Tldr: A critical SYNDE coalition home hole is burned to the ground by HAWKS and hundreds of billions are lost or safelogged.

On Starting Points

One of the more contentious elements of any major conflict is identifying when, precisely, it actually began. In EVE, as IRL, that is particularly challenging given the breadth of metagaming which takes place. Did the Wormhole War begin when SYNDE decided last summer that they wanted to replace HAWKS as the dominant high-class wormhole group and committed to making that a reality? Did it begin when they solidified their alliance with the Initiative? When they build their wormhole coalition? When they seeded HAWKS home with capitals? Any of those, had they been out in the open, would likely have triggered open hostilities. But those plans and the steps towards their ultimate objective were carefully and smartly hidden from view.
The widespread SYNDE coalition assault on HAWKS C5 and C6 holes began on March 24^th. With the information we now have available to us, the real start of the war was likely the eviction of Voidlings during the first week of March 2024. HAWKS and their future allies were almost certainly unaware of the significance of that eviction, but leaked internal SYNDE comms put truth to the notion that SYNDE viewed that as a critical first step in isolating and crippling HAWKS. It was, then, the first overt act of war by SYNDE – though its place in that broader campaign remained shrouded for several weeks.
Voidlings is a small to midsize wormhole group. A few years ago, they were a growing low class wormhole group living in a C2 with HS and C3 statics. In 2022, they moved into a new home, a C5 wormhole with a C5 static. For non-wormholers, nearly every high class PVP group lives in a C5 with a C5 static. C5 space is both where the majority of high class farms are. The abundance of C5 statics means that living on the “C5 Highway” is often the best route to all forms of high class pvp and pve content. Honor brawls also almost exclusively take place in C5 holes.
So Voidlings grew from a low-class group into a high-class group, and they continued recruiting in an effort to become one of the relevant high class PVP groups. Their zkillboard suggests they participated in most traditional high class activities – farming, feeding, fighting, evicting, ganking, skirmishing. It appears they were supported during this period of growth by one or more HAWKS members. As a result of this affiliation they were not approached by SYNDE during their coalition-building period. Instead, they were marked for pre-war eviction both to be a preliminary test of coalition coordination and also to eliminate a potential HAWKS ally. Isolating HAWKS was key to the entire war plan.
SYNDE began seeding the Voidlings home with dreads in Feb 2024, ultimately bringing in 6 to support their eviction. At the appropriate time, a robust joint fleet led by SYNDE but also including key coalition allies TURBO and Stay Feral infiltrated the Voidlings home hole, installed a staging POS and began their eviction. They diligently held hole control, adding another half-dozen capital ships to their arsenal over the next several hours. A Voidlings eviction seemed inevitable, as they simply lacked the manpower and experience needed to prevent a collection of wormhole groups that large from evicting them. As is often the case when a home hole is under threat of eviction, batphones rang out across wormhole space. HAWKS, NOVAC and SL0W answered the call for Voidlings. The future SYNDE coalition was on already on standby to support this eviction if necessary, as well as future neutral LUPUS. SYNDE had also secured a commitment from the Initiative to support should the need arise.
At first, it did not appears that the batphoning was likely to change anything. SYNDE maintained diligent hole control, not permitting either Voidlings or any allies from bringing in ships or pilots via the Voidlings static. HAWKS rage rolled from their home to get into the Voidlings home, but was unsuccessful.
For the non-wormholers, when you rage roll a C5 static in order to connect with a specific C5 wormhole, you have a 1 in 531 chance of getting connected to that specific hole with each rage roll. Rolling into a specific hole requires days of 24/7 rage rolling and even then the odds are against you. Wormhole groups really only engage in this level of commitment for really high-level situations, such as the historical eviction of HK’s home hole Rage back in 2018.
Midway through the eviction, however, a frig hole popped connecting the Voidlings home with Horde space. HAWKS, NOVAC and SL0W immediately burned in shuttles to that frig hole, and SYNDE was unable to stop the vast majority of them from jumping into the hole and docking in the besieged Voidlings fort.
Voidlings leadership distributed their home defense handout Ravens to their comrades and the stage was set for a glorious home eviction defense fight. SYNDE and friends had a large 100-ship Barghest fleet supported by nearly a dozen capitals (dreads/fax) while Voidlings and friends could field 100 cruise Ravens with FAX logi and nearly two dozen long-range dreads. Range control and capital placement was understood by both sides’ FCs to be critical to the outcome of the fight. SYNDE had a fleet advantage, but one that could be overcome. Unbeknownst to the Voidlings side, once the frig hole popped SYNDE leadership had invoked their war alliance with Initiative, The Initative pinged and mobilized a 200-man Tengu fleet, travelling quickly to the wormhole chain’s entrance. Jumping in, the Initiative fleet docked in a nearby SYNDE farm and waited.
As a critical citadel timer approached, SYNDE FC Cyrus Kurush fleet warped dreads to range the full Barghest comp along with them. Bubbles exploded all over the grid, aiming to stop the Voidlings defense fleet from warping to a good position. This was an effective stratagem, as SYNDE knew that the Voidlings defense fleet would rely on FAX logi – so pinging around grid was not a viable option. The Voidlings fleet needed a clean warp-in, to a position favorable for their cruise Ravens. The dreads began bashing the fortizar, forcing the Voidlings fleet to commit the fleet or watch their citadel burn. The Ravens and their FAX logi aligned and warped, accepting a mediocre initial position that would permit the SYNDE dreads to apply well. Once the FAX landed, the HAWKS FC leading the Voidlings fleet called for all dreads to undock, and they were warped in to support this all-in defense effort. Those dreads landed, activated siege modules, and began primarying the SYNDE dreads.
After one SYNDE dread exploded and another started taking damage, the trap was sprung. Reports on both comms noted that a 200-man tengu fleet was on dscan. Confusion turned into delight on SYNDE comms and resigned frustration on Voidlings comms as the Initiative fleet landed on grid and immediately began fragging Ravens. What might have been a closely-fought battle quickly turned into a complete rout. Voidlings was able to extract a small number of dreads – but the butcher’s toll was a heavy one. Voidlings – having supplied all the ships used by the defenders – lost the entire Raven fleet and nearly all the capitals, for a total of 327b lost against 1117b killed. https://br.evetools.org/related/31001880/202403020300
The remainder of the eviction proceeded to plan, and all Voidlings citadels were destroyed. SYNDE celebrated a successful test run of their broader vision and campaign. In recent leaks that cover the aftermath, SYNDE lead Cyrus Kurush noted that although SYNDE had shown they could take on HAWKS alone, they would take advantage of their massive alliance to simply speed the broader war goal of taking all the HAWKS high class farms and taking their rightful place atop a New Wormhole Oder.

On Rallying Cries and Motivations

This leads to another critical element for how the war would unfold. Wars in EVE are won by motivated pilots first, and a war chest second. For some time, SYNDE and their primary allies had planted the seeds of resentment towards HAWKS among their members. This is not a challenging task, as most wormhole groups generally dislike each other to begin with. In casus belli discussions with HAWKS immediately prior to the war, and in coalition and leadership meetings with their side, SYNDE was fairly consistent about their war aims: take all HAWKS C6 farms, take HAWKS C5 farms, and take HAWKS home. Those farms were to be distributed to SYNDE and their allies, although the specifics were studiously avoided in discussions.
The leak of the SYNDE pre-war CTA gives real insight into members motivations going into the war. Typically, pre-war CTA meetings in EVE are full of hype, energy and enthusiasm. The Synde CTA, by contrast, seemed a much more pragmatic event. Members were concerned about their current farms, about the plan to deploy out of home and into a C6 staging, about working with blues, and about their ability to participate in NPSI fleets during the war. SYNDE lead Cyrus Kurush needed to make clear several times that the expectation was that even though many SYNDE members were also members of other LS and NS groups, they were expected to devote their full effort and focus to the upcoming war against HAWKS. It is almost impossible to take away from that CTA meeting anything other than a rather shocking lack of enthusiasm for the war from SYNDE line members.

The War in Heaven

On the other hand, HAWKS motivations were much easier to discern. This War presented an existential threat. In the eyes of the SYNDE coalition, HAWKS farms and home were both forfeit. Everything they had built over the preceding decade was destined for destruction. Isolated and outnumbered, this would be the ultimate test of HAWKS members’ commitment. The sudden and shocking rebirth of Hard Knocks was mirrored by a large number of longterm HAWKS members also resubbing.
Another critical and perhaps overlooked element of motivations on HAWKS side was the war vs peace element. Although “peace” in wormhole space is a decidedly violent affair in general, with pretty much every group killing every other group on a daily basis, it had been many years since there was a major, sustained conflict in wormhole space. Nullsec often differentiates between “Skirmish FCs” and “Strat FCs”, with the former leading normal day-to-day fleets of battlecruiser sized ships or smaller, and the latter leading the heavy fleets, cap fleets, super fleets or the sizeable, complicated fleets deployed in major conflicts. In the cartel world that is wormhole space, it might be more appropriate to differentiate between “Territory FCs” and “War FCs”. The former freely leads the wide range of fleets that fight, gank, camp and brawl throughout wormhole space on a daily basis. The latter wants to lead larger, more complicated fleets in direct support of a broader strategic initiative. In gaming as IRL, it is normal for highly skilled players to want to be challenged – and at some point, the normal day-to-day fights no longer satisfies those urges. In some cases, that leads to corps fading away (HK), in others, it leads to limited participation (many HAWKS members/FCs).
When this Wormhole War kicked off, it was promptly dubbed “The War in Heaven” by the HAWKS/HK side. This name refers directly to the biblical conflict between two rival groups of Angels – that led by Michael, and that led by Satan. Revelation 12:7-10:

7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

It is not particularly challenging to figure out which side HAWKS was associating themselves with, given that the name of their CEO is Michael1995.
Perhaps more pragmatically, among members in both HAWKS and the reborn HK, this war was indeed a gift from Heaven above – a chance to dive into a massive, complicated campaign against a foe who was willing to violate wormhole norms in order to achieve their goals. During the first two weeks when HAWKS farms were burning, there is a sense that many of the HAWKS and HK leads were genuinely giddy about the opportunity to take the field and leverage all their accumulated skills, knowledge and experience against an increasingly-reviled opponent. Yes, things looked dire from the outside but internally, there was a mixture of enthusiasm and cautious optimism.

Headshots and Flipping

During normal wormhole fights, both brawls and skirmishes, it is generally considered poor form to headshot the other side’s FC. It happens sometimes, but is definitely looked down upon in the wormhole community. This is the sort of norm that disappears in the context of a large war, or any sort of existential threat situation.
At the strategic level, “headshotting” generally refers to destroying or debilitating the other side’s capacity to fight by taking home holes or staging holes. This would be a key element in the HAWKS strategy, and one surprisingly absent from the SYNDE side. From the very first week, HAWKS looked to take advantage of any opportunity, however fleeting, to headshot SYNDE and their allies. The early ATRAX eviction was the first example of this. It would not be the last, not by a long shot.
Another key tactic is flipping. Not flipping as in changing sides, but rather flipping as in unanchoring and then re-anchoring an Upwell citadel. Recall that when a citadel dies in a wormhole, every pilot’s possessions that remain in that citadel drop as loot cans on the grid. 100% loot drop, 100% of the time. Over time, as pilots join and then leave a group, hangar containers accumulate. Over the years, in successful wormhole groups, this frozen hangar trash can reach into the tens or hundreds of billions. This can make evicting a wormhole resident or group an increasingly attractive over time. A hole that has been owned for a year will not have much loot drop. One owned for many years will likely have a great deal more.
Years ago, intrepid wormhole residents realized that a good way to counter this mechanic was to “flip” their citadels: unanchor, get all the AFG/left corp loot for yourself, then re-anchor. There is risk to this, but for a pvp corp that maintains hole control, the risk is quite minimal.
HAWKS had lived in their current home for nearly a decade. A large, successful group like HAWKS accumulates a large amount of hangar wealth over a period like that, much of it frozen as members AFG or leave corp. During the first week of the War, HAWKS recognized this large oversight and unanchored all the structures in their home hole. A neutral observer might have thought that HAWKS were self-evicting. Through their spy, SYNDE knew that they were planning to flip them and stay in the fight. Unwilling to entertain a HAWKS home eviction at this early stage in the war, SYNDE watched as HAWKS unanchored all their citadels and replaced them with a dozen newly anchored fortizars – and clearing their citadel grid of thousands of loot cans. A steady stream of DSTs transiting in and out of HAWKS home confirmed that wealth was quickly transferred out to kspace.
In that first week, by “flipping” their citadels, HAWKS eliminated the majority of the financial incentives that generally come with evicting a pvp corp’s home hole.

