... fingers crossed!)
OMAD Book 1: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NCPP3PP
OMAD Book 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQ7FQ1ZJ

For those familiar with steam input this is going to be fairly straightforward, but for those who aren't I will try to explain as step by step as I can. There is an easy (and kind of janky/bad feeling) way to do this, and a more involved but better feeling way. Fair warning the harder method also involves swapping aim to a bumper and not a trigger due to some Steam Input issues. These steps should be the same regardless of which controller you are using (DS5, SC, even switch maybe). First lets make sure steam input is enabled.
Enabling Steam Input
Find the game in your library and right click. Under manage you should find a controller layout option. If you do not you need to instead go to properties >> controller and then make sure steam input is enabled for whichever controller you are using. From here simply open the controller layout menu and confirm that you are set to the default official config. From here there are two ways to go.
The easy way, gyro as joystick input
This is very easy. Simply click edit layout, find the gyro menu, and set the behavior to "camera movement as joystick". Now go into the settings beside that option and change the gyro activation buttons to both soft and long pull of L2. Now the gyro will be active as long as you are holding down L2. Feel free to mess with the settings but in my experience it doesn't get much better. If this kind of aiming is acceptable then congrats, you are done. Otherwise disable the gyro and go to the next section.
The harder way, gyro as mouse input.
This is the preferred method for doing this in any game because it is more accurate, but GoT makes it difficult by not supporting simultaneous mouse/gamepad inputs. Try holding down L2 and looking around with the mouse and you will see what I mean. To solve this we will need to only provide the game KB+M inputs while we aim and fire. This will be done with action sets/layers. Think of an action set as a basic gamepad configuration, and an action layer as a temporary configuration that is only active under certain circumstances. In this case only while we hold down the aim button.
In the bottom left there will be an action sets menu. In this menu you will see in game controls, this is your default button layout for game play. Click the cog and add a layer to in game controls. In the settings of this new layer add an always on command set to the left control key (this is the aim key for keyboard and will always be active while the layer is active). Now when changing any settings the top left action set icon should let you see which set you have active. Start by changing the behavior of your left triggebumper in the "in game actions" set. Your left trigger should be changed to block. Your left bumper should be changed to "Hold action layer (whatever you named it)". Now whenever the bumper is held the action layer will be active.
Everything on the action layer you created should be changed to the equivalent KB+M input. Left sick needs to be changed to output WASD for movement, right stick changed to output mouse movements, right trigger to left mouse button, etc, etc. This is all pretty straight forward, just remember that if your aim is being broken it is being caused by the game detecting controller input. Also be careful that you are only changing the layout of your action layer and not the default controls. Now we come to the gyro. Under your action layer turn the gyro on and set it to "as mouse" for behavior. It will likely be way too sensitive so you will need to adjust. Most of the settings are intuitive enough and will need to played around with. I would however strongly advise against using acceleration, and even turning mouse acceleration off in windows settings as this can effect your aim as well.
EDIT 1: changed to using bumper to aim and not trigger due to steam input weirdness.

Hello everyone!
​
I'd like to invest in a new keyboard soon. As it happens, I was looking for something rather aesthetically pleasing for my setup.
​
To give you my profile, I'm an occasional gamer but I still like to have a keyboard that holds up. I spend most of my time doing office work. So I'm looking for a mechanical keyboard that doesn't make a lot of noise! Because for gaming it's fine, but for office work it's exhausting...
​
With this in mind, I found this keyboard: Cascade 98% Wireless Hot-Swappable Keyboard.
​
I'd love to have your opinion on this one? What do you think, would it suit me? And even better if you already have it ;).
​
I have a second question: what keys would you recommend? Because I understand that there are several types of key (Blue, Red, Brown...) and that they each have a purpose. To give you an idea, I'd go for keys that are rather quiet but still have a mechanical feel. What colour should I choose?
​
Can't wait to read your answers! :D
​
(Sorry for my English, I'm not very good in this language)

