Hello there, friendly internet people! My name's Alex, and I'm looking to make some awesome friends with other mentally healthy, well-rounded, and energizing people who are local or close by. I'm open to connecting with anyone, regardless of (18+) ages, genders, and marital statuses, as long as you are mentally and emotionally mature and passionate about something we can enjoy together or teach each other about!
I'm 29, single, 5'9", around 160 lbs, white (Eastern European), and in slim fit shape. I recently moved to Land O Lakes, FL. I have no kids, live a drama-free life, and don't do drugs, smoke, or drink.
Personal things I enjoy doing/value (in no particular order):
playing tennis or mini-tennis aka pickleball (would love to find consistent partners!)
scenic runs/walks (esp around lakes or parks)
cooking meals/meal prep
listening to music (enjoy anything upbeat and exciting like pop, EDM, and classic hits. Only things I generally dislike are hardcore rap, country, and heavy metal basically)
learning new things (esp self-improvement, business, investing, tech, science, philosophy, psychology, medicine)
Always honest, open, deep/personal communication
exercise (toned but not like 9-inch biceps lol. I run a few miles 1x a week, walk quite a bit, and then workout ~2x a week)
and then watching movies (mainly sci-fi, action, comedy. esp like deep ones that make you think such as Interstellar, Inception, Limitless, etc), shows, memes, educational/funny youtube vids, etc. I love to share random things that remind me of you after getting to know you a bit.
I want our time together to help us connect/learn about each other but also both fuel up on whatever we most need to grow as people. For example, us working out together to make sure we keep each other accountable for staying active. Or maybe we had an intense week and needed some downtime by walking in a park, tennis, or something. Or working on improving each other's businesses, financial plans, etc by sharing our knowledge or strengths.
That's the kind of connection I want to strive to make! And hopefully, if YOU also started imagining scenarios and thinking something like "wow, that would be so NICE to have a connection like that!" Then you should definitely send me a message!

TLDR: Last paragragh is the actual discussion, first three are for context.
I was in a holy war with the Danelaw for Lancaster, because Halfdan had declared a war on me which I managed to win, destroying his armies and killing him, which broke Danelaw’s alliance with Sweden. This seemed to me the perfect time to swoop in and take some land, so I declared war, immediatly taking down Haestienn’s army then moving in to destroy the Danlaw’s forces. The Suðreyjar had joined and was with Danelaw, but that was no matter, I still had more soldiers and am a fantastic commander. Then the worst thing happened, the enemy armies did a little loop as I was chasing them down and got to one of my allies’ army before I got to them. Too late did I realized what had happened, and now an entire battle had to be fought under Powys’s pathetic excuse of a commander.
This disaster brought my war score from +8 to -42, half of my army was destroyed and Powys’s army was brought to a mere 130ish. Time to call in the big guns, Scotland, well. . . Alba, but either way I didn’t call them in at first because it would’ve cost all my prestiege and I should’ve had this war in the bag. Now that didn’t matter, I needed men instantly because the powerful af vikings would regenerate men at quadruple the speed I would. Alba came to my aid and together we could defeat the Danelaw (as long as it was under my command), but what’s this? Danelaw’s now 6000 men are going to get to Alba’s 4500 before I can get my 2200 there, and Alba is just standing there!?
I was yelling at Alba through my screen, “RUN! NO! GET AWAY, THEY’LL KILL YOU!” Alba stood it’s ground on a hill in the middle on the Danelaw as all my might was running to his aid hoping that Organized March would speed me up enough. Abla was promptly destroyed and the now unbeatably strong Danelaw turned it’s eyes on my army, locked into a movement to a barony bordering they’re own men. That was it, my last hope at winning this once simple war was gone, this whole war has been a waste and now I can’t do a thing for 5 years and even then, Danelaw’s army will be back at their full strength of 12,000 and mine only 3000.
I think that commanders’ advantages should stack or something, so that the advantage of each allied armies commander would add up in a battle, for example if me (+42) and my ally (-30) were in a battle with the enemy (+11) and his ally (-2) the total advantage would be +3 in my favor and it would roll from there. Or maybe the best commander in a battle is the one that the advantage is based off of. I’m really just sick of fighting battles under a commander with -30 advantage while my +42 advantage ass is leading my army, just because the game decided that my pathetic ally (that I only called in to boost my numbers) is leading the battle. This is like the 8th time that I’ve had an entire war screwed up because of this issue.