Seeding an Apple

During the period where HAWKS farms were burning and SYNDE was soaring, on Tuesday April 2^nd, HAWKS rolled into the SUGAR home hole. Some of SUGAR’s pvp toons were supporting SYNDE, some were farming, others were out participating in NPSI roams in kspace. Few of them were in their home hole. HAWKS sent in a bait RF fleet of a trio of Leshaks while at the same time pinging for a Nighthawk fleet. SUGAR panic pinged as the Leshaks began RFing one of the many citadels in their home. With confusion reigning, SUGAR undocked a kitchen sink fleet including armor and shield, capital and subcapital. Once SUGAR began engaging, HAWKS brought in their heavy shield fleet. HAWKS then began dismantling the haphazard SUGAR home defense fleet, as captured in the first 3 minutes of this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZKgFPbSaLk
After fragging much of the SUGAR defenders, HAWKS proceeded to reinforce every citadel in the SUGAR home. SUGAR lost 35bn in ships in a one-sided fight. SYNDE was dismayed by the poor SUGAR showing. https://br.evetools.org/b66452e6803aec30012694316
Those structures all repaired over the coming week.
On April 12^th , HAWKS returned and again reinforced all SUGAR structures, this time with no opposition. Following that second round of reinforces, SUGAR pinged and directed its members to return to home and adopt a defensive posture with rigorous hole control to prevent a HAWKS return.
Many SUGAR members by this point were now opposing their corp’s direction. They certainly disliked HAWKS, but they had historically disliked SYNDE and their allies just as much. Joining them struck many members as a short-sighted, unwise adventure. They had actively participated in reinforcing and blowing up HAWKS structures, only to discover that SYNDE was most often dropping replacement citadels as they got cleared. SUGAR line members felt they were doing a lot of work for little or no benefit.
On April 13^th, HAWKS rolled into the SUGAR home hole for a third time – this time with amor timers only hours away. SUGAR immediately sought to roll that incoming wormhole, throwing yacht after yacht at it, as well as a lone praxis. They were able to crit the hole despite losing yachts every few passes.
Sigils are a common ship used most often by Nullsec farmers looking to roll wormholes that threaten their peaceful farming, These Sigils are referred to by wormholers almost universally as “suicide sigils”. The SUGAR FC directed his members to get into Sigils, undock, nullify, and warp to the hole. That hole needed to die. It needed to die now. “Even mains?” one member – Scott Appleblade - inquired. “Even mains,” replied the FC.
Scott hopped into the sigil, and warped to the hole, forgetting to nullify. He landed in the bubble, and was immediately fragged by the HAWKS on grid. https://zkillboard.com/kill/116986540/
Scott, now sitting in Jita, asked for a route back into his home. The FC replied they had no kspace entries at the minute. Scott asked if one could be found. The FC replied not now, quiet, we’re still dealing with this hole. Scott logged off, seething.
Scott had not wanted this war from the very start. Scott had recently upgrade from a Class 3 farm to a Class 5 farm of his own. Scott enjoyed farming combat sites in Leshaks and dreaming of a brighter future. Scott had always dreamed he might one day save up enough to afford a faction FAX: the Loggerhead. He knew they didn’t make much sense and were rarely used, but Scott loved the “Poggerhead” meme. Scott prided himself on his memes. He would often meet people and knew right away that they would become a meme. That was just life, but an elite meme could memorialize that. Scott just wanted to undock from his home fort in a Loggerhead and enjoy the moment. That seemed less and less likely now that the SUGAR home was being reinforced weekly. SUGAR leadership was either absent or, frankly, being dicks. Scott was over it. He had worked too hard. He deserved better. His fellow SUGAR members did, too.
Scott waited until later in the day when he was able to get a kspace entry for his main back into SUGAR’s home chain. He flew his inty in, still seething but with a plan for exacting revenge coalescing in Scott’s mind.
For the non-wormholers, it is important to explain that when you are a member of a wormhole corp, you have a lot more access to corp assets than you likely ever would in a Nullsec or Lowsec corp. Due to wormhole mechanics, wormhole corps almost always have a “Shared” corp hangar in each citadel where commonly used ships and modules are available to all members. This usually includes rolling ships, and handout pvp ships, among other things.
Scott docked in their home fort. He hesitated for a minute as he surveyed those familiar surroundings, but then the rage came back. He just wanted to farm, and now he might lose that. All because of SUGAR leadership. He knew his corp mates understood and would appreciate his actions. Scott proceeded to move everything in the SUGAR shared corp hangar to his personal hangar. He did a double take – he had just acquired over 30b of assets. That would go a long way towards a down payment on the Loggerhead if he could get that to a trade hub.
One good idea begets another, and Scott repackaged every assembled ship he had just taken. He then put the most valuable elements into his two DSTs. He shuttled those out to Jita and back, and then repeated the round trip several times. During the monotony of the transits, Scott realized that nobody – not leadership, not his corp mates – had noticed anything. Even though he was now much wealthier, SUGAR was still in need of a wakeup call.
As he warped to the next wormhole, it hit him – the bookmarks! This is another major difference between Nullsec / Lowsec and wormhole groups. In kspace, one can navigate very easily, or at least with confidence about where you’re going. In wormholes, one needs corp mates scanning wormholes and making bookmarks, basically a temporary map that wormhole pilots use to navigate the ever-changing wormhole landscape. All members need access to those bookmarks, and the ability to create, edit and delete them.
Scott deleted them. All of them. No more going to help SYNDE. No more warping your dread to a safe because HAWKS had bubbled the fort. No more finding your way back after getting rolled out. With no bookmarks, SUGAR would need to stop and consider where they were and why. Scott was pleased with the neat metaphor. At least he thought it was a metaphor. Might also be an analogy. He wasn’t sure, but he was sure it was brilliant.
His DSTs landed on the next hole and Scott jumped. It was then that Scott noticed he had no bookmarks in the next wormhole. That knowledge, combined with his decision not to fit probe launchers on either of his DSTs, was not a positive development. Scott, priding himself on his judgment, weighed his current situation against all he had achieved this evening – over 20b of ships and mods in Jita, and a powerful statement to SUGAR leadership. That was worth the loss of two DSTs that only had about 1.5B combined between them. Scott self-destructed the DSTs, returned to Jita, and went to bed contemplating a brighter future.

When Espionage Meets Opportunity

Prior to shutting the doors a few years ago, Hard Knocks had been regarded in the wormhole community as the top wormhole group for espionage. In a world where information is power, they have always had a remarkable abundance of critical information. Unlike HAWKS, HK was aware of the SYNDE plans and coalition building not long after they were conceived. As allies joined the SYNDE effort, HK sought to penetrate those groups. SUGAR accepted a key HK spy in January of this year. Over the next two months, this spy would quickly work his way up the SUGAR hierarchy, demonstrating strong FC and leadership abilities. When the war broke out, he was one of the main FCs. His background in HK and HAWKS affiliated groups was no concern for SUGAR leadership as they committed to the SYNDE coalition.
When Scott pilfered everything from SUGAR shared and deleted all bookmarks, the spy noticed both. He consulted with his HK mates and decided it might be a fantastic opportunity. The spy reached out to SUGAR directors and offered to do his part in resolving the matter – they needed to cut off access to Scott and his alts, they needed to do it 5 minutes ago and they needed to tighten things up. He knew how to do it, and he was happy to help. There was only one SUGAR director online. He was unsure of how to best resolve the Scott situation, so he called up the CEO on his cell. The CEO and director huddled up and agreed that their best FC was the man to fix it. They gave director roles to a spy who’d been in corp less than 3 months. During a war. A war against HAWKS and HK.
SUGAR members woke up the morning of Sunday April 14^th, logged on, and discovered that every one of the structures in their home hole had been transferred to an HK holding corp. Their implant sets were all gone. Every single one. They were unable to dock. Most of their combat pilots were not even in their home hole. What was in the SUGAR home was a massive HAWKS coalition fleet.
And NOVAC was in it.

Stay on the Sidelines and You Will Burn

SYNDE’s diplomatic efforts had been widespread for the months leading up to the Wormhole War. They had enlisted the support of both large wormhole groups and small in building their expansive anti-HAWKS coalition. Two of the biggest pvp groups in wormhole space had consistently declined their overtures: LUPUS and NOVAC. Strong, independent, brawling groups, they did not like HAWKS, but they also didn’t like SYNDE. In proper cartel fashion, they were not interested in helping either of those groups achieve more power or territory. Truth be told they wanted both sides to lose. Better to remain neutral and pick the best course at a later time.
SYNDE did not push much until the first two weeks of the war. During that first week of burning HAWKS farms, according to SYNDE lead Cyrus Kurush, 16 or 17 C6 farms were transferred from HAWKS to NOVAC. LUPUS was the beneficiary of a smaller number of HAWKS farms. It was clear that under the weight of the broad offensive, many HAWKS members had opted to sell their farms to neutral wormhole groups. In most cases, it was HAWKS members selling farms to long-term EVE friends in other wormhole groups.
Cyrus Kurush was livid. He had already earmarked every HAWKS C6, and now many of them seemed to be passing out of the war and into the hands of neutrals who continued to refuse to join his coalition. He directed his lead diplo Zelvig to reengage with NOVAC and clearly relay his message. Zelvig did so, informing NOVAC of two key things: one, further receipt of any HAWKS farm would be viewed as an act of war, and two, while NOVAC was welcome to remain a friendly neutral during this early part of the campaign, the C6s they had already received from HAWKS should be seen as being held in trust for the wormhole community. Following the now-inevitable HAWKS eviction and removal from high class space, NOVAC would have to settle their farm accounts with SYNDE. With his customary enthusiasm, Zelvig gave NOVAC a timeline for their decision to join the coalition: as soon as the last HAWKS C6 farm fell, SYNDE would turn to the NOVAC C6s unless they had already joined. Zelvig estimated that gave NOVAC 2 or 3 more weeks to make a decision.
NOVAC made their decision that night, informing HAWKS leadership that they would be joining the HAWKS side. They asked only that they have a week to get their group organized and prepared. At the end of that week, NOVAC joined HAWKS, HK, Voidlings, and 418 in infiltrating a Vulture fleet into SUGAR’s home hole.

Sugar Free: J104037 Bleeds and Falls

Two things happened from the jump: HAWKS took and held hole control in SUGAR’s home hole while infiltrating additional pilots, and SYNDE pinged hard to get their coalition members to consolidate in Waffle House, the C6 hole that they had made their staging at the start of the war. It was chosen due to its C6 static, which permitted SYNDE to roll into HAWKS C6 farms and reinforce then destroy them at will.
With the HAWKS fleet swelling in numbers with NOVAC’s addition to their alliance, they openly docked in SUGAR’s citadels – now owned by HK. SUGAR members could only watch in horror as the citadel showed more and more reds docking in their fortizar.
SYNDE began rage-rolling in earnest, hoping to connect to SUGAR’s home. Cyrus Kurush was eager to test the new coalition Cyclone Fleet Issue doctrine they had theorycrafted to counter the HAWKS Vuilture doctrine. He preferred their blaster Megathron Navy Issue doctrine, but that had proven ill-suited to deal with the Vultures in the earlier brawl in the HK staging C6.
As would happen often throughout this campaign, luck favored the bold. SYNDE rolled into SUGAR’s home at a high point for SYNDE fleet participation. SYNDE immediately jumped sabres into system and fully bubbled their “in” hole, giving them the time they needed to warp their entire fleet to the hole. They avoided a repeat of the prior fight where they were unable to get their entire fleet in due to poor hole control. The full SYNDE fleet jumped through the hole, rolling it as they sent in the full 3b+ in ship mass. All told, over 150 Cyclone Fleet Issues flooded into the SUGAR home, along with support. The HAWKS fleet undocked to reports of 20 dreads on dscan as the SYNDE fleet warped to the (former) SUGAR main fortizar. SUGAR members had logged on the caps they were still able to pilot – some undocked from that forts, others from deep safes in system. As the CFI fleet connected with the increasing dread bomb, siege modules were engaged and the battle was joined.
The fight was a back and forth affair for a short period before some aggressive FCing by the HAWKS/HK/NOVAC FC team forced the SYNDE fleet to extract. At that point, a dynamic unique to wormhole combat emerged. SYNDE, realizing they could not win on grid, focused on extracting as many SUGAR capitals as possible. They would scan the new static C5 connection – as would HAWKS – and then each would race subcap fleets to that new hole and contest it. If SYNDE was able to get there first and keep the hole clear of sabre bubbles, SUGAR would warp their capitals to that hole and jump 3 of them out. That would kill the hole, causing a new static wormhole to appear one minute later where the two sides could repeat the process. With each new static wormhole, SYNDE continued to feed ships and lose combat capability.
A highly comedic situation occurred on one such hole. HAWKS warped their lone rolling carrier to it blind. In so doing, they hoped to be able to jump the carrier and briefly assert hole control – preventing more than one SUGAR cap from getting out, and also giving the HAWKS fleet time to tackle the others. The carrier landed right after the SUGAR caps did – but in a critical communication gap, the SUGAR caps did not know which 3 were supposed to leave on this hole. SYNDE sabres bubbled up, but the carrier was already on the wormhole. It jumped the hole with its prop on. A clamor erupted on SYNDE comms as they awaited guidance about which cap, if any, should leave. The HAWKS rolling carrier burned untouched back to the hole on the other side. A SUGAR Moros Navy Issue, frustrated at the indecision, jumped anyway. Most of the time, that would have rolled the wormhole, trapping the Moros Navy and rolling carrier on the other side. Luckily for the HAWKS carrier, it was a high-mass hole. The wormhole went critical but did not close. The HAWKS rolling carrier jumped back.
The Moros Navy had extracted, but the remaining SUGAR caps were now sitting around the now-dead hole’s bookmark. Many began burning away and out of the bubbles from the SYNDE sabres who had tried to protect that hole. SYNDE FC Cyrus Kurush ordered his sabres to get off the hole and stop bubbling their dreads, and they did. Forgotten in the chaos and indecision, the HAWKS rolling carrier decloaked, aligned out, cycled prop and initiated wrap. It was immediately primaried by both dreads and the SYNDE CFI fleet. Chaotic calls to bubble the carrier were met with hesitation as those same sabres had only recently been told not to bubble. The carrier entered warp as the bubbles were deployed. The carrier pilot shared this video of the bold carrier roll and escape. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDgzA8J6j44&t
The carrier escape from a heavily bubbled grid marked the final turning point in the SYNDE extraction efforts. HAWKS sabres flooded the grid, tackling most of the SUGAR caps. After more fighting, the SYNDE coalition CFIs extracted from the grid, leaving the caps to their fate. As the caps began exploding and with the HAWKS fleet committed to their destruction, the SYNDE subcap fleet left via the new static.
The final totals for that fight were 48b lost by the HAWKS side, 144b lost by the SYNDE coalition side. https://br.evetools.org/b6633f295132a2a0012c77eb6
SUGAR had extracted 4 dreads, but at a heavy price.