I am currently making a Calorie Tracking app using Swift, but am having some issues with how different views are presented using sheets when trying to pass a variable
I have 2 views - my CaloriesView:

import SwiftUI import Firebase import FirebaseAuth import FirebaseFirestoreSwift struct CaloriesView: View { u/EnvironmentObject var viewModel: AuthViewModel @EnvironmentObject var calsViewModel: CaloriesViewModel @State private var shouldPresentSheet: Bool = false @State private var selectedCategory: String? = nil var body: some View { NavigationView { ScrollView { VStack(spacing: 20) { CurrentCaloriesView(viewModel: calsViewModel) mealSection("Breakfast", foods: calsViewModel.breakfasts) mealSection("Lunch", foods: calsViewModel.lunches) mealSection("Dinner", foods: calsViewModel.dinners) mealSection("Other Food", foods: calsViewModel.otherFoods) } .navigationBarTitle("Calories", displayMode: .inline) } } .onAppear { Task { await calsViewModel.fetchTodayMacros() await calsViewModel.fetchTodayFoodIntake() } } .sheet(isPresented: $shouldPresentSheet) { FoodListView(calsViewModel: calsViewModel) } } @ViewBuilder private func mealSection(_ category: String, foods: [(String, Double)]) -> some View { VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 10) { Text(category) .font(.headline) .padding(.top) ForEach(foods.indices, id: \.self) { index in let food = foods[index] VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 8) { Text(food.0) .font(.headline) .bold() Text("Weight: \(food.1, specifier: "%.2f") g") } .padding(.vertical, 8) } Button(action: { Task { let currentDate = Date() // Use the current date let currentUserId = Auth.auth().currentUser!.uid // Directly using the user ID as we're sure user is logged in do { let macrosDocumentExists = await calsViewModel.doesMacrosDocumentExist(userId: currentUserId, date: currentDate) if !macrosDocumentExists { try await calsViewModel.createMacrosDocument(userId: currentUserId, date: currentDate) } let foodIntakeDocumentExists = await calsViewModel.doesFoodIntakeDocumentExist(userId: currentUserId, date: currentDate) if !foodIntakeDocumentExists { try await calsViewModel.createIntakeDocument(userId: currentUserId, date: currentDate) } selectedCategory = category shouldPresentSheet = true } catch { print("Error creating documents: \(error.localizedDescription)") // Handle errors, perhaps by showing an alert to the user } } }) { Label("Add Food For \(category)", systemImage: "plus.circle.fill") .font(.headline) .foregroundColor(.white) .padding() .frame(maxWidth: .infinity) .background(Color.green) .cornerRadius(10) } .padding(.bottom) } } } 

And my FoodView:

import SwiftUI import Firebase import FirebaseAuth import FirebaseFirestoreSwift struct FoodListView: View { @ObservedObject var calsViewModel: CaloriesViewModel @ObservedObject var foodViewModel = FoodViewModel() @Environment(\.dismiss) private var dismiss @Environment(\.presentationMode) var presentationMode var body: some View { NavigationView { List(foodViewModel.foods) { food in NavigationLink(destination: FoodDetailView(calsViewModel: calsViewModel, food: food)) { Text(food.name) } } .navigationTitle("Select Food") .toolbar { ToolbarItem(placement: .navigationBarLeading) { Button("Cancel") { dismiss() } } } .onAppear { foodViewModel.fetchFoods() } } } } struct FoodDetailView: View { @ObservedObject var calsViewModel: CaloriesViewModel var food: Food @State private var weight: String = "100" @State private var showConfirmation: Bool = false @State private var errorMessage: String? @ObservedObject var authViewModel = AuthViewModel() var body: some View { VStack { TextField("Enter weight in grams", text: $weight) .keyboardType(.numberPad) .textFieldStyle(RoundedBorderTextFieldStyle()) .padding() if let weightAsDouble = Double(weight) { Text("Calories: \(Double(food.calories) * weightAsDouble / 100, specifier: "%.2f") kcal") Group { Text("Protein: \(food.protein * weightAsDouble / 100, specifier: "%.2f") g") Text("Carbs: \(food.carbs * weightAsDouble / 100, specifier: "%.2f") g") Text("Fat: \(food.fat * weightAsDouble / 100, specifier: "%.2f") g") } .font(.headline) } Spacer() Button("Add Food") { Task { let today = Date() guard let userId = Auth.auth().currentUser?.uid else { errorMessage = "Unexpected error: User ID is not available." return } do { let weightDouble = Double(weight) ?? 100 let mealType: MealType = .other // This should be determined or selected by the user print("Adding food with weight: \(weightDouble)") // Debug log try await calsViewModel.addFoodIntakeAndUpdateMacros(userId: userId, date: today, food: food, weight: weightDouble, mealType: mealType) showConfirmation = true } catch { errorMessage = "An unexpected error occurred: \(error.localizedDescription)" } } } .alert("Food Added", isPresented: $showConfirmation) { Button("OK", role: .cancel) { } } message: { Text("Your daily intake has been updated.") } if let errorMessage = errorMessage { Text(errorMessage) .foregroundColor(.red) .padding() } Spacer() } .padding() .navigationTitle("\(food.name) Details") } } 