My mother called me abusive.
I recently finished school and moved back in with my family. My mother and I have always been very close, but returning home for holidays in the past few years made me realize I might need some distance from her. Despite these realizations, I often dismissed them as me being dramatic until I was back home again.
Our relationship has its complexities. For example, we repeatedly have discussions where I ask her not to share certain personal information with others, yet she acts like those conversations never happened. She also convinces me to share my emotions, promising to keep them private, only to later deny I ever told her anything when she breaks that trust. Despite knowing I shouldn't trust her, the periods of calm between these incidents always make me believe she's learned, though she never does. But we are also known as a duo and go everywhere together when times are good - or that we get it out. It feels like a cycle of fight, I tell her why I'm upset, she says okay (sometimes ok I'll try harder) and we both move on.
I realized I need to do something or I never will last week - being called abusive has been my breaking point. I genuinely asked multiple people after this situation if I am inadvertently abusive and never realized it- it made me question myself. Anyways, I was driving my mother to a Mother's Day celebration on Saturday (one day before Mother's Day) when I politely told her I didn't appreciate a comment she made earlier in the living room. For context, my mother has a rocky relationship with her parents. My grandfather, a car salesman, promised me a vehicle for my graduation, which I saw as a peace offering for him taking money out of my education fund his past wife set up for me (she passed almost a decade before I went to use the education fund and put it in my and his name, I guess so he could invest that money). My father is concerned about the logistics and the implications of me accepting this car, so I had a private conversation with my mother about it Friday night.
Saturday, she brought up the car in front of my dad despite my request for discretion (my grandfather is not known for being 100% honest so I thought I was calling his bluff and if he was being genuine maybe he had changed and we could have a relationship). This led to a familiar argument about her not listening to me. As we continued to argue, she started screaming at me for being 'difficult.' I pulled over, refusing to drive while crying, and she accused me of being unappreciative. In the heat of the argument, I echoed her past sayings back to her, pointing out her hypocrisy. Her response was to accuse me of being abusive and manipulating her by me not being a 'happy person despite [her] parental sacrifices'. She referenced someone coming up to her asking her if she was okay after a public argument we had last summer, as evidence of my alleged abuse.
I was stunned. I asked for more examples, but she only mentioned that one incident and how a stranger had asked if she was okay. She continued to scream at me, and I could do nothing but sob.
When we got home, I retreated to my room and cried for hours. My mother, on the other hand, took a nap and went to a comedy show for the rest of the night. The next day, she ignored me completely, even at breakfast on Mother's Day. I felt stuck, and was unable to visit my friends (who live 4 hours away in my university town) or my partner, who only lives an hour away from me but needed to be elsewhere to support a family related tragedy.
That night my dad who had only heard that I had insulted her after being screamed at for 30 minutes suggested I apologize, but when I explained she feels I am abusive, he seemed to understand - and went out to get takeout, which we enjoyed just the two of us that night. For context, him and my mother are still married and probably always will be. They may still love each other, but they haven't liked each other in over a decade.
My mother has since tried to make peace by cooking me food, and what feels like interrogating me about my life (i.e my dad told her I had a job interview yesterday so when she saw me this morning before I went to go help out an elderly neighbour with with their house chores, my mother grilled me about the interview and anything else she could think of that is new with me in the past week. I responded with as few words as possible to be polite instead of completely ignoring her but then she blew up and said she deserves to know more about my life because she is my mother. I just told her I was in a rush, did not have time for that BS, and left.) but obviously that will not mend our relationship. Despite everything, she is still planning our usual summer vacation, that just her, myself and my brother goes on. This vacation is also always 15-18 hour drive away so it's only me and her that take turns driving as my brother is younger and only has a learning permit.
On top of this, my grandfather is indeed giving me the car, but my dad is worried it's a way for my grandfather to try to stay connected to me and possibly manipulate me over. He is putting the car in my name and I think I can change the license plates out of his name so I think it's an easy fix to not be directly financially manipulated by him. My dad just knows him better than I do over the years, and I'm worried it will become a 'well do x for me because I bought you a car' but I think I could just say no in that situation. I'm torn between using the car to gain independence while I'm still here or if just moving out would be more economical and better for my mental health. The trouble is being a new grad, I am religiously applying to jobs but all the terms are 4-month contracts which makes it really hard to move to different cities with (upon the entry level job pay being terrible - I would really have to calculate on a per job pay, per location basis if I could afford rent + groceries + car).
I feel trapped and just don't know the best course of action. Seeking advice on how to navigate this situation. Happy to hear other's related experiences too and what they did.
*Please do not comment about how this generation doesn't work hard or respect their parents or such. This is the first time since I started working in childcare at 13 that I have not had a job. And honestly I don't even find those sorts of comments relevant to what I'm asking; I am just wondering other's experiences in the same boat and wondering if it's worth it to fix it with my mom and really just what people with similar experiences have decided to do for themselves in these situations.