Blue Balls and Explosions

With the clock ticking on the armor and hull timers of the SUGAR structures, SYNDE tried to reset in their C6 staging. Again, they pinged for their coalition to reassemble in that system. Again, they began rolling. That process continued for many hours.
The following day, on April 15^th, SYNDE would roll into the SUGAR home not once but twice. Both times, SYNDE only had a partial CFI fleet docked in their fortizar while the HAWKS side maintained a full Vulture fleet ready to undock on a moment’s notice. The HAWKS, HK and NOVAC leadership team knew that this was a critical moment in the campaign, and every effort was made to complete the SUGAR eviction.
SYNDE rolled into SUGAR’s home twice on April 15^th. And they immediately rolled the connection both times.
SYNDE lead Cyrus Kurush was personally scanning and rolling. He knew exactly what HAWKS had on hand, knew he could not contest for hole control, and just rolled the connection off quietly. Twice.
Cyrus Kurush knew that the integrity of his coalition required him to make every effort to save a key member’s home hole – but he was also very frustrated by SUGAR’s lack of readiness to defend their home. He had expected a lot more caps, more ships, more support. He felt he had beaten the HAWKS fleet in that large initial brawl, and had been let down by SUGAR. He did not want to risk sacrificing another major loss for a group that could not stand on their own two feet.

The Initiative to Regain the Initiative

The SUGAR Fortizar hull timers were on Tuesday, April 16^th.
A key early-war HAWKS ally, a small EUTZ pvp group called Czarna-Kompania, had infiltrated two dreads overnight. Two other groups had brought in one each. That dread force would give HAWKS the flexibility of hitting concurrent hull timers. There were multiple structures that needed to get hit over a two hour period. The dreads would let the HAWKS side bash those citadels while also keeping their subcap fleet free to fight for and maintain hole control if at all possible.
Hours before those timers, disaster struck the HAWKS effort. An A009 wormhole connection popped into the SUGAR home.
For an eviction, the worst possible wormhole connection is an A009 wormhole. It is a 16-hour frigate-sized wormhole that connects to a shattered wormhole that will also have a number of frig holes connecting outward to kspace systems. Frig holes cannot be rolled.
This meant that for the time leading up to the critical hull timers, there would be an unrollable hole into the eviction target, into SUGAR’s home.
By this time, it was clear to all involved parties that SYNDE had a close partnership with the Initiative. Although this was fraying some of the wormhole groups in the coalition, it still afforded SYNDE a chance to salvage the situation. SYNDE lead Cyrus Kurush formed an attack plan with Initiative leadership. During the hours immediately prior to the hull timers, SYNDE would assemble a heavy fleet in their staging, and rage roll for the SUGAR home. The Initiative would form a full bomber fleet, and travel to the C13 shattered wormhole. The second that SYNDE rolled in, they would execute a lethal 3-pronged attack: the SYNDE fleet would explode into the SUGAR home, all remaining SUGAR capitals and subcapitals would undock, and the Initiative bomber fleet would jump the A009. They would time those 3 critical elements based on the location, strength and composition of the HAWKS fleet. It was a good plan. If they could connect those three prongs, they would have 3 times the number that HAWKS could muster. Pings went out and the fleets assembled. Init travelled with a 300 bomber fleet to the shattered hole. SYNDE began rage rolling. About 50 SUGAR pilots sat on logon screen and waited on SYNDE comms.
HAWKS was aware of all of the above. HAWKS, working closely with HK and NOVAC strategists, devised a counter for the two concerning prongs. The SYNDE rolling threat had two counters. Within the SYNDE staging, there was a small fleet of yachts and a seeded, cloaked rolling carrier. In the SUGAR home, another rolling carrier sat ready to suicide roll if needed. Should SYNDE warp their fleet from the fort to a new wormhole, HAWKS was prepared to simultaneously warp both carrier and yachts to that same hole. They were confident they could stop the majority of the SYNDE fleet from making it through the wormhole.
The real threat was the Initiative, and that damned frig hole. HAWKS placed three sniping fleets around the wormhole and dropped a massive number of anchorable bubbles around it. On the hole itself were a mixture of smartbombing battleships and suicide dictors, each orbiting patiently. When the report came of the 300 Initiative bombers entering the shattered hole on the other side, the HAWKS team was ready and waiting.
The Initiative FC team, with a scout already in SUGAR staging, saw all of this. War-seasoned FCs, there was no scenario where they were jumping their bombers into that future charnal house. Unless SYNDE could pull those fleets away from the hole, it was an impossible standoff. The HAWKS battlecruiser fleet could not jump the hole. The Initiative bombers would not jump the hole. The Initiative bombers sat there and waited for SYNDE to roll in.
Meanwhile, in SUGAR staging, citadels came out of reinforce for hull timers and the allied dreads went to work. And everyone else waited. The SYNDE fleet waited on their fort while their FC rage rolled. The Initiative fleet waited in the shattered. The HAWKS alliance fleet waited on the other side of the shattered. One by one, the citadels began blowing up.
The SYNDE fleet stood down. The Initiative left the shattered wormhole and headed back to Fountain. SYNDE had gotten the full Nullsec batphone allied response, but been unable to take advantage of it.
Unconfirmable reports are that the HAWKS alliance looted nearly 200b from the various structures, including a large number of capital ships, on top of the 150b+ exploded. https://br.evetools.org/b661f2a2eddb48200112d82c5 (The three “friendly” caps that were destroyed were looted SUGAR caps that the allies decided to blow up rather than keep and exfiltrate from the hole.)
Some SUGAR members would still try to participate, but SUGAR was done as a fighting unit in the Wormhole War.
The next part will focus on what would become the most important battlefield in the Wormhole War – Waffle House, the SYNDE coalition staging C6.

I have the problem with the following Custom Nodes, which when I want to install manually, I get an error:
- Clip-interrogator-ext
- ComfyUI-AnimateDiff-Evolved-main
- distill2
- LAMA
__________________________________________________
Total VRAM 6144 MB, total RAM 16334 MB
Set vram state to: NORMAL_VRAM
Device: cuda:0 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER : cudaMallocAsync
VAE dtype: torch.float32
Using pytorch cross attention
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "C:\Users\kevin\Desktop\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\nodes.py", line 1879, in load_custom_node
module_spec.loader.exec_module(module)
File "", line 936, in exec_module
File "", line 1073, in get_code
File "", line 1130, in get_data
FileNotFoundError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'C:\\Users\\kevin\\Desktop\\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\\ComfyUI_windows_portable\\ComfyUI\\custom_nodes\\clip-interrogator-ext\\__init__.py'
Cannot import C:\Users\kevin\Desktop\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\custom_nodes\clip-interrogator-ext module for custom nodes: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'C:\\Users\\kevin\\Desktop\\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\\ComfyUI_windows_portable\\ComfyUI\\custom_nodes\\clip-interrogator-ext\\__init__.py'
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "C:\Users\kevin\Desktop\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\nodes.py", line 1879, in load_custom_node
module_spec.loader.exec_module(module)
File "", line 936, in exec_module
File "", line 1073, in get_code
File "", line 1130, in get_data
FileNotFoundError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'C:\\Users\\kevin\\Desktop\\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\\ComfyUI_windows_portable\\ComfyUI\\custom_nodes\\ComfyUI-AnimateDiff-Evolved-main\\__init__.py'
Cannot import C:\Users\kevin\Desktop\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\custom_nodes\ComfyUI-AnimateDiff-Evolved-main module for custom nodes: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'C:\\Users\\kevin\\Desktop\\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\\ComfyUI_windows_portable\\ComfyUI\\custom_nodes\\ComfyUI-AnimateDiff-Evolved-main\\__init__.py'
Adding C:\Users\kevin\Desktop\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\custom_nodes to sys.path
Efficiency Nodes: Attempting to add Control Net options to the 'HiRes-Fix Script' Node (comfyui_controlnet_aux add-on)...Success!
Loaded Efficiency nodes from C:\Users\kevin\Desktop\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\custom_nodes\efficiency-nodes-comfyui
Loaded ControlNetPreprocessors nodes from C:\Users\kevin\Desktop\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\custom_nodes\comfyui_controlnet_aux
Loaded AdvancedControlNet nodes from C:\Users\kevin\Desktop\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\custom_nodes\ComfyUI-Advanced-ControlNet
Loaded AnimateDiff from C:\Users\kevin\Desktop\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\custom_nodes\comfyui-animatediff\animatediff/sliding_schedule.py
Could not find IPAdapter nodes
Loaded VideoHelperSuite from C:\Users\kevin\Desktop\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\custom_nodes\ComfyUI-VideoHelperSuite
Could not load ImpactPack nodes Could not find ImpactPack nodes
Total VRAM 6144 MB, total RAM 16334 MB
Set vram state to: NORMAL_VRAM
Device: cuda:0 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER : cudaMallocAsync
VAE dtype: torch.float32
### Loading: ComfyUI-Manager (V2.34)
### ComfyUI Revision: 2186 [46daf0a9] Released on '2024-05-16'
#fix sys.stdout.isatty
[ComfyUI-Manager] default cache updated: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ltdrdata/ComfyUI-Managemain/model-list.json
[ComfyUI-Manager] default cache updated: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ltdrdata/ComfyUI-Managemain/alter-list.json
[ComfyUI-Manager] default cache updated: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ltdrdata/ComfyUI-Managemain/custom-node-list.json
[ComfyUI-Manager] default cache updated: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ltdrdata/ComfyUI-Managemain/extension-node-map.json
--------------
### Mixlab Nodes: Loaded
LaMaInpainting.available True
ClipInterrogator.available True
PromptGenerate.available True
ChinesePrompt.available True
RembgNode_.available True
--------------
------------------------------------------
Comfyroll Studio v1.76 : 175 Nodes Loaded
------------------------------------------
** For changes, please see patch notes at https://github.com/Suzie1/ComfyUI_Comfyroll_CustomNodes/blob/main/Patch_Notes.md
** For help, please see the wiki at https://github.com/Suzie1/ComfyUI_Comfyroll_CustomNodes/wiki
------------------------------------------
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "C:\Users\kevin\Desktop\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\nodes.py", line 1879, in load_custom_node
module_spec.loader.exec_module(module)
File "", line 936, in exec_module
File "", line 1073, in get_code
File "", line 1130, in get_data
FileNotFoundError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'C:\\Users\\kevin\\Desktop\\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\\ComfyUI_windows_portable\\ComfyUI\\custom_nodes\\distill2\\__init__.py'
Cannot import C:\Users\kevin\Desktop\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\custom_nodes\distill2 module for custom nodes: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'C:\\Users\\kevin\\Desktop\\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\\ComfyUI_windows_portable\\ComfyUI\\custom_nodes\\distill2\\__init__.py'
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "C:\Users\kevin\Desktop\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\nodes.py", line 1879, in load_custom_node
module_spec.loader.exec_module(module)
File "", line 936, in exec_module
File "", line 1073, in get_code
File "", line 1130, in get_data
FileNotFoundError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'C:\\Users\\kevin\\Desktop\\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\\ComfyUI_windows_portable\\ComfyUI\\custom_nodes\\LAMA\\__init__.py'