Currently, in FoodDetailsView, the mealType variable that is being saved to the firestore document is hardcoded to be ‘Other Food’, so all of the food, no matter which of the 4 "Add Food For \(category)" buttons I click is being shown in the ‘Other Food’ category
I instead want the food to be saved into the Firestore document with the relevant mealType, depending on which section the button is clicked in
I have tried doing this by passing a mealType variable through when the “Add Food For \(category)" button is clicked, as you can see in the new versions of CaloriesView and FoodView below:
CaloriesView:

import SwiftUI import Firebase import FirebaseAuth import FirebaseFirestoreSwift struct CaloriesView: View { @EnvironmentObject var viewModel: AuthViewModel @EnvironmentObject var calsViewModel: CaloriesViewModel @State private var shouldPresentSheet: Bool = false @State private var selectedCategory: String? = nil @State private var selectedMealType: MealType? = nil var body: some View { NavigationView { ScrollView { VStack(spacing: 20) { CurrentCaloriesView(viewModel: calsViewModel) mealSection("Breakfast", foods: calsViewModel.breakfasts, mealType: .breakfast) mealSection("Lunch", foods: calsViewModel.lunches, mealType: .lunch) mealSection("Dinner", foods: calsViewModel.dinners, mealType: .dinner) mealSection("Other Food", foods: calsViewModel.otherFoods, mealType: .other) } .navigationBarTitle("Calories", displayMode: .inline) } } .onAppear { Task { await calsViewModel.fetchTodayMacros() await calsViewModel.fetchTodayFoodIntake() } } .sheet(isPresented: $shouldPresentSheet) { if let selectedMealType = selectedMealType { FoodListView(calsViewModel: calsViewModel, mealType: selectedMealType) } } } @ViewBuilder private func mealSection(_ category: String, foods: [(String, Double)], mealType: MealType) -> some View { VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 10) { Text(category) .font(.headline) .padding(.top) ForEach(foods.indices, id: \.self) { index in let food = foods[index] VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 8) { Text(food.0) .font(.headline) .bold() Text("Weight: \(food.1, specifier: "%.2f") g") } .padding(.vertical, 8) } Button(action: { Task { let currentDate = Date() let currentUserId = Auth.auth().currentUser!.uid do { let macrosDocumentExists = await calsViewModel.doesMacrosDocumentExist(userId: currentUserId, date: currentDate) if !macrosDocumentExists { try await calsViewModel.createMacrosDocument(userId: currentUserId, date: currentDate) } let foodIntakeDocumentExists = await calsViewModel.doesFoodIntakeDocumentExist(userId: currentUserId, date: currentDate) if !foodIntakeDocumentExists { try await calsViewModel.createIntakeDocument(userId: currentUserId, date: currentDate) } selectedCategory = category selectedMealType = mealType shouldPresentSheet = true } catch { print("Error creating documents: \(error.localizedDescription)") } } }) { Label("Add Food For \(category)", systemImage: "plus.circle.fill") .font(.headline) .foregroundColor(.white) .padding() .frame(maxWidth: .infinity) .background(Color.green) .cornerRadius(10) } .padding(.bottom) } } } 