The origins of this list came about when the Denver Nuggets won the NBA chip last year. I asked my bball group chat if winning the NBA chip made Jamal the best NBA player named Jamal/Jamaal. I then made this list:
Jamal Murray Jamal Crawford Jamal Mashburn Jamaal Magloire Jamaal Tinsley
After some research we learned about Jamaal Wilkes and then we made Tinsley an honorable mention.
With the NBA playoffs coming, I thought I tried to do something similar but on a much larger scale and share it with the NBA subreddit community.
I'm not sure if such a list has been done before. If it has, please send me the link to it so I can read it.
Also this is how I came up with the list. The list is not in any specific order per letter. Its more like the first name for each letter is the first name I thought of. Whenever I have trouble finishing up the list, I go to Google and basketball reference. I indicate when I do so.
The list is done by first name and not last. So for example, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will fall under K and not A. The other thing is players will be listed by their actual given name and not nicknames. For example, magic Johnson will be under I for Earvin "magic" Johnson.
Please let me know what you think about the list and let me know what players you feel I missed. Also let me know which letter has the best NBA players. EDIT: I added Joel Embiid, Anthony Edwards and William "Bill" Russell on this list because they shamefully slipped my mind last time.
A:

1. Alex English
2. Allen Iverson
3. Anthony Davis
4. Adrian Dantley
5. Andre Iguodala
6. Amar'e Stoudemire
7. Alonzo Mourning
8. Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway
9. Artis Gilmore
10. Allan Houston

Honorable mentions: Aaron Gordon Arron Afflalo Al Jefferson Antoine Walker Andre Miller Antawn Jamison Al Horford, Anthony Edwards
B:

1. Baron Davis
2. Bernard King
3. Bradley Beal
4. Ben Wallace
5. Ben Gordon
6. Blake Griffin
7. Brook Lopez
8. Brad Daugherty
9. Brad Miller
10. Bam Adebayo

Honorable mentions Buddy Hield Byron Scott Bonzi Wells Ben Simmons
C:

1. Chris Paul
2. Charles Barkley
3. Clyde Drexler
4. Chris Webber
5. Carmelo Anthony
6. Chauncey Billups
7. Chris Bosh
8. Chris Mullin
9. Christian Laettner
10. Carlos Boozer

Honorable mentions
C.J. McCollum Cedric Maxwell Chris Kaman Corey Maggette Cuttino Mobley
D:

1. Dirk Nowitzki
2. David Robinson
3. Dwyane Wade
4. Dwight Howard
5. Damian Lillard
6. Draymond Green
7. Dikembe Mutombo
8. Dominique Wilkins
9. Dennis Rodman
10. Derrick Rose

Honorable mentions
DeAndre Jordan Domantas Sabonis Demar DeRozan DeMarcus Cousins
E:

1. Elgin Baylor
2. Elton Brand
3. Elvin Hayes
4. Eddie Jones
5. Emanuel David "Manu" Ginóbili
6. Eric Gordon
7. Evan Turner
8. Eric Bledsoe
9. Earvin "Magic" Johnson
10. Eddie Johnson

Honorable mention Enes Kanter Emeka Okafor Evan Mobley
F: (I had to use basketball reference for the majority of these)

1. Furkan Korkmaz
2. Fred Brown
3. Frederick "Freddie" L. Lewis
4. Franz Wagner
5. Francis "Frank" Stanley Kaminsky III
6. Francisco García
7. Fredderick Edmund "Fred" VanVleet
8. Frank Vernon Ramsey Jr
9. Franklin Delano Selvy
10. Fred Hoiberg

G:

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo
2. Gary Payton
3. George Gervin
4. Grant Hill
5. Gail Charles Goodrich Jr
6. George Mikan
7. Glen Rice
8. Gilbert Arenas
9. Glenn Robinson
10. Goran Dragic