I have the problem with the following Custom Nodes, which when I want to install manually, I get an error:
- Clip-interrogator-ext
- ComfyUI-AnimateDiff-Evolved-main
- distill2
- LAMA
__________________________________________________
​
Total VRAM 6144 MB, total RAM 16334 MB
Set vram state to: NORMAL_VRAM
Device: cuda:0 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER : cudaMallocAsync
VAE dtype: torch.float32
Using pytorch cross attention
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "C:\Users\kevin\Desktop\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\nodes.py", line 1879, in load_custom_node
module_spec.loader.exec_module(module)
File "", line 936, in exec_module
File "", line 1073, in get_code
File "", line 1130, in get_data
FileNotFoundError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'C:\\Users\\kevin\\Desktop\\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\\ComfyUI_windows_portable\\ComfyUI\\custom_nodes\\clip-interrogator-ext\\__init__.py'
Cannot import C:\Users\kevin\Desktop\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\custom_nodes\clip-interrogator-ext module for custom nodes: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'C:\\Users\\kevin\\Desktop\\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\\ComfyUI_windows_portable\\ComfyUI\\custom_nodes\\clip-interrogator-ext\\__init__.py'
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "C:\Users\kevin\Desktop\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\nodes.py", line 1879, in load_custom_node
module_spec.loader.exec_module(module)
File "", line 936, in exec_module
File "", line 1073, in get_code
File "", line 1130, in get_data
FileNotFoundError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'C:\\Users\\kevin\\Desktop\\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\\ComfyUI_windows_portable\\ComfyUI\\custom_nodes\\ComfyUI-AnimateDiff-Evolved-main\\__init__.py'
Cannot import C:\Users\kevin\Desktop\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\custom_nodes\ComfyUI-AnimateDiff-Evolved-main module for custom nodes: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'C:\\Users\\kevin\\Desktop\\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\\ComfyUI_windows_portable\\ComfyUI\\custom_nodes\\ComfyUI-AnimateDiff-Evolved-main\\__init__.py'
Adding C:\Users\kevin\Desktop\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\custom_nodes to sys.path
Efficiency Nodes: Attempting to add Control Net options to the 'HiRes-Fix Script' Node (comfyui_controlnet_aux add-on)...Success!
Loaded Efficiency nodes from C:\Users\kevin\Desktop\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\custom_nodes\efficiency-nodes-comfyui
Loaded ControlNetPreprocessors nodes from C:\Users\kevin\Desktop\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\custom_nodes\comfyui_controlnet_aux
Loaded AdvancedControlNet nodes from C:\Users\kevin\Desktop\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\custom_nodes\ComfyUI-Advanced-ControlNet
Loaded AnimateDiff from C:\Users\kevin\Desktop\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\custom_nodes\comfyui-animatediff\animatediff/sliding_schedule.py
Could not find IPAdapter nodes
Loaded VideoHelperSuite from C:\Users\kevin\Desktop\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\custom_nodes\ComfyUI-VideoHelperSuite
Could not load ImpactPack nodes Could not find ImpactPack nodes
Total VRAM 6144 MB, total RAM 16334 MB
Set vram state to: NORMAL_VRAM
Device: cuda:0 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER : cudaMallocAsync
VAE dtype: torch.float32
### Loading: ComfyUI-Manager (V2.34)
### ComfyUI Revision: 2186 [46daf0a9] Released on '2024-05-16'
#fix sys.stdout.isatty
[ComfyUI-Manager] default cache updated: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ltdrdata/ComfyUI-Managemain/model-list.json
[ComfyUI-Manager] default cache updated: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ltdrdata/ComfyUI-Managemain/alter-list.json
[ComfyUI-Manager] default cache updated: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ltdrdata/ComfyUI-Managemain/custom-node-list.json
[ComfyUI-Manager] default cache updated: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ltdrdata/ComfyUI-Managemain/extension-node-map.json
--------------
### Mixlab Nodes: Loaded
LaMaInpainting.available True
ClipInterrogator.available True
PromptGenerate.available True
ChinesePrompt.available True
RembgNode_.available True
--------------
------------------------------------------
Comfyroll Studio v1.76 : 175 Nodes Loaded
------------------------------------------
** For changes, please see patch notes at https://github.com/Suzie1/ComfyUI_Comfyroll_CustomNodes/blob/main/Patch_Notes.md
** For help, please see the wiki at https://github.com/Suzie1/ComfyUI_Comfyroll_CustomNodes/wiki
------------------------------------------
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "C:\Users\kevin\Desktop\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\nodes.py", line 1879, in load_custom_node
module_spec.loader.exec_module(module)
File "", line 936, in exec_module
File "", line 1073, in get_code
File "", line 1130, in get_data
FileNotFoundError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'C:\\Users\\kevin\\Desktop\\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\\ComfyUI_windows_portable\\ComfyUI\\custom_nodes\\distill2\\__init__.py'
Cannot import C:\Users\kevin\Desktop\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\custom_nodes\distill2 module for custom nodes: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'C:\\Users\\kevin\\Desktop\\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\\ComfyUI_windows_portable\\ComfyUI\\custom_nodes\\distill2\\__init__.py'
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "C:\Users\kevin\Desktop\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\nodes.py", line 1879, in load_custom_node
module_spec.loader.exec_module(module)
File "", line 936, in exec_module
File "", line 1073, in get_code
File "", line 1130, in get_data
FileNotFoundError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'C:\\Users\\kevin\\Desktop\\ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu121_or_cpu\\ComfyUI_windows_portable\\ComfyUI\\custom_nodes\\LAMA\\__init__.py'

Full Story → https://PiQSuite.com/reuters/g7-to-back-eu-line-on-frozen-russian-assets-italian-official-says
Finance ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) major democracies meeting in Italy next week will back a European Union plan to use the profits from frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine's war effort, an Italian Treasury official said on Thursday.

Hello! I am planning to visit Tokyo Disneyland/sea for 1 TDL/2 TDS in late sept, T, W, TH. I will only have happy 15, once, IF I can successfully get a Miracosta reservation (the packages are just too rich for my blood) so I was wondering about queueing before open.
This will be after Fantasy springs opens. We have 4 adults. I plan on getting in the park opening lines at 7am if we don't have happy 15 and purchasing premier access to Beauty and the Beast TDL (40th pass monsters and Mickeys map lottery), Frozen FS (and one FS standby and Indy) and Tangled FS (standby FS ride) upon entry. My question is do all 4 of us need to be in that line at that time? Or can 2 of us hold space until about 820 or so? I know the Japanese are pretty famous and hardcore for queuing etiquette so this was the only place I was really considering this. 3 days of that process would be weary.
Bonus question: how does rain/storm/typhoon affect the entry situation?

I’m aware that this is unconventional. Believe me, I’ve tried conventional – it didn’t end well for anyone. I require a certain open mindedness that I’m hoping I might find here, but more importantly, I need my future husband to know the rules. Meet-cutes are well and good on the screen, but they don’t guarantee a partner’s ability to follow basic instructions. That was my mistake the first time.
So, begging your pardon for my bluntness, I’m going to be clear about my requirements. Please read carefully – if you can’t meet them, there’s no point in going any further.

• Must want children. At least one child, anyway. I’m open to the idea of more, but one is an absolute must.
• Must be in it for the long haul. Until our child turns eighteen, to be precise. I understand that level of commitment is a daunting prospect, particularly when we have not yet met. After our child is born, you are welcome to ignore me, if you please, or take your pleasure elsewhere – though I will warn you that it might be difficult to come by. But you will live under my roof until our child is an adult.
• Homebody preferred. It will make the next two decades easier on you.
• Must have impeccable manners. I will provide a manual outlining the required etiquette, but you must at least have a grasp of basic courtesy to begin with. If you let your tongue run away with you, or don’t bother to wish your neighbours a good morning when you pass them in the street, stop reading – this is not the opportunity for you. Seriously.

This is the part where I should talk about myself, but let’s face it, this is hardly a romantic proposal. I require commitment up-front and there’s no guarantee that, once we do meet, we’ll really even like each other. If we do? Fantastic! It’ll help the years fly by. If we don’t, you’ll still have the main prize – years of rent-free, expenses-free living at The Old Oak Hotel.
A sanctuary has stood in this spot in one form or another since before the ley lines. During its tenure, it has been flooded, put to the flame, and pounded into dust. Time and again, it has been reimagined and rebuilt. Most of the current building dates back to Victoria’s reign, though the oldest parts were constructed in the 13^th century. At the very bottom of the garden, cut into the surrounding hills, there is a cave bearing handprints of red ochre.
There has always been an Edwards at the hotel, though of course we haven’t always gone by that name. You would think a family so tied to one place would do a better job of keeping records, but no one is certain of our origins. Perhaps it was a cosmic bargain, or perhaps mere luck – whether good or bad, I have never been able to decide. Either way, our presence is required. Throughout our spotty past, there’s a story here and there of an Edwards deserting their post, and it always coincides with a particularly brutal period of history.
I inherited the position five years ago. At midnight on my eighteenth birthday, my parents took their already-packed suitcases and left. I don’t blame them for their abandonment; I intend to one day do the same thing to my – or, hopefully, our – child.
They send me postcards and photos from time-to-time, always smiling on sunny beaches. Money isn’t a concern for them. That’s part of whatever mysterious deal our ancestors made – when a caretaker leaves in good-standing, they will never want for anything again. They could travel the world for the rest of their lives, always sleeping in the softest sheets and dining in the finest restaurants, and never find their pockets empty.
Keep this point in mind, for if you can meet my requirements, you will share my good fortune.
And what must we do in return? I can all but hear you scream the question. Why, very little. The presence of an Edwards ensures that the guests can’t stray from the hotel grounds. Most of our guests are live-in residents, though we do get the occasional walk-in. Where they come from, I don’t know, for we are not visible to most people who stumble upon our lonely corner of the world. I’ve come to believe the hotel chooses to reveal itself when its lacking entertainment, or to fill a need.
Jimmy, my first husband, was one such guest.
For the most part, the guests are harmless. They’ll give you a little fright from time-to-time, popping out from a wall or turning your bathwater into blood, but I find it hard to hold it against them. I’ve found twenty-three years here dreary; I can’t imagine how bored I would be after five hundred.
There are a few exceptions you should be aware of:

• Eric. Our resident serial murderer. He claims to have been Jack the Ripper while he still drew breath, but I think he’s just a blowhard. He knows better than to harm an Edwards, but I’m afraid spouses are fair game. Years ago, my grandmother managed to confine him to the fourth floor, so you will be perfectly safe from him as long as you never set foot there. Occasionally, the lift will stop on that floor even though you haven’t pressed the button for it. Do not get out. Even if the lift appears to be on fire or starts filling with murky water. Wait for the doors to close again, then go to another floor. It should only take a few hours.
• The Thing in the Cellar. I don’t know what It is; no one ever has. We only know It eats rats and must be fed once a day. If I’m ever ill or incapacitated, this task will fall to you. Harvest the rats from the traps in the garden, then stand at the cellar door and throw them down the stairs. Do not walk down the stairs and do not forget to feed It. You don’t want to be the first person to see Its’ face.
• Mrs Jones. Old fashioned and a stickler for manners, she’s the reason I’m advertising for a husband rather than a boyfriend. She won’t abide a couple living in sin under the same roof as her. Really, though, she’s a sweet old thing. Full of stories about the war and always ready to help if I get stuck on a recipe. I don’t blame her for what happened with Jimmy at all. I’d warned him enough times.

Guests aside, there are other rules you will need to follow to ensure a safe, satisfactory stay at The Old Oak Hotel. They are listed in a book that has been re-penned many times over the centuries. If you choose to accept this opportunity, I will insist that you read it until you can recite the pages word-for-word.
However, there are some rules so critical for your survival that I feel compelled to list them here:

• With the exception of the fourth floor, you are welcome to roam the hotel and its grounds as you please. But you must never set foot outside of our land – not until our child is old enough to fulfil their duties. If I were to do so, it would unleash pandemonium – plague, peril, perhaps another world war. I’m afraid you would be less crucial to the fate of the world, but it would certainly be a personal disaster.
• Never look in the mirrors in room 33.
• I’ve touched this point already, but it bears repeating: never be rude to Mrs Jones.