FoodView:

import SwiftUI import Firebase import FirebaseAuth import FirebaseFirestoreSwift struct FoodListView: View { @ObservedObject var calsViewModel: CaloriesViewModel @ObservedObject var foodViewModel = FoodViewModel() @Environment(\.dismiss) private var dismiss @Environment(\.presentationMode) var presentationMode var mealType: MealType var body: some View { NavigationView { List(foodViewModel.foods) { food in NavigationLink(destination: FoodDetailView(calsViewModel: calsViewModel, food: food, mealType: mealType)) { Text(food.name) } } .navigationTitle("Select Food") .toolbar { ToolbarItem(placement: .navigationBarLeading) { Button("Cancel") { dismiss() } } } .onAppear { foodViewModel.fetchFoods() } } } } struct FoodDetailView: View { @ObservedObject var calsViewModel: CaloriesViewModel var food: Food var mealType: MealType @State private var weight: String = "100" @State private var showConfirmation: Bool = false @State private var errorMessage: String? @ObservedObject var authViewModel = AuthViewModel() var body: some View { VStack { TextField("Enter weight in grams", text: $weight) .keyboardType(.numberPad) .textFieldStyle(RoundedBorderTextFieldStyle()) .padding() if let weightAsDouble = Double(weight) { Text("Calories: \(Double(food.calories) * weightAsDouble / 100, specifier: "%.2f") kcal") Group { Text("Protein: \(food.protein * weightAsDouble / 100, specifier: "%.2f") g") Text("Carbs: \(food.carbs * weightAsDouble / 100, specifier: "%.2f") g") Text("Fat: \(food.fat * weightAsDouble / 100, specifier: "%.2f") g") } .font(.headline) } Spacer() Button("Add Food") { Task { let today = Date() guard let userId = Auth.auth().currentUser?.uid else { errorMessage = "Unexpected error: User ID is not available." return } do { let weightDouble = Double(weight) ?? 100 print("Adding food with weight: \(weightDouble)") // Debug log try await calsViewModel.addFoodIntakeAndUpdateMacros(userId: userId, date: today, food: food, weight: weightDouble, mealType: mealType) showConfirmation = true } catch { errorMessage = "An unexpected error occurred: \(error.localizedDescription)" } } } .alert("Food Added", isPresented: $showConfirmation) { Button("OK", role: .cancel) { } } message: { Text("Your daily intake has been updated.") } if let errorMessage = errorMessage { Text(errorMessage) .foregroundColor(.red) .padding() } Spacer() } .padding() .navigationTitle("\(food.name) Details") } } 

But doing it this way causes the sheet containing FoodListView to be presented as completely blank, containing not even the ‘Cancel’ button
The original code did not do this - any ideas why? Thanks
Edit - for an MVP Minimal Reproducible Example, see my Stack Overflow question: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/78492454/why-does-passing-a-variable-into-a-view-that-is-presented-using-a-sheet-cause-th?noredirect=1#comment138379430_78492454

So these ideas have been floating around in my mind for sometime.
First: Imu-sama was Joyboy's first mate
Imu convinced his crew to betray joyboy (Every time joyboy is mentioned, there is always an apology or mention of betrayal from his companions (Elephant + Robot). I believe the betrayal as due to Lily Nefertari being in love with Joyboy and Imu-sama was jealous. -- seems mundane and maybe not all Oda-like but its the best idea that comes to mind when it comes to Imu, Vivi's picture, and the giant straw hat big enough to fit on a Buccaneer's head. Or he could just a be a space alien with crazy powers and homunculus 5 Elder planets in love with a sand princess. (Probably more likely - but I like the idea of Imu and Joyboy having a relationship beyond just enemies)
Second: Buggy is the son of Rock D Xebec and the brother of Mount Dour Linlin.
Now, we all love Buggy (I have the same birthday as Buggy. Suck it nerds!) and this idea is a stretch but... Clown people are a race.. Here me out.. they are and Buggy is one. Now the only other character that looks like a clown with a red nose is Mount Dour (Big Mom book guy) Who was born almost a year after God Valley (And Big mom makes alliances with boinking.) And Rocks D Xebec has the same facial profile as Mount Dour. Meaning, Rock D. Xebec maybe of the Clown race based on very likely evidence of Big Mom's thirstiness. (Hold on, we are almost there). Buggy is one year older than Mount Dour, meaning his conception and birth occurred right before God Valley. Since we don't know Buggy's origin, my thought,... Buggy is Rock D Xebec son. After Rocks died at God Valley, Roger visited Beehive Island and adopted Buggy, and it would circle around to when Roger asks Garp to adopt Ace.
Third: Luffy's mom is the previous Snake Empress who is a direct descendant of Lily Nefertari
(This is dependent on Lily Nefertari landing on Amazon Lily and founding the Amazon tribe.)
Now this one is a wild guess based on a few things. First, the previous Pirate Empress fell into a love sickness with someone, the same as Boa did for Luffy. Previous Snake Empress left due to her love sickness and never returned. My thought is she fell in love with Dragon and died either during Child birth or shortly before Luffy was given to Garp. It is a good chance if she left 19 years ago. (Boa became empress 13 years go. Which is not that much time relatively and the Amazons are self sufficient when Boa is not around.), It's an option. I think it's a good one.
Well those are my three (and likely completely incorrect) ideas.