Honorable mention Gerald Wallace Gordon Hayward Gordan Giriček
H: (had to use basketball reference for #9&10)

1. Hakeem Olajuwon
2. Harold Everett "Hal" Greer
3. Hersey Hawkins
4. Hubert Davis
5. Horace Grant
6. Harrison Barnes
7. Hassan Whiteside
8. Hedo Türkoğlu
9. Harthorne Wingo
10. Hamidou Diallo

I: (had to use basketball reference for #6-7)

1. Isiah Thomas
2. Isaiah Thomas
3. Ish Smith
4. Iman Shumpert
5. Immanuel Quickley
6. Isaiah Rider
7. Isaac Okoro
8. Ime Udoka
9. Isaiah Stewart
10. Isaiah Hartenstein

J:

1. Jason Kidd
2. Julius Erving
3. John havlicek
4. Jerry West
5. Jimmy Harden
6. James Worthy
7. Jayson Tatum
8. John Stockton
9. Jimmy Butler
10. Joel Embiid

Honorable mention Jamal Crawford Jamal Mashburn Jack Sigma Jason Terry Joe Johnson Jerry stackhouse Jamal Murray Joe Dumar John "hot rod" Williams Joakim Noah, Jermaine O'Neal
K:

1. Kareem Abdul Jabbar
2. Kobe Bryant
3. Kevin Durant
4. Kyrie Irving
5. Klay Thompson
6. Kevin Garnett
7. Kevin Love
8. Kahwi Leonard
9. Kevin McHale
10. Karl Malone

Honorable mention Kevin Love Karl Anthony Towns Kevin Johnson Kemba Walker Chris Middleton
L:

1. LeBron James
2. Larry Bird
3. LaMarcus Aldridge
4. Lou Williams
5. Lafayette "Fat" Lever
6. Luol Deng
7. Luka Dončić
8. Latrell Sprewell
9. Larry Johnson
10. Lamar Odom

Honorable mentions Lonzo Ball Lamelo Ball Luis Scola Landry Shamet Lance Stephenson
M:

1. Michael Jordan
2. Mark Jackson
3. Moses Malone
4. Manu Ginóbili
5. Marc Gasol
6. Mark Price
7. Mike Conley
8. Mitch Richmond
9. Monta Ellis
10. Maurice Edward Cheeks

Honorable mentions Metta world Peace (formerly Ron artest) Micheal Finley Mike Bibby Michael Redd Michael Beasley Michael Cooper Maurice "Mo" Williams Mahmoud Abdur-Raouf
N: (used basketball reference for norm Nixon)

1. Nate Robinson
2. Nikola Jokić
3. Nikola Vučević
4. Nick Anderson
5. Norman Powell
6. Nicolas Batum
7. Nene Hilario
8. Norm Nixon
9. Nick Van Exel
10. Nate "the great" Thurmond

Honorable mentions Nikola Mirotić Nikola Peković
O: (used basketball reference for #7)

1. Oscar Robertson
2. Otis Thorpe
3. Otto Porter
4. O.J. Mayo
5. Omer Asik
6. Omri Casspi
7. Onyeka Okongwu
8. OG Anunoby
9. Obi Toppin
10. Otis Birdsong

P:

1. Paul George
2. Paul Pierce
3. Patrick Ewing
4. Pau Gasol
5. Paul Millsap
6. Pascal Siakam
7. Pooh Richardson
8. Paul Westphal
9. "Pistol" Pete Maravich
10. Purvis Short

Honorable mentions Patrick Beverly Patty Mills Pat Connaughton
Q: (used bball reference from #4-10)

1. Quentin Richardson
2. Quincy Acy
3. Quincy Pondexter
4. Quincy Douby
5. Quinn Cook
6. Quinndary Weatherspoon
7. Quinn Snyder
8. Quentin Grimes
9. Quintin Dailey
10. Quinton Ross

R:

1. Ray Allen
2. Russell Westbrook
3. Rajon Rondo
4. Robert Parish
5. Reggie Miller
6. Robert "Bob" Lanier
7. Robert "Bob" Cousey
8. Ralph Sampson
9. Robert E. Lee "Bob" Pettit
10. Robert "Bob" McAdoo