Failure to observe that last rule is what got Jimmy.
She doted on him. I think he reminded her of her long-dead son, for she pampered him as if he were one of her own. Each morning, she had breakfast ready for him before I had so much as opened my eyes, and she developed a habit of trailing along after him, complimenting his skill as he oiled rusted hinges or set a crooked picture straight.
At first, Jimmy basked in the attention. But by the end of his second month, he was growing bored of Mrs Jones, me, and the hotel itself. We pride ourselves on our facilities. If you need more activity than a turn around the garden, we have a lovely indoor pool – it freezes over every now and then, but most of the time it’s perfectly usable. Our library is unmatched. Although the room is cramped, it has every book imaginable; you only need to think of a particular title, and it will appear on one of the shelves. And now that I’ve dragged us kicking and screaming into the 21^st century, we have a wide array of streaming services.
It wasn’t enough for Jimmy. He wanted to go out – eat in a restaurant, watch a film in the cinema, see any faces other than the ones he was surrounded by every day. He began having a drink each evening. One drink turned into several, and after a few weeks, the bar became his permanent residence between dusk and midnight.
He wasn’t the only one getting bored. I had been thrilled when he first arrived; ecstatic when he agreed to stay. How marvellous to feel real flesh beneath my fingers after five years of only the dead for company. What a relief to have some assistance in the many tasks required to keep the hotel running as it should.
The more he drank, the less inclined he was to help – or even spend time in my company. He no longer visited my bed, choosing a room for himself on the opposite end of the floor. When our paths did cross, at best he would ignore me. At worst, he would nitpick or outright rail against me, blaming me for his captivity.
Still, I made an effort to be present whenever he frequented the bar. As lovely as Mrs Jones can be, she does have a tendency to nag. Before and after her death, she was close to teetotal, only consenting to take a single sherry at Christmas, and drinking outside of special occasions is something of a bugbear of hers.
“Think of your health, dear,” she would tell Jimmy brusquely. “You’ll miss it when it’s gone.”
Or, “How about we switch to a nice apple juice now? You’ve had quite enough to drink for one night.”
Most of the time, Jimmy managed to pull himself together enough to flash a charming smile and distract her with a compliment about her latest meal. But after one drink too many, I’d noticed him gritting his teeth and just barely managing to hold his tongue.
It was better if I was present. Playing the doting wife, I insisted on pouring his drinks, watering them down out of his sight. When Mrs Jones’s nagging bordered on relentless, I could always distract her with a game of gin rummy.
On his final day, I was running behind. The ghoul on the second floor – usually the least demanding of our guests – had come down with some dreadful illness, or else decided he wanted to inconvenience me. Either way, I had woken that morning to the foulest stench I had ever experienced. I followed it to his room and found every surface covered in putrid green-blank gunge, its consistency somewhere between mucus and vomit.
All day I scrubbed, taking only brief breaks to step outside before I fainted. By the time the room was restored to a passable state, and I had filled several bin bags to bursting with filthy rags, it was already deep into the night. Mindful of the time, I paused only long enough to wash the streaks of muck from my arms and face before racing to the bar.
I arrived just in time to hear Jimmy’s last words. After he spat them at Mrs Jones, she only stared for a small eternity, her mouth frozen in the motherly smile she wore whenever she scolded him.
Then, like melted wax, her face began to shift.
I shouted at Jimmy to run, but he didn’t need to be told. Before the words left my mouth, he leapt from his barstool and streaked through the door. Mrs Jones followed him seconds later. Her lips were already peeling back to reveal rows upon rows of long, wickedly sharp fangs, while claws sprouted from beneath her lace-edged cuffs.
I sprinted after them, but Jimmy was fuelled by fear and Mrs Jones by whatever force propels the Mrs Joneses of the world. I followed the screeching to the lobby. Breathless, I arrived to see he had arrived within mere feet of the entrance before Mrs Jones grabbed him.
Claws wrapped around his throat, she lifted him into the air. As I watched, her jaw unhinged, the lower part dropping so that it was nearly level with her chest.
That sight drove all the sense out of my head. Forgetting every rule my parents had ever drilled into me, I lunged at her.
She batted me away as though I weighed no more than a fly.
I crashed into the reception desk, the breath bursting from my lungs in a great woosh. I was certain that I would die, for no amount of effort seemed to force air back into my aching chest. At last, as my vision began to dim, I managed to take a small gulp – then another, and another, until I was able to draw myself together enough to regain my feet.
By that time, Mrs Jones had nearly finished her dinner. Jimmy’s chest was splayed open, muscle and shattered ribs protruding every which way from his flesh, and she was devouring the last few bites of his heart.
His head was angled towards me. The light had winked out from his eyes, but they still held his final terror – and an accusation which, I was quite certain, was directed at me. I would like to say I felt only horror, but I couldn’t help my sudden jolt of irritation. How may times had I told him to mind his manners?
Mrs Jones gulped, the sound thick and wet in her gullet, and dropped what remained of Jimmy to the floor.
Then she turned to me.
Here’s another rule for you, one which I hope you never have cause to use: never interfere with a kill.
The Mrs Jones who used to kiss my grazed knees, who argued with my mother for the right to read me bedtime stories, was no longer at the wheel. No amount of pleading or reasoning would move her.
I could only run.
Spinning around, I vaulted over the reception desk and raced for the office behind it. If Jimmy had not been out of his mind with fear and booze, he might have remembered the rules and survived; it was one of several staff-only rooms throughout the hotel warded to keep out unwanted guests.
Just ten steps from desk to door, yet it was the longest journey of my life. My hard-won breath burned my throat; my heart pounded in my ears, deafening me to all other sounds than Mrs Jones’s heavy, pounding footsteps.
Grasping the handle, her hot, copper-tanged breath was on my neck. Fire exploded in my flesh as she raked her claws down my back. A step further away, and I wouldn’t have made it; the pain would have been too great. But I managed to throw myself into the office and slam the door before crumpling to the ground.
Before I passed out, I heard her grunting and shrieking outside, furious that she couldn’t get in.
Three days I spent in the office, emerging only to feed The Thing in the Cellar before scurrying back to my hiding place. Whenever I left, I tried not to look at the mangled heap that used to be Jimmy. There was no avoiding the smell, though.
With no small difficulty, and the help of a first aid kit, I managed to treat and bandage the wounds on my back. They bled sluggishly all throughout the first day, but thankfully didn’t fester.
On the morning of the fourth day, there was a tentative knock on the door followed by the sound of rapidly retreating footsteps. I waited until they had disappeared down the corridor before cracking the door open. On the floor was a freshly baked Victoria sponge and a beautifully written note of apology.
It took every ounce of courage I possessed, but that evening I forced myself to go to the dining room. Mrs Jones was waiting for me, her eyes red-rimmed, a steaming cottage pie on the table. I tried not to flinch as she took my hand, re-iterating the apology she had already delivered in writing.
The next morning, she helped me clean Jimmy up.
We treated each other cautiously for a while, but eventually we got back to playing gin rummy again. When the scars on my back twinge, as they sometimes do, she helps me rub a soothing ointment into them. Even though I’ve told her it’s not necessary, she apologises every time.
So, you’ve heard my story and you have my proposal. If you think you could be the man for me, I invite you to visit. You will need to drink a cup of ram’s blood (a pinch of nutmeg makes it a little more tolerable) and light a black candle before bedtime. When you next wake, you will find yourself at our gates. As travel arrangements go, it’s hardly the Orient Express, but it beats the airfare.
If you have read this without flinching, if you can stomach the journey to get here, if you walk up to our door and find the nerve to open it, I have one more instruction for you.
Just as you enter, look to your right. You will see a deep brown stain on the lobby carpet. I’ve scrubbed and scrubbed but it just won’t come out. Perhaps that’s for the best. It’s a good reminder of what will happen to you should you call Mrs Jones a “nosy old bat”.
And when you run into Jimmy – as you will, for he still likes hanging around the bar in the evening, his silvery wounds glistening as though they had just been inflicted – don’t let him convince you he was some sort of victim.
He knew the rules.

The Battle for the Burger ThroneIn the kingdom of Fast Food, where golden arches pierced the sky and crimson and white buckets held the promise of fried delights, a great conflict brewed. Four mighty houses vied for supremacy, their leaders each intent on claiming the coveted Burger Throne.
House McDonald’s, led by the shrewd and ambitious Ray Kroc, commanded a legion of loyalists from the bustling city of Drive-Thru. Kroc's golden arches were seen as beacons of efficiency and consistency. His armies, clad in red and yellow, marched with a precision that only years of franchising could instill.
House KFC, with its charismatic leader Harland Sanders, held sway in the southern regions. Known for his secret recipe of eleven herbs and spices, Sanders inspired fierce loyalty among his followers. The scent of his fried chicken wafted through the air, a tantalizing promise of comfort and home.
House Wendy’s, led by the wise and kind-hearted Dave Thomas, occupied the fertile plains where square patties were the norm. Dave’s soldiers, carrying banners of blue and red, were renowned for their fresh, never frozen beef, and the warmth of their Frosty desserts.
At the heart of it all sat the Burger King, a monarch whose reign spanned decades. His kingdom was vast, but his grip on the throne was slipping. The flame-grilled taste that had once enthralled the masses was no longer enough to quell the rising ambitions of his rivals.
The Great Feast of Fast Food was upon them, a gathering where allegiances were tested and strategies were forged. Ray Kroc, ever the strategist, arrived first, his golden arches emblazoned on his chariot. He cast a calculating eye over the banquet, noting the positions of his rivals.
Next came Harland Sanders, his white suit pristine, his demeanor relaxed but his mind sharp. He exchanged polite greetings with Ray, though both knew pleasantries would soon give way to battle.
Dave Thomas entered last, his presence a calming influence amid the tension. His focus was not just on victory but on ensuring the people of Fast Food had quality meals.
As the feast began, the Burger King rose to address the assembly. “Welcome, noble houses. The time has come to determine who shall lead the kingdom of Fast Food into the future.”
A murmur of anticipation swept through the hall. Ray Kroc stood, his voice cutting through the noise. “Efficiency and consistency are the pillars of any great kingdom. Under my rule, every meal will be swift, every bite the same.”
Harland Sanders chuckled softly. “Aye, Ray, but people crave more than speed. They crave the comfort of home, the taste of tradition. That is what House KFC offers.”
Dave Thomas rose, his demeanor thoughtful. “Both of you make good points. But the people also deserve quality. Fresh ingredients, prepared with care. That is the foundation of House Wendy’s.”
The Burger King listened, his expression unreadable. Finally, he spoke. “Each of you brings something valuable to the table. But this throne cannot be shared. Prove your worth in the arena, and the crown shall be yours.”
The arena was a sprawling marketplace where each house set up their best offerings. The people of Fast Food would judge with their coins and their loyalty.
Ray Kroc’s soldiers moved with military precision, their assembly lines a marvel to behold. Harland Sanders’ followers cooked with heart, their meals rich and satisfying. Dave Thomas’ people served with a smile, their quality evident in every bite.
As the sun set, the people cast their votes. The results were close, but one leader emerged victorious, their values resonating most with the kingdom.
The Burger King rose to announce the winner. “The new ruler of Fast Food is…”
Dave Thomas, founder of House Wendy’s, stepped forward to the cheers of the crowd. His focus on quality and care had won the hearts of the people. As he took the Burger Throne, he vowed to lead with wisdom and integrity, ensuring that every meal was a feast fit for a king.

The Battle for the Burger ThroneIn the kingdom of Fast Food, where golden arches pierced the sky and crimson and white buckets held the promise of fried delights, a great conflict brewed. Four mighty houses vied for supremacy, their leaders each intent on claiming the coveted Burger Throne.
House McDonald’s, led by the shrewd and ambitious Ray Kroc, commanded a legion of loyalists from the bustling city of Drive-Thru. Kroc's golden arches were seen as beacons of efficiency and consistency. His armies, clad in red and yellow, marched with a precision that only years of franchising could instill.
House KFC, with its charismatic leader Harland Sanders, held sway in the southern regions. Known for his secret recipe of eleven herbs and spices, Sanders inspired fierce loyalty among his followers. The scent of his fried chicken wafted through the air, a tantalizing promise of comfort and home.
House Wendy’s, led by the wise and kind-hearted Dave Thomas, occupied the fertile plains where square patties were the norm. Dave’s soldiers, carrying banners of blue and red, were renowned for their fresh, never frozen beef, and the warmth of their Frosty desserts.
At the heart of it all sat the Burger King, a monarch whose reign spanned decades. His kingdom was vast, but his grip on the throne was slipping. The flame-grilled taste that had once enthralled the masses was no longer enough to quell the rising ambitions of his rivals.
The Great Feast of Fast Food was upon them, a gathering where allegiances were tested and strategies were forged. Ray Kroc, ever the strategist, arrived first, his golden arches emblazoned on his chariot. He cast a calculating eye over the banquet, noting the positions of his rivals.
Next came Harland Sanders, his white suit pristine, his demeanor relaxed but his mind sharp. He exchanged polite greetings with Ray, though both knew pleasantries would soon give way to battle.
Dave Thomas entered last, his presence a calming influence amid the tension. His focus was not just on victory but on ensuring the people of Fast Food had quality meals.
As the feast began, the Burger King rose to address the assembly. “Welcome, noble houses. The time has come to determine who shall lead the kingdom of Fast Food into the future.”
A murmur of anticipation swept through the hall. Ray Kroc stood, his voice cutting through the noise. “Efficiency and consistency are the pillars of any great kingdom. Under my rule, every meal will be swift, every bite the same.”
Harland Sanders chuckled softly. “Aye, Ray, but people crave more than speed. They crave the comfort of home, the taste of tradition. That is what House KFC offers.”
Dave Thomas rose, his demeanor thoughtful. “Both of you make good points. But the people also deserve quality. Fresh ingredients, prepared with care. That is the foundation of House Wendy’s.”
The Burger King listened, his expression unreadable. Finally, he spoke. “Each of you brings something valuable to the table. But this throne cannot be shared. Prove your worth in the arena, and the crown shall be yours.”
The arena was a sprawling marketplace where each house set up their best offerings. The people of Fast Food would judge with their coins and their loyalty.
Ray Kroc’s soldiers moved with military precision, their assembly lines a marvel to behold. Harland Sanders’ followers cooked with heart, their meals rich and satisfying. Dave Thomas’ people served with a smile, their quality evident in every bite.
As the sun set, the people cast their votes. The results were close, but one leader emerged victorious, their values resonating most with the kingdom.
The Burger King rose to announce the winner. “The new ruler of Fast Food is…”
Dave Thomas, founder of House Wendy’s, stepped forward to the cheers of the crowd. His focus on quality and care had won the hearts of the people. As he took the Burger Throne, he vowed to lead with wisdom and integrity, ensuring that every meal was a feast fit for a king.

I've installed ComfyUI and it worked exactly ONE time before without making any additional changes it started to constantly pause on launch. I'm unable to start the program at all.