timestamp
the Flame Patina accent in the timestamp has been sold. prices dropped as well as i'd like to have these offloaded by the end of the month. see individual embedded timestamps for condition pictures.

• prices are in USD (will invoice in CAD if you are Canadian)
• local is Metro Vancouver area
• ^CAN is price shipped Canada, ^USA is price shipped CONUS, elsewhere please inquire for a shipping estimate
• available unless crossed out
• bundle > asking price > local pickup > Canada > CONUS > international
• please include location in PM!

Item	Description	Price (USD)
Lavender Mode Sonnet	Full build (minus switches + keycaps, build code V0D1H2H3A4B5B6A7B) in flawless condition — Lavender top, White bottom, Silver Mirror accent, Black Alu internal weight, Hotswap PCB w/ WS Stabs, Grey feet + plate caps, PE Foam, Plate Foam. Comes with an Alu plate and a custom PP (polypropelyne) plate made by HypeKeyboards, as well as all original accessories + screws + carrying case. Priced to account for the discontinued Lavender top + custom PP plate, but is OBO within reason. Will not part out unless I have a buyer for everything else, which admittedly, is unlikely.	$295local, $315CAN, $325USA OBO
PC Parallel Array	Black Alu weights, and a complete build with a custom PP Plate by HypeKeyboards, tuned TX Stabs, Hotswap PCB w/ HMX Hyacinth v2's, and 30A O-Ring. Also includes all original accessories, the 40A O-Ring, and a CF + Alu Plate. The extra four switches to make 70x are also included. Going off of this post for pricing.	$175local, $185CAN, $190USA OBO
GMK Iceberg Novelties	Unsealed and used for only a couple days before deciding I prefer the base only. Absolutely no shine at all, but please feel free to ask for more pics if you want. OBO within reason.	$29local, $42CAN, $46USA OBO

if you're looking for a bundle for any of these items, please let me know and we can work out a discount.
please comment before PM and thank you for reading!

• Total budget and country of purchase: USA, 2k preferred, can push it
• Do you prefer a 2 in 1 form factor, good battery life or best specifications for the money? Pick or include any that apply. Good battery life and light weight.
• How important is weight and thinness to you? Thinness is whatever, but weight is important. My Alienware 15 R3 (7 lb) plus 2 lb PSU is killing my back.
• Which OS do you require? Windows, Mac, Chrome OS, Linux. Windows
• Do you have a preferred screen size? If indifferent, put N/A. 16"
• Are you doing any CAD/video editing/photo editing/gaming? List which programs/games you desire to run. some games, mostly office stuff and work
• If you're gaming, do you have certain games you want to play? At what settings and FPS do you want? Destiny 2, fortnite, don't mind lower settings, probably will do more games as time goes on.
• Any specific requirements such as good keyboard, reliable build quality, touch-screen, finger-print reader, optical drive or good input devices (keyboard/touchpad)? Really liking the higher fidelity screens, glossy, mini LED or OLED. Also I listen to music at work on the laptop speakers so good speakers would be nice.
• Leave any finishing thoughts here that you may feel are necessary and beneficial to the discussion.

Trying to figure a new laptop. I think I have it down to the Yoga Pro 9i vs the G16. Both have nice screens and the core ultra processor for more efficiency. I want something I'm not tethered to the wall when going to work or going to a meeting at another office and I can just pull it out and use it without power for a while. Light weight is key, both seem adequate there. And I do play some games. Whether overnight or on travel. Nothing crazy right now but I want the capability.
The G16 would be fine at 1700 but only 16 gb ram. I could push up to the $2900 model with 32 gb and a 4080 but that's a lot more money. The yoga has a smaller battery though 84 Whr vs 90 Whr but not sure if it'll make a difference. But the G16 seems to run less power draw through the processor maybe. Screen is brighter? But mini-LED is wonky with HDR I hear?
I'm probably missing more too. I have 16 gb RAM on my alienware right now and it's adequate, but not sure how limiting that will be going forward for another 5 ish year use period?