 File "C:\AI4\AI8Comfy\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\nodes.py", line 1734, in load_custom_node module_spec.loader.exec_module(module) File "", line 883, in exec_module File "", line 241, in _call_with_frames_removed File "C:\AI4\AI8Comfy\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\custom_nodes\ComfyUI_IPAdapter_plus\__init__.py", line 1, in  from .IPAdapterPlus import NODE_CLASS_MAPPINGS, NODE_DISPLAY_NAME_MAPPINGS File "C:\AI4\AI8Comfy\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\custom_nodes\ComfyUI_IPAdapter_plus\IPAdapterPlus.py", line 8, in  from comfy.clip_vision import clip_preprocess ImportError: cannot import name 'clip_preprocess' from 'comfy.clip_vision' (C:\AI4\AI8Comfy\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\comfy\clip_vision.py) Cannot import C:\AI4\AI8Comfy\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\custom_nodes\ComfyUI_IPAdapter_plus module for custom nodes: cannot import name 'clip_preprocess' from 'comfy.clip_vision' (C:\AI4\AI8Comfy\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\comfy\clip_vision.py) C:\AI4\AI8Comfy\ComfyUI_windows_portable>pause Press any key to continue . . . 

My Samsung fridge suddenly stopped dispensing water, while making ice fine. We live in a hard water area so I assumed it was timescale build up. I’ve tested the water source and filter and both had high water pressure. I stuck a skewer up the dispenser to see if it was just a frozen water line but was met with a block straight away. I attempted to put a ziplock bag with timescale remover on the dispenser but it didn’t work. I pushed up the dispenser with a metal skewer and now some water is coming out but at an extremely slow rate. I’m wondering how to descale the line, as the skewer gets about 6 inches up but can’t go any further. Thanks! Edit* it has now turned on vacation mode itself and won’t let me turn it off?

Hi all, I lost my wallet while coming back from Manchester to Liverpool yesterday. I would be thankful if anybody has any tips and/or has happened to stumble upon it (however unlikely that is). The details:
15/05/2024 20:46 train from Manchester Oxford Road to Liverpool Lime Street. I had tickets in my wallet an took them out to pass through the gates.
I alighted 21:38 at South Parkway station. When I was on top of the stairs, I realised that the wallet is no longer on me.
I took the next train to Lime Street to see if the previous train is still there, however at this point it had returned to depot, per Lime Street station crew's advice.
Ergo, the wallet was dropped:

1. On Oxford Road station
   
2. On the train
   
3. On South Parkway station
   

Bearing all in mind, I think the most probable is option 2 and that I left it on the train / it slipped out of my pocket. I have already called Oxford Road, South Parkway and Lime Street stations and left my details in case it's found. I also logged it via lostproperty.org and with Northern Line directly.
I attach picture of the wallet. There was no cash inside, and all items consist of 3 debit cards, 1 credit card (all frozen now) and two forms of ID - EU driving license and Citizen card.
Thank you all in advance.

Morning all, I'm trying to get emulated Hue up and running but I'm running into problems I don't understand or know how to fix it.
I've installed the normal version first and it worked without fuss. It's installed and I can find and use it in most apps.
I didn't realise that im not able to add this hub to hue app as they moved to V2 and it uses v1. So I uninstalled that version and installed the (dev) version with "master" tag, as this is suppose to have/will have V2 support. This is where the problems start, it installs this version fine also. But when trying to run it, I constantly get this error
[23:59:25] INFO: Starting Emulated Hue... Traceback (most recent call last): File "", line 189, in _run_module_as_main. File "", line 148, in _get_module_details. File "", line 112, in _get_module_details. File "/app/emulated_hue/__init__.py", line 4, in. . from . import controllers. File "/app/emulated_hue/controllers/__init__.py", line 5, in L. from .config import Config File "/app/emulated_hue/controllers/config.py", line 20, in from .devices import force_update_all File "/app/emulated_hue/controllers/devices.py", line 13, in from .models import ALL_STATES, Controller, EntityState File "/app/emulated_hue/controllers/models.py", line 104, in ALL_STATES: list = list(vars(EntityState).get("__fields__")) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ TypeError: 'NoneType' object is not iterable s6-rc: info: service legacy-services: stopping s6-rc: info: service legacy-services successfully stopped s6-rc: info: service legacy-cont-init: stopping s6-rc: info: service legacy-cont-init successfully stopped s6-rc: info: service fix-attrs: stopping s6-rc: info: service fix-attrs successfully stopped s6-rc: info: service s6rc-oneshot-runner: stopping s6-rc: info: service s6rc-oneshot-runner successfully stopped
I have no idea what is causing this or how I fix it. Can anybody please help a noob out?

It candidly sucked being surrounded by constant reminders that you’d lost the genetic lottery. Sure, it was easier than some people thought to get around the world without powers; it wasn’t like the government expected everyone to be a speedster or to be able to fly. Hell, a hundred years ago, nobody even had powers. The infrastructure was there. Life went on.
That said, staying cheery about the hand I’d been dealt was difficult. Enhanced perception was useful for a lot of things, from party tricks to always reading the fine print, but next to flight? Next to teleportation?
I’d gotten hung up on movement powers because I’d taken the bus to the bar, and the only superpower buses had was being late.
I was specifically at the bar for the sake of a blind date set up by my best friend; Todd was about two times my size and could throw a car across the street. His powers did nothing to help me with his current obsession with my dating life, but here we were. I supposed it was a fair obsession. I hadn’t been trying.
It honestly made sense that Todd had been keenly aware of romance since he’d met his soul mate. See, a strange thing with powers was that when you were around your soulmate, they were inexplicably stronger. Todd had met Soo-jung when she’d been on vacation in Crescent three years ago. They’d been inseparable since, and he’d been able to throw a car down three blocks instead of across the street.
Or so he claimed. Nobody was eager to volunteer their car for a demonstration, or anything else heavy and expensive, for that matter.
For my part, I hadn’t spent a lot of time guessing what would happen if I met my soulmate. It was a common train of thought for some, but I never found that it stopped at any fun stations. Instead, I indulged Todd’s meddling because he was my friend and bad dates at least made good stories.
“Gimme a sec, I’ll grab us another round,” Todd announced as he pushed out from our table. “Emma said she’s going to be here soon.”
“You bought the last one.”
“Yeah, now you can buy two in a row once Emma gets here and look generous. Think about it, man.”
“Sure,” I answered, but Todd was already walking away from the table and toward the bar.
Soo-jung leaned in. “You know he’s trying, right?”
“I know, maybe a little too much.”
“You don’t hear the half of it.”
“Oh, good.”
“I had to tell him to calm down when it came to buttering you up to Emma,” Soo-jung explained as she took a sip from her drink. “Sometimes I wonder about him.”
“I’m surprised he says anything nice about me.”
“He’d never say it to your face.” She watched Todd at the bar instead of looking at me during our conversation.
“Does that mean you’ll do it for him?”
“He trusts me to keep his secrets.”
“How about I suggest things and read your reaction?” I asked.
Soo-jung frowned in response before she pointedly rolled her eyes. She knew that reading reactions was one of my party tricks. If you couldn’t be powerful, you could at least read a room.
“Okay, fine. What do you know about Emma?”
“Her last name’s Tavish.”
“That’s it?”
“She works with Todd.”
“I knew that. He kept telling me she was a co-worker.”
“Todd thinks she’s cute.”
“He told you that?”
“No, but he has high standards for you.”
“That’s all the detail you have?”
“Todd’s not allowed to talk about work at hom- Hey, honey.”
Todd was back at the table holding all three pints in one arm; he passed one to each of us despite Soo being less than halfway finished with her current drink. Once he’d finished distributing, he turned to Soo-jung and asked her a question in broken Korean.
He’d been trying to learn, and he was still struggling. Not that I knew the language.
“Yes,” Soo-jung responded in English, “we were talking about Emma; no Korean around Toby. It’s rude.”
“I thought you wanted me to practice?”
“You can practice at home.”
“So we were talking about Emma,” Todd jumped back to the previous topic instead of discussing his inconsistent study of Korean. “Awesome woman, perfect for you, man.”
“What makes you say that?” I asked.
“Oh, she sucks too.”
“Ah, thanks.”
“He means powers-wise,” Soo-jung stepped in.
“So you do know something about her,” I pointed out.
“Something? I’ve been telling Soo everything since we got in the car to come here.” Just as Todd finished, he flinched. Soo had kicked him under the table. “But it wasn’t much, really.”
“What do I get to know?”
“I don’t want to taint your expectations.” He pushed his empty glass away, swapping it with the new one. “But can I be serious for a second?”
I considered it. “Sure.”
“She’s like my boss’, boss’ boss. So best behavior.”
“Wait. Seriously?” I leaned in. Todd worked for the CPRU, which meant that she had to be a heavy hitter if she was high ranked in the city’s power regulation department. “She’s—”
“Not quite.” He backpedaled. “We share a building. She’s straight DPR.”
I blinked twice at that. “Way to set me up to fail.”
“You should believe in yourself,” Soo cut in.
“Todd I w—”
“And she’s here.” Todd had turned his attention away from me and toward his phone. “Hope you’re ready to meet your soulmate.”
“Honey, don’t set that expectation.”
The bar’s front door opened, and I was the only one who could hear it over the atmosphere. I glanced over, and there she was.
She was stunning by any definition, but especially mine. Maybe it was a strange way to describe someone, but she looked beautifully meticulous, from brunette hair to olive skin, to her light blue jacket; everything was in place, and everything about her was gorgeous. Assuming that was Emma, I owed Todd big time.
“Okay, that can’t be her, right?” I asked Todd. After a second, without a response, I checked to see if he was waving at her, but he was stock still, a stupid grin plastered over his face. “Todd?”
Holy shit. The DPR had some crazy people on their roster, but this- I waved a hand in front of Todd’s face and snapped my fingers, then caught the sound of a single cautious heel clicking against the floor.
I stood up from the table and looked back at the door. She’d taken one step into the bar but had gotten caught in the same shock I had. “Emma?” I asked.
She snapped her attention to me -god, her eyes were- but she just looked confused.
“Toby,” I explained, “I’m Todd’s friend.” I motioned over to Todd’s still body and took the first steps to say hello. “This is really impressive. I didn’t think this was possible. It’s cool to meet someone wh—”
“I’m not doing this,” she said. “This is impossible. How are yo—”
“Trust me, this isn’t in my…” We stared at each other for a moment. Somehow, time stopped more than it already was.
“Holy shit.” We both said it at once.
“So this isn’t you?” she asked. Her eyes were still meandering around the frozen bar instead of staying in the conversation with me.
“No, it’s not,” I walked along her gaze and ended up against the bar counter, “did Todd tell you what my power was?”
“He just told me you wouldn’t mind having me around,” Emma answered, which somehow just brought up more questions.
“Enhanced perception,” I grabbed a drink off of the bar to see if I could; As soon as I touched it, it seemed to animate back to life. “What do you mean, ‘mind having you around’?”
“I dampen powers,” she explained, a little quieter than anything else she’d said, “make them weaker, hard to use. The technical definition is long and wordy so…” She sighed as she watched me slosh the beer around. “It’s a lot of trouble, really.”
“Probably good for work,” I offered.
“Pretty much the whole reason I have my job, but Callum wouldn’t admit that.” She approached, but there wasn’t an open seat near where I was standing, nor could we ask for someone to move. “Callum is—”
“Callum Rehsman, head of the D.P.R for the past six years,” I stepped in, “sorry, comes with the perception thing.”
“Honestly, I’m just glad I don’t have to explain it,” Emma took to leaning against the bar instead of walking over to a seat. She undid the top button of her shirt, which was probably too high for a date, anyway. “Emma Terish. Ring any bells up there?”
“No.”
“And you’re?”
“Toby Vander,” I put down the beer to offer my hand, and it froze as soon as I let go. We both paid attention to that instead of the potential formal hello.
“So this isn’t you.” Emma reached for the glass and picked it up; once she did, it animated just like it had with me. “And it isn’t me…”
I swallowed nothing. We’d both said holy shit for a reason, but it felt impossible to admit it. Wasn’t there supposed to be a — Well, something? Anything?
Then again, we were stopping time, and what else could you ask for?
“Do you want a drink, Toby?” Emma asked. She vaulted herself over the bar with a frankly shocking amount of grace for someone in a pantsuit.
“Uh, sure.”
“I’d ask what you were drinking, but we might have limited options,” she was considering her new vantage point from behind the counter.
I took the opportunity to grab the drink I’d left behind on the table. “I’ll use the one I had.” I tapped Todd’s hand for posterity, and nothing happened to him. “Any idea what this might—”
“No idea,” she answered without letting me finish, “but my job involves dealing with unknown powers, so…” She tried to use the soda-gun and swore when it didn’t work. “You learn to roll with it until people cooperate.”
“You still think I’m doing this?”
“I know it’s not me, and there aren’t many options here with us,” she said as she ducked behind the bar and came back up with a lemonade cooler, “but I came here for a date, and I plan to have one. Been a long week.”
I returned to the bar, finding a seat now that she was on the other side. “I just need to establish that this isn’t me. I’m not trying to—”
“If it isn’t you and it’s not me stopping time around us, then someone is giving us a very private venue for our first date.”
“Isn’t that nice?”
“It really is.” She took a sip of her drink, then pulled it away before she had time to swallow. “Shit. Do you have cash?”
“I’ll cover you.” She frowned at that; clearly she wasn’t satisfied with someone else paying for everything. “Plus, you’re serving me tonight. So…” That seemed to be enough plausible deniability to satisfy her. “Cheers?”
“Cheers.”
Throughout drink one, we were casting nervous glances around the paused bar; by drink five, we were laughing, just the two of us. Hours dripped by with the free beer… or they didn’t… It was hard to tell.
Emma added her sixth can to her pyramid and composed herself. “Okay, okay, okay. One second.” She took a deep breath. “This has been so much fun, but I told Todd I’d tell him when I got here so” — she needed another second to find her verbal footing — “can you stop this now?”
“Stop what?” I was halfway through a sip.
“This is the coolest power I’ve seen but—”
“It’s not me, I promise,” my insistence ended up sounding more like a drunk debate. The drunk part was accurate.
“So your power really is enhanced perception.”
“Yes.”
“Okay. Okay. You’re not lying.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Because that’s lame and—” She stopped herself. “Shit, sorry.”
“I am so used to it.”
“You wouldn’t say that drunk if you could stop time is my point,” she almost ducked down to grab another drink but thought better of it. “So, that makes us…”
We’d reached this impasse several times in the last hours. I scanned her. The lines on her face. The size of her irises. She was worried. Apprehensive.
So I said it first.
“We’re soul mates.”
She looked down and to the left, considering instead of answering.
“Why else would one of us display a power we’d never seen before? Unless you’re right and someone was stopping time for everyone but me and—”
“And the woman who’s immune to powers,” she cut in. “Maybe we are soul mates, but turn it off.”
“It’s not—”
“Toby, please.”
“I don’t—” I stopped short and instead tried even though I didn’t know how. My perception was passive. I didn’t get to choose whether I used it. Was there supposed to be a switch somewhere inside my head? Was I—
How long had it been at this point? Six, seven hours? We’d planned to meet pretty late and it would almost be light out by now. She was right. We had to get—
“I don’t know how,” I admitted, “if it’s me.”
Emma opened her mouth to say something, then reconsidered. Her perfectly manicured nails were digging into the vinyl of the bar top.
“Okay. It’s been lovely, but if you getting here started this then,” I said as I stood up, “maybe I just need to leave, and that will turn it off so we can figure out what’s going on.” I took the first steps toward the door.
“That’s a good plan,” she nodded along with what she was saying, like she was convincing herself, “I’ll reach out to you. It was an excellent date.”
“Let Todd know for me,” I added as I reached the door; a second later, I stepped into the chilled early-fall air. The door didn’t shut behind me, so I kept walking until I would have been out of eyesight.
Then I stopped.
Should I have turned around? What were the chances that she was my soul mate? What was I leaving behind if I didn’t see her again? It was a dumb thought, but the idea of walking away started gnawing at me.
But what choice did I have? In front of me, a couple was frozen in the middle of a quiet conversation on the way to the bar. Soul mates only affected one another when they were close by. I took a few more steps and started to sprint.
I was three blocks away when the world stuttered around me. My vision blurred, and the moonlight was shattered by the sun. I stumbled, almost crashing into a woman dressed like she was on her way to brunch.
Shit. I’d left my jacket at the bar, but—
I checked my watch; 8:06 AM.
​
------
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I’m down to my last embryo.
I’ve tried 3 IUI and 3 IVF attempts. First one was unsuccessful, 2nd implanted but stopped growing at 7 weeks and same with the 3rd.
My lining is consistently thick so they think maybe my embryos were not viable. (We didn’t do PGT) Doctor also has me doing a intralipid transfusion and on prednisone because my NK cell count is apparently high.
They are suggesting for me to get an endometrium receptive analysis to see if they are putting the embryo right. Before I decide I just want to know from someone experience if it was helpful or necessary.
Just need more details before we throw more money into this process.
Any advice would help. Thank you.

I had a django app working a couple days ago. Last night a screwed around and messed up the migrations adn the db. I basically remade the db and the project. I changed the name and the venv, install req's, appended the httpd conf file to match the new venv and project name. Now I cannot for the life of me undestand why wsgi.py is failing to execute. I'm using the same interpreter as the old app, python 3.12. the venv is the same as the old one, made the new one because the old one wouldn;t work. I can't get rid of these errors. I occasionally get the 'phone_field' not found error, 'phone_field' is indeed in INSTALLED_APPS.
All I can think is that the logs say Python3.9 and I'm using 3.12 in the venv.
I can access the app with python ./manage.py runserver locally. So must be the httpd.conf or the WSGI config?
[Wed May 15 22:44:39.393611 2024] [core:notice] [pid 2877189:tid 2877189] SELinux policy enabled; httpd running as context system_u:system_r:httpd_t:s0
[Wed May 15 22:44:39.394134 2024] [suexec:notice] [pid 2877189:tid 2877189] AH01232: suEXEC mechanism enabled (wrapper: /ussbin/suexec)
AH00558: httpd: Could not reliably determine the server's fully qualified domain name, using fe80::4a22:54ff:fe6f:eb43%enp7s0. Set the 'ServerName' directive globally to suppress this message
[Wed May 15 22:44:39.415910 2024] [lbmethod_heartbeat:notice] [pid 2877189:tid 2877189] AH02282: No slotmem from mod_heartmonitor
[Wed May 15 22:44:39.418070 2024] [mpm_event:notice] [pid 2877189:tid 2877189] AH00489: Apache/2.4.57 (Red Hat Enterprise Linux) OpenSSL/3.0.7 mod_wsgi/4.7.1 Python/3.9 configured -- resuming normal operations
[Wed May 15 22:44:39.418080 2024] [core:notice] [pid 2877189:tid 2877189] AH00094: Command line: '/ussbin/httpd -D FOREGROUND'
***** [Wed May 15 22:44:39.980866 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877314] [remote 172.69.7.9:9928] mod_wsgi (pid=2877193): Failed to exec Python script file '/vawww/html/CRM/python3.12.1-venv/venv312nserp/nserp/nserp/wsgi.py'.
[Wed May 15 22:44:39.980890 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877314] [remote 172.69.7.9:9928] mod_wsgi (pid=2877193): Exception occurred processing WSGI script '/vawww/html/CRM/python3.12.1-venv/venv312nserp/nserp/nserp/wsgi.py'.
[Wed May 15 22:44:39.981169 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877314] [remote 172.69.7.9:9928] Traceback (most recent call last):
[Wed May 15 22:44:39.981188 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877314] [remote 172.69.7.9:9928] File "/vawww/html/CRM/python3.12.1-venv/venv312nserp/nserp/nserp/wsgi.py", line 16, in
[Wed May 15 22:44:39.981190 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877314] [remote 172.69.7.9:9928] application = get_wsgi_application()
[Wed May 15 22:44:39.981192 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877314] [remote 172.69.7.9:9928] File "/uslocal/lib/python3.9/site-packages/django/core/wsgi.py", line 12, in get_wsgi_application
[Wed May 15 22:44:39.981194 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877314] [remote 172.69.7.9:9928] django.setup(set_prefix=False)
[Wed May 15 22:44:39.981196 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877314] [remote 172.69.7.9:9928] File "/uslocal/lib/python3.9/site-packages/django/__init__.py", line 24, in setup
[Wed May 15 22:44:39.981197 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877314] [remote 172.69.7.9:9928] apps.populate(settings.INSTALLED_APPS)
[Wed May 15 22:44:39.981199 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877314] [remote 172.69.7.9:9928] File "/uslocal/lib/python3.9/site-packages/django/apps/registry.py", line 91, in populate
[Wed May 15 22:44:39.981201 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877314] [remote 172.69.7.9:9928] app_config = AppConfig.create(entry)
[Wed May 15 22:44:39.981203 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877314] [remote 172.69.7.9:9928] File "/uslocal/lib/python3.9/site-packages/django/apps/config.py", line 193, in create
[Wed May 15 22:44:39.981204 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877314] [remote 172.69.7.9:9928] import_module(entry)
[Wed May 15 22:44:39.981206 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877314] [remote 172.69.7.9:9928] File "/uslib64/python3.9/importlib/__init__.py", line 127, in import_module
[Wed May 15 22:44:39.981207 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877314] [remote 172.69.7.9:9928] return _bootstrap._gcd_import(name[level:], package, level)
[Wed May 15 22:44:39.981210 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877314] [remote 172.69.7.9:9928] File "", line 1030, in _gcd_import
[Wed May 15 22:44:39.981212 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877314] [remote 172.69.7.9:9928] File "", line 1007, in _find_and_load
[Wed May 15 22:44:39.981214 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877314] [remote 172.69.7.9:9928] File "", line 984, in _find_and_load_unlocked
[Wed May 15 22:44:39.981219 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877314] [remote 172.69.7.9:9928] ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'phone_field'
[Wed May 15 22:44:40.823149 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877334] [remote 172.69.7.9:32586] mod_wsgi (pid=2877193): Failed to exec Python script file '/vawww/html/CRM/python3.12.1-venv/venv312nserp/nserp/nserp/wsgi.py'.
[Wed May 15 22:44:40.823182 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877334] [remote 172.69.7.9:32586] mod_wsgi (pid=2877193): Exception occurred processing WSGI script '/vawww/html/CRM/python3.12.1-venv/venv312nserp/nserp/nserp/wsgi.py'.
[Wed May 15 22:44:40.823244 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877334] [remote 172.69.7.9:32586] Traceback (most recent call last):
[Wed May 15 22:44:40.823261 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877334] [remote 172.69.7.9:32586] File "/vawww/html/CRM/python3.12.1-venv/venv312nserp/nserp/nserp/wsgi.py", line 16, in
[Wed May 15 22:44:40.823264 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877334] [remote 172.69.7.9:32586] application = get_wsgi_application()
[Wed May 15 22:44:40.823267 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877334] [remote 172.69.7.9:32586] File "/uslocal/lib/python3.9/site-packages/django/core/wsgi.py", line 12, in get_wsgi_application
[Wed May 15 22:44:40.823268 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877334] [remote 172.69.7.9:32586] django.setup(set_prefix=False)
[Wed May 15 22:44:40.823271 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877334] [remote 172.69.7.9:32586] File "/uslocal/lib/python3.9/site-packages/django/__init__.py", line 24, in setup
[Wed May 15 22:44:40.823273 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877334] [remote 172.69.7.9:32586] apps.populate(settings.INSTALLED_APPS)
[Wed May 15 22:44:40.823275 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877334] [remote 172.69.7.9:32586] File "/uslocal/lib/python3.9/site-packages/django/apps/registry.py", line 83, in populate
[Wed May 15 22:44:40.823277 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877334] [remote 172.69.7.9:32586] raise RuntimeError("populate() isn't reentrant")
[Wed May 15 22:44:40.823284 2024] [wsgi:error] [pid 2877193:tid 2877334] [remote 172.69.7.9:32586] RuntimeError: populate() isn't reentrant