I love mobile so much it is so convenient for checking things on the go! But i also love to trade using mobile as well and here are some obstacles i have interacting with the game in a trading perspective.
First, i am unable to click links in the chat to preview items and when i do it picks up a random one on the chat and not the one i tap on.
Second, texting in the text chat. Im not sure if anyone else has this problem and my fingers are just fat but in the middle of typing a long sentence the keyboard sometimes closes on me and i will have to retype everything, i ended up making copy and pastes on my notebook to avoid typing in game in general so thats my temp fix.
Third, managing a clan is a bit of a pain to do on mobile cus in order to select clan members you can only do it one time before you have to close the page and open it again to attempt to tap their name again in order to promote, demote, or access the applications of players trying to join.
4th, im pretty sure this is intentional so its not that big of a deal, but you cant access decorating in your orbiter or in the dojo on mobile (At least for me)
If you play on mobile you may add a few of your experiences if you like to the comments :)
Mobile warframe is the best thing since sliced bread and i would really like everything to run perfect on it for those days im away from home and i need to manage things in game, thank you for reading and have a fantastic day!

https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-ai-investment-congress-millions-8f3a051faadc50d2366e8a88a69c5470
Here’s a concise summary of the article titled “Senators urge $32 billion in emergency spending on AI after finishing yearlong review”:
A bipartisan group of four senators, led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, recommends that Congress allocate at least $32 billion over the next three years to develop artificial intelligence (AI) and establish safeguards around it. The senators emphasize the need to “harness the opportunities and address the risks” of rapidly advancing AI technology. Their report includes policy recommendations such as boosting U.S. investments in AI research, enhancing transparency, and studying the impact of AI on jobs and the workforce.

can you talk a bit about the implications of this?

Certainly! The proposed $32 billion emergency spending on artificial intelligence (AI) by Congress has significant implications for various aspects:

1. Technological Advancements: Increased funding can accelerate AI research, development, and deployment. This investment may lead to breakthroughs in areas such as natural language processing, computer vision, and robotics.
2. Economic Growth: A robust AI ecosystem can drive economic growth by fostering innovation, creating jobs, and enhancing productivity. The U.S. aims to remain competitive globally by investing in AI capabilities¹.
3. National Security: The Department of Defense’s (DoD) investment in AI contracts reflects the importance of AI in military applications. Enhanced AI capabilities can improve defense strategies, autonomous systems, and cybersecurity².
4. Ethical and Regulatory Challenges: As AI adoption grows, policymakers must address ethical concerns, bias, privacy, and transparency. Congress needs to strike a balance between promoting AI innovation and safeguarding against potential risks³.
5. Workforce Impact: AI adoption may disrupt certain job markets while creating new opportunities. Congress should consider reskilling programs and policies to mitigate workforce displacement³.
6. International Cooperation: The U.S. must collaborate with other nations to set global standards for AI governance. Leadership in AI ethics and norms is crucial to prevent misuse and promote responsible AI⁴.

In summary, the proposed investment can propel AI advancements, but policymakers must carefully navigate challenges to ensure responsible and beneficial AI deployment.

make it zanier

Certainly! Let’s crank up the zaniness to 11 and dive into the whimsical world of AI-fueled absurdity. 🚀
Title: “Congress Unleashes $32 Billion for AI: Robot Dance Battles and Quantum Socks!”
Subtitle (because why not?): “Senators Moonwalk into the Future, Armed with Laser Pointers and Neural Net-Powered Pogo Sticks”
In a parallel universe where senators wear propeller hats and debate policy while riding unicycles, the halls of Congress echo with the clatter of mechanical keyboards and the occasional burst of interpretive dance. Yes, my friends, it’s the AI Renaissance, and Uncle Sam is throwing down some serious cash for the future of artificial intelligence.
Picture this: Senator Chuck Schumer, bedecked in a neon-green lab coat, stands before a giant chalkboard covered in equations. His mission? To allocate $32 billion for AI research, but with a twist. Forget boring pie charts and line graphs—this budget proposal is written in limericks and haikus. 📊🎩
Senator Limerick #1:
There once was a senator named Lou, Whose love for AI was quite true. He said, "Let’s fund the bots, Teach 'em quantum physics and lots, And maybe they’ll write poetry too!"
Meanwhile, Senator Cynthia, armed with a pocket-sized quantum computer, proposes a line item for “Quantum Socks.” Yes, you read that correctly. These socks, infused with subatomic particles, promise to keep your feet warm in multiple dimensions. 🧦🌌
Senator Cynthia’s Quantum Sock Sales Pitch:
"Step into the future, my friends! Our socks defy space-time bends. They’ll keep your toes cozy, While you surf parallel seas, And dance the Cha-Cha with quarks and quends!"
But wait, there’s more! Senator Bob, wearing a propeller beanie and roller skates, insists on investing in AI-powered pogo sticks. Imagine bouncing to work, your pogo stick analyzing traffic patterns and composing personalized jingles about your morning coffee. ☕🎶
Senator Bob’s Pogo Stick Anthem:
"Up and down, up and down we go, On our AI pogo sticks, don’t you know? They’ll calculate the hops, Predict lunar flip-flops, And shout, ‘Quantum leap!’ as we soar through the rainbow!"
And so, my fellow Redditors, as Congress debates the merits of robot dance battles and neural net-generated knock-knock jokes, we can’t help but wonder: Is this madness or genius? Either way, buckle up, because the AI revolution just got a whole lot zanier! 🤖🎉
Feel free to share this with the Circuit Keepers subreddit, and may your quantum socks always match your enthusiasm! 😄🌈

Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch, Reminiscence: By Their Own Rope to Chapter 7
Welcome back to Tal Verrar, where the artifice is real and the pirates are fake. Let's see if we know the Gentlemen Bastards’ business this week.
Summary
Six months since the last Reminiscence, Locke has locked up the mysterious chairs and is with Jean in Vo Samara. Jean brought rope which was secured around a thick tree trunk. They're practicing getting to the vault. They used harnesses and a safety line to rappel down the cliff.
Someone calls down to them from the top. He'd steal their coats and chop the ropes. He was a highwayman always on the lookout for people to rob. He called them heretics and cut one of Locke’s lines. Jean tried to throw a knife at him, but only the hilt hit. Then the thief fell off the cliff onto Locke’s harness. Jean grabbed the bandit by the hair, and Locke held a knife to his throat.
His name was Trav, and he was unemployed. Jean made it up first and hauled them up. Locke berates the incompetent thief. He left a purse of silver for him. He could be helpful to them later if he remembered their kindness. It had been eighteen months since anyone tried to kill them.
In the present day, they eat breakfast at The Gilded Cloister. They discuss the attack last night and who might want them dead. Merrain is dressed as a waitress and hands them a bill and a note to meet where they first met. They are on their guard all the way there. They enter an abandoned shop where four men in gray cloaks and hats wait for them. The four men are decoys. Jean and Locke don their own cloaks and hats and get in a carriage.
Merrain is already in their carriage. They will head to the docks. They hoist themselves into a boat filled with rowers. Merrain is the coxswain. They enter the Sword Marina and the stone walls of the bay. A man meets them there and says it's a fool's mission. He's Caldris the ship's master. He leads them to a dinghy in a “pissing-pond” for practice. Stragos had tricked him with poisoned wine, too, so he “volunteered” his services.
Every ship must have a woman officer and a cat for luck. They have a kitten but don't need the woman yet. Caldris cut their palms with a knife and put a slice of bread over it as part of a ritual to the deity Iono Stormbringer. They practice rowing for hours. He bet them that they would capsize, and he won.
Locke is exhausted, but he has to see Requin and give him the chairs and tell him of the voyage. Merrain almost didn't let him go. After two hours, he and the chairs go to see Requin. He waits at the service entrance and pays a servant to get him Selendri. She used to be an Eye of the Archon before her injury.
Requin loves the chairs. Locke says he won them in a card game. He tells Requin that he'll be away for a while to find a lockpicker named “Calo Callas.” Requin makes him promise to tell him of any more plans right away.
They learn how to use a Verrari/Camorri quadrant (sextant) among other navigational instruments, books, and charts. Stragos and Merrain pay a visit to fit his uniform. He must look the part of a Captain at least for a day.
The ship The Red Messenger is in the harbor one day. It was seized from a man who tried to smuggle in stiletto wasps. The enormity of his task hit Locke as he boarded for the first time. Two weeks of training had prepared him to climb the ropes to the mast and sails. Caldris was feeling his age as they climbed down. Luckily the captain and the master stay on deck.
Jean found Locke in a sailor’s bar trying to get drunk and forget anything nautical for a night. (Wrong place for it.) Six watchmen entered and caused tension. The bar patrons were hostile, so one of the watchmen left some money for a round on him and all left. Locke and Jean give their free dark ale to a dockworker woman. The woman was choking and gagging. One the bar workers had put some poison (and not salt) in the drinks!
A ship leech used Locke’s stiletto to perform a tracheotomy on her so she could breathe. It was too late, though. The barkeeper accused the doctor of killing her. The other sailors demand he apologize. Then he drank some ale to prove it wasn't deadly. Jean asked where the second assistant was. Authorities would be called, so Jean and Locke made their exit. The free ale was a cover, and the watchmen were used by someone trying to kill them. The Priori did it.
Jean catches a man in the alleyway. He's an Eye, but who can be sure anymore? They want him to send a message to Merrain that they need a place to stay and protection.
They check out of the inn, and Locke sends a note to Requin. Caldris is even harder on them in his training. All three devise hand signals for when they can't speak among the crew. Caldris and Merrain are impressed by Locke's acting prowess.
Later on, Locke and Jean knock out a guard with a hood full of a sedative. A tower is their destination. Stragos had brought one of his own ships for them to do a demonstration. They sail to Windward Rock where a prison tower stands. That's where Stragos locked up the other Captain for stealing and treachery. He says that this Captain is Locke.
In the tower, Locke hands his papers to a woman who shows them to the lieutenant behind a desk. His pseudonym is Orrin Ravelle. He and Jean are there to see the prisoners. They both attack the guards. A poison called witfrost will put them asleep for the night.
Stragos tells Locke about Highpoint Citadel Gaol and Windward Rock. He has arranged for Ravelle to have a paper trail. He will find his crew in Windward Rock. The prisoners were in one large cell. Locke tells them that he chose them to be his crew. (Stragos chose 44 and made their lives miserable so they would want to leave and be on his crew. Four were women and got too sick, or so he said.)
Locke promises them equal shares of any plunder and freedom from the hell cell. They clamber to join.
Caldris had a bad feeling about the voyage if there won't be any women on board and no basket of cats.
Prisoner Jabril is made acting mate. Two younger prisoners row a boat out to a bigger boat. They all board and sail to the Red Messenger.
Merrain had hidden nearby, and after they all left, she snuck into the tower and killed the guards except the two on the top floor.
Locke pretends to knock out the guard on the ship. Duties are assigned. The guard is placed in the smaller boat. Some of the men were on the ship before and were assigned topmen. So starts their voyage. Locke was having fun playing the part of rogue Captain.
They sight sails on day three, but it's too early to be pillaging. Locke orders them to practice archery. Caldris estimates that they'll make it to the Ghostwinds in two weeks.
The crew drank and partied, playing knife throwing games. Locke saw bioluminescent ghostly things called flit-wraiths. Caldris had seen unbelievable things out on the sea. Two of the islands’ populations were destroyed: one by fire during a war and one by some kind of monster from the jungle.
The crew notices there are no cats. Locke had forgotten them on shore. (Uh-oh!) He tells them they're shy and hiding. Caldris is tired and gets little sleep. He is pissed off that there's no cats. The crew will mutiny if they find out. They'll have to fight another ship just for the cats. (They better hope it rains cats and dogs.)
A storm is brewing. The crew ready the ship and its supplies. Locke and Jean spend rare time alone in the stern cabin. Caldris feebly knocks at the door, and has a heart attack. He dies just as the storm hits. (Double uh-oh!)
Extras
Marginalia
Parts of a ship
Ship's cats
Ship's cats in hammocks
St Corella’s fire is actually St Elmo's Fire.
Larboard used to mean left.
Navigate back here May 23 for Part 2, Chapters 8-11. Questions are in the comments.