I’ve been following this case pretty closely for almost a year now, but I haven’t had time to really watch the trial live (how are some of you watching every minute?!). I was looking for a post that was basically a run-down of the highlights and important revelations so far, but I haven’t really seen any, so I wrote one myself based on what I have been able to discern from the press coverage. Will you all tell me if I’m missing anything? I’m also gonna add some of my own analysis for discussion.
The “I hit him” testimony
A lot of people heard Karen say some version of “I hit him,” or “did I hit him?”, but the defense is doing a good job poking holes in their testimonies. It seems like a number of the people who claim she said “l hit him,” only recorded this several months later. Officer Saraf, for instance, only added the fact that KR said “I hit him” to his testimony several months later. Katie McLaughlin also agreed that her story had “evolved” since the original event. That particular witness was also interesting because she initially claimed to have no relationship with Caitlin Albert, which was later proven to be untrue; Katie McLaughlin was, as photos showed, quite close with Caitlin Albert at one point, which prompted the defense to acccuse McLaughin of perjuring herself. Firefighter Anthony Flematti also claimed Karen Read said “I hit him” but apparently never told anyone this, which was readily highlighted by the defense.
Of the people who testified that Karen Read said she hit O’Keefe, the only person who didn’t get absolutely obliterated by the defense seems to be Timothy Nuttall, although the defense made it clear that his memory of the day was pretty faulty as well.Lots of people heard her say different things: Stephen Mulanney testified that he heard her saying “Is he dead,” “that’s my boyfriend;” Jason Becker testified that he heard Read say “did i hit him?” And Matthew Kelly even said he explicitly did not hear Read say “I hit him” repeatedly.
Honestly, I’m not sure it matters whether or not Karen Read said “I hit him,” or “did I hit him?” It’s clear that she was worried about her own responsibility in the matter, which seems…. Not great but possibly innocuous? She was obviously insanely drunk the night before, and hangxiety/hangover guilt is famously a terrible combination with tragedy. I know I tend to assume the worst when I wake up after a night of heavy drinking. Even when I haven’t been drinking, I tend to blame myself when things go wrong. And I think it’s kind of telling that It doesn’t seem like any of these witnesses really thought that she had a clear, certain memory of hitting him. Except, that is, the officer in the McLaughlin testimony, who I guess summoned a sergeant when he heard her say this.
Anyway, most of this is stuff we already knew. We already knew she expressed that she felt guilty at the scene, and we already knew
The Sloppy Crime Scene & Responding Police Officers
Responding officers were super, uhh, carless when it came to the crime scene. They used solo cups to store the frozen blood found at the scene, which eventually led the blood to dry up. And they used a leaf blower to scan the scene for evidence, which somehow didn’t turn up any broken tail light. Basically, this testimony showed us that it was a super haphazard crime scene that could easily have been tampered with, and that there just wasn’t much care put into the storage and collection of evidence. This is important, because it sets the stage for the defense to say that forensic evidence from the scene cannot be trusted. Paul Gallagher admitted that “nothign about the scene was standard” and that he had never processed a crime scene in the snow before, which led them to improvise in a number of ways.
The other thing we got from these officer- witnesses was that Michael Lank, the canton police lieutenant who responded to the scene, had once been in a physical altercation in order to defend Chris Albert. For the defense, this is relevant because it shows not just the deep ties, but also the extent to which this group of people will go to cover up for their own. And the fact that this tight-knit circle are brutish and violent.
The Bartender
The testimony from the Waterfall bartender appeared to be marginally important. She confirmed that the Alberts were important, powerful people in the town, and that everyone knew who they were. She also said that nobody in the party appeared to be intoxicated.
Brian Albert getting rid of his phone
Brian Albert’s testimony basically just stuck to the party line. The phone thing, though, did remind me of how nuts it is that he got rid of his phone, and I’m assuming it’s not the last we’ll hear of it. I guess we already knew that he got rid of his phone right as it was supposed to be subpoenae’d, but it was still kind of crazy to hear him try to explain away that he got rid of it a single day before he received the order. He basically claimed that he was due for an upgrade so he traded it in. But he and Higgins both happened to destroy their phones right before they were subpoenae’d, which isn’t not suspicious.
Julie Nagel and the Black Blob
Julie Nagel, friend of 23y/o Brian Albert Jr, was inside the house that night. She testified that “I did notice ... something out of the ordinary, like a black blob in the ground by the flagpole,” as she was leaving. The defense didn’t like this, because it refutes the idea that JO was only placed on the lawn later. And they cast doubt on this testimony during the cross examination by pointing out that if she actually saw a body, she would have responded really differently. They also pointed out that she never really mentioned this until now.
The Ryan Nagel & co testimony
Ryan Nagel is Julie Nagel’s brother, who came to pick up his sister right around the time that Karen Read arrived, and left right as she was leaving. He never actually picked up his sister, because she ultimately wanted to stay.
Basically, he and the other people in his car said they saw Karen Read arrive at 34 fairview road. His sister came out to talk, at which point he was focused on his sister. He said he did not observe anyone enter the house, but the cross-examination made clear that this could have happened while he was talking to his sister. When he looked up, he saw the SUV brake lights come on, as if to start driving away. As he pulled up and drove past this car, he saw someone that fit Karen Read’s description in the driver’s seat, alone. He did not observe any damage to the vehicle.
This testimony is important, because this witness saw KR arriving and being alone in her car, which means JO would have left the vehicle at that point. It seems like it could be good for the defense, because he’s saying that she was alone in her car, and that he didn’t see JO outside, which could mean that he was inside. He also said her car didn’t have any visible damage. And it seems like he was a decently observant witness. But it also could just mean that JO’s exit from the vehicle was as unremarkable as his death, which would explain why nobody saw him.
Allison McCabe
Jen McCabe’s daughter, who claims she picked up Colin Albert that night. She testified that she arrived to pick him up at 12:10 or so, and she shows a screenshot of text messages to prove it. The Free Karen Read crowd thinks these are doctored, and I admit the screenshot looks really weird. There are some rumors floating around somewhere that there’s cell phone data that proves he was in the house much later than that, but I haven’t seen it. I also think the hyper focus on Colin Albert is weird, because it seems to me like a million different people could have ben responsible for JO’s death.
The Veterinarian Specialist
Testified that no dog DNA was found on swabs of John O’Keefe, but they did find pig DNA. Jackson’s cross exam reminded the jury that the collection of evidence was highly improper. The vet did concede that the pig DNA could have come from a dog treat.
Thoughts?
I’m hearing a lot of people characterizing this as a bloodbath, but honestly I don’t feel like anything so far has been, like, a crazy bombshell for either side. I would imagine there will be some during the defense’s turn to call up witnesses. Apparently that’s when trials tend to get juicy.
I also don’t really understand why the defense is so obsessed with the Colin Albert story. It seems like it could be easily disproven and then their whole theory falls apart. If I were in charge of Karen Read’s defense, I’d lean into the possibility that there are a million ways John O’Keefe could have died that don’t involve Karen Read. Maybe he slipped on the ice, hit his head, cut himself on his broken glass while he was trying to get up, and crawled quietly to the middle of the lawn where he was too incapacitated to call for help. Maybe he passed out in the gutter and someone else hit him— it seems like a ton of drunk people were coming and going, after all. And hit and runs are super common! Or, if we are to believe that John O’Keefe and Brian Higgins had a common romantic interest in Karen Read, couldn’t Brian Higgins have been equally likely— and have more motive— to bludgeon John O’Keefe? Honestly all those guys seem like the type to get angry and end up in a bar fight.

Predictions may tend to change as usual. The 2024 Cannes Film Festival just started, so there may be some alterations during and after if the movies featured in the festival are praised or panned, and whatever wins the top prizes (especially the Palme d'Or) later on this month.
UPDATE: Megalopolis just screened at Cannes and it looks like it's now out of the Oscar race (removing it from all major categories in my Oscar predictions). However, I think the potential possibility of a few technical categories may still be open.

Best Picture

• Blitz
• Conclave
• Dune: Part Two
• Kinds of Kindness
• Joker: Folie A Deux
• Nickle Boys
• Nightb\**h*
• Parthenope
• A Real Pain
• Sing Sing

Next in line: Anora, Bird, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Gladiator II, Queer
Alt: All We Imagine As Light, Civil War, Didi, We Live In Time

Best Director

• Steve McQueen, Blitz
• Edward Berger, Conclave
• Denis Villeneuve, Dune: Part Two
• Todd Phillips, Joker: Folie A Deux
• Paolo Sorrentino, Parthenope

Next in line: George Miller, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga; Ridley Scott, Gladiator II; Yorgos Lanthimos, Kinds of Kindness; Luca Guadagnino, Queer; Greg Kwedar, Sing Sing
Alt: Payal Kapadia, All We Imagine As Light; Sean Baker, Anora; Andrea Arnold, Bird; Audrey Diwan, Emmanuelle; Jesse Eisenberg, A Real Pain

Best Actor

• Ralph Fiennes, Conclave
• Joaquin Phoenix, Joker: Folie A Deux
• Daniel Craig, Queer
• Colman Domingo, Sing Sing
• Andrew Garfield, We Live In Time

Next in line: Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice; Barry Keoghan, Bird; Paul Mescal, Gladiator II; Jesse Eisenberg, A Real Pain
Alt: Austin Butler, The Bikeriders; Timothee Chalamet, Dune: Part Two; Tenoch Huerta, Pedro Páramo; John David Washington, The Piano Lesson

Best Actress

• Saorise Ronan, Blitz
• Zendaya, Challengers
• Lady Gaga, Joker: Folie A Deux
• Emma Stone, Kinds of Kindness
• Amy Adams, Nightb\**h*

Next in line: Mikey Madison, Anora; Celeste Dalla Porta, Parthenope; Tilda Swinton, The Room Next Door; Florence Pugh, We Live In Time
Alt: Jodie Comer, The Bikeriders; Noémie Merlant, Emmanuelle; Anya Taylor-Joy, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga; Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Hard Truths; Carrie Coon, His Three Daughters

Best Supporting Actor

• Stanley Tucci, Conclave
• Jesse Plemons, Kinds of Kindness
• Samuel L. Jackson, The Piano Lesson
• Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
• Clarence Maclin, Sing Sing

Next in line: Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice; John Lithgow, Conclave; Willem Dafoe, Kinds of Kindness; Gary Oldman, Parthenope
Alt: Tom Hardy, The Bikeriders; Harris Dickinson, Blitz; Javier Bardem, Dune: Part Two; Austin Butler, Dune: Part Two; Chris Hemsworth, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga; Joseph Quinn, Gladiator II; Paul Raci, Sing Sing

Best Supporting Actress

• Isabella Rosselini, Conclave
• Joan Chen, Didi
• Lesley Manville, Queer
• Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Nickle Boys
• Danielle Deadwyler, The Piano Lesson

Next in line: Maria Bakalova, The Apprentice; Connie Nielsen, Gladiator II; Jennifer Grey, A Real Pain; Julianne Moore, The Room Next Door
Alt: Kathy Burke, Blitz; Rebecca Ferguson, Dune: Part Two; Zendaya, Dune: Part Two; Naomi Watts, Emmanuelle; Natasha Lyonne, His Three Daughters

Best Original Screenplay

• Blitz
• Didi
• Kinds of Kindness
• Parthenope
• A Real Pain

Next in line: Anora, Bird, We Live In Time
Alt: Civil War, His Three Daughters, The Room Next Door

Best Adapted Screenplay

• Conclave
• Dune: Part Two
• Joker: Folie A Deux
• Nickle Boys
• Sing Sing

Next in line: Emmanuelle, Nightb***h, Queer
Alt: Gladiator II, Here, Inside Out 2, Pedro Páramo, The Piano Lesson, The Wild Robot

Best Animated Feature

• Inside Out 2
• The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
• The Most Precious of Cargoes
• Memoir of a Snail
• The Wild Robot

Next in line: Moana 2, Spellbound, Ultraman: Rising
Alt: Ghost Cat Anzu, The Glassworker, Kung Fu Panda 4, That Christmas, Transformers One, Wallace & Gromit

Best International Feature

• All We Imagine As Light
• Emilia Pérez
• Emmanuelle
• No Other Land
• Parthenope

Next in line: Brief History of a Family, Grand Tour, Pedro Paramo
Alt: Crossing, Evil Does Not Exist (potentially), The Girl with the Needle, The Most Precious of Cargoes, Reinas

Best Documentary Feature

• Black Box Diaries
• Dahomey
• Daughters
• No Other Land
• Porcelain War

Next in line: Ibelin, SupeMan: The Christopher Reeve Story
Alt: Architecton, Piece By Piece, Sugarcane, Union, Will & Harper

Best Production Design

• Blitz
• Conclave
• Dune: Part Two
• Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
• Gladiator II

Next in line: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Joker: Folie A Deux, Megalopolis, Nosferatu, Wicked
Alt: Civil War, Here, Kinds of Kindness, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Nickle Boys, Pedro Páramo

Best Cinematography

• Blitz
• Conclave
• Dune: Part Two
• Joker: Folie A Deux
• Parthenope

Next in line: Bird, Civil War, Gladiator II, Kinds of Kindness
Alt: Didi, Emmanuelle, Megalopolis, Pedro Páramo

Best Costume Design

• Dune: Part Two
• Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
• Gladiator II
• Joker: Folie A Deux
• Wicked

Next in line: The Apprentice, Blitz, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Conclave, Nosferatu
Alt: Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Megalopolis, Nickle Boys, The Piano Lesson

Best Film Editing

• Blitz
• Conclave
• Dune: Part Two
• Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
• Joker: Folie A Deux

Next in line: Civil War, Gladiator II, Queer, A Real Pain, Sing Sing
Alt: Anora, Bird, Challengers, Didi, Kinds of Kindness

Best Makeup & Hairstyling

• Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
• Dune: Part Two
• Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
• Joker: Folie A Deux
• Wicked

Next in line: The Apprentice, Blitz, Deadpool & Wolverine, A Different Man, Gladiator II, Nosferatu
Alt: Abigail, Challengers, Civil War, Hit Man, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Monkey Man, Parthenope

Best Sound

• Civil War
• Dune: Part Two
• Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
• Joker: Folie A Deux
• A Quiet Place: Day One

Next in line: Blitz, Challengers, Gladiator II, Twisters
Alt: Deadpool & Wolverine, The End, The Fall Guy, Megalopolis, Nightb\**h*

Best Visual Effects

• Deadpool & Wolverine
• Dune: Part Two
• Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
• Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
• Mufasa: The Lion King

Next in line: Civil War, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Gladiator II, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, A Quiet Place: Day One, Twisters
Alt: Alien: Romulus, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, The Fall Guy, Here, IF, Megalopolis, Tuesday, Wicked, The Wild Robot

Best Original Score

• Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Challengers
• Volker Bertlemann, Conclave
• Hans Zimmer, Dune: Part Two
• Hildur Guonadottir, Joker: Folie A Deux
• Bryce Dessner, Sing Sing

Next in line: TBA, Blitz; Tom Holkenborg, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga; Jerskin Fendrix, Kinds of Kindness; Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Queer
Alt: Geoff Barrow and Ben Salisbury, Civil War; Harry Gregson-Williams, Gladiator II; Gustavo Santaolalla, Pedro Páramo; Alan Menken, Spellbound; Kris Bowers, The Wild Robot

Best Original Song

• TBA, Diane Warren: Relentless
• TBA, Joker: Folie A Deux
• TBA, Moana 2
• TBA, Spellbound
• TBA, Twisters

Next in line: TBA, Mufasa: The Lion King
Alt: TBA, The End; Not My Fault, Mean Girls

Model WRF560SEHV00 has water only through the door and the ice maker is in the lower drawer freezer. Noticed recently we were not getting water through the door OR water to the ice maker. Replaced inlet valve and filter and no change. Unplugged unit and let it sit for 8 hours. After plugging fridge back in the valve activated normally and water was dispensed through the door as normal. The refrigerator ran for day while at work. Upon returning home, water lines frozen again. If the freezeup affected only the ice maker, I would looks towards the fill tube heater (if this unit is equipped with one). But the fact that no water is being dispensed through the door has me perplexed. No changes to the temp settings have been made since this unit was purchased. Any solutions would be greatly appreciated.