Honorable mention Rasheed Wallace Rudy Gay Rik Smits Rick Barry Richard "RIP" Hamilton Rod Strickland Ron Harper Rudy Gobert Ronaldo Blackman
S:

1. Shaquille O'Neal
2. Scottie Pippen
3. Steve Nash
4. Stephen Curry
5. Shawn Kemp
6. Serge Ibaka
7. Sidney Moncrief
8. Shawn Marion
9. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
10. Sam Cassell

Honorable mentions
Samuel Dalembert Shareef Abdur-Rahim Sam Perkins Stephen Marbury Stephen Jackson Steve Francis Steve Smith
T:

1. Tim Duncan
2. Tony Parker
3. Tracy McGrady
4. Terry Porter
5. Tom Chambers
6. Thaddeus Young
7. Tyrese Haliburton
8. Toni Kucoc
9. Trae Young
10. Tayshaun Prince

Honorable mentions Terry Rozier Tobias Harris Tyreke Evans Tyler Herro Ty Lawson
U: (literally used bball reference for everyone after udonis)

1. Udonis Haslem
2. Uwe Blab
3. Usman Garuba
4. Udoka Azubuike
5. Ulice Payne
6. Uluss Thompson
7. Uroš Slokar
8. Ulysses Cleon Reed
9. N/A
10. N/A

V:

1. Vince Carter
2. Victor Oladipo
3. Vlade Divac
4. Vin Baker
5. Vernon Maxwell
6. Vinnie Johnson
7. Vince Edwards
8. Vern Fleming
9. Vince Taylor
10. Vinny Del Negro

Honorable mentions
Voshon Lenard
W: (used basketball reference for #8-10)

1. Wilt Chamberlain
2. Walt Bellamy
3. Walt Frazier
4. Willis Reed
5. Westley Sissel "Wes" Unseld
6. Willie Anderson
7. William "Bill" Russell
8. Wesley Person
9. Walter Davis
10. Wayne Embry

Honorable mention Willie Cauley-Stein Wayne Ellington Wesley Matthews
X (used basketball reference for all except #1&2)

1. Xavier Tillman
2. Xavier Henry
3. Xavier McDaniel
4. Xavier Munford
5. Xavier Cooks
6. Xavier Rathan-Mayes
7. Xavier Sneed
8. Xavier Silas
9. Xavier Rey
10. Xue Yuyang

Y. (Used bball reference for #5-10)

1. Yao Ming
2. Yi Jianlin
3. Yuta Watanabe
4. Yogi Ferrell
5. Yakhouba Diawara
6. Yaroslav Korolev
7. Yinka Dare
8. York Larese
9. Yuta Tabuse
10. Yante Maten

Z (used bball reference for #7-9)

1. Zion Williamson
2. Zach Randolph
3. Zach Lavine
4. Zaza Pachulia
5. Zach Collins
6. Ziaire Williams
7. Zoran Planinić
8. Zydrunas Ilgauskas
9. N/A
10. N/A

Thank you for the read to all those who read. Let me know your thoughts on the players I chose for each letter and if I missed any players or if I put someone on the list who doesn't deserve to be on it. Also let me know which letter has the best NBA players.
Looking forward to reading your comments!

Many many privacy-focused companies or products boast how their data is securely stored in the Netherlands, with some of the tightest data privacy laws. Think Proton, for example.
But is that really the case? If the US requests some data, would Netherlands refuse based on its strict laws? What about a very rich company offering to buy data?
The more data Netherlands has, the more financial incentive and external pressure from intelligence agencies to give it away.

16-minute read.

the AM-AZ border delimitation in Tavush is drawn with 1976 maps; village Kirants gains access to lands unreachable since the 1990s; loses 4 properties

On May 15 the border commissions of Armenia and Azerbaijan held a meeting to discuss the continuation of the Tavush-Gazakh delimitation. They confirmed the completed work and agreed to continue.
The statement says that parties are using the 1976 maps by Soviet CoGS [the one that Armenia wanted].
A Protocol was signed on the meeting results. The sides agreed to set the date and the place of the next meeting of the Commissions.
REPORTER: What does this mean?
PASHINYAN OFFICE: The commissions had installed several border posts to locate the coordinates on the ground. These coordinates were taken from the 1976 maps. Now the cartographers have agreed on the border lines between the posts, again based on the same maps. In other words, the reproduction of the border in these areas is complete and signed, and the border is considered delimited in these sections.
REPORTER: Why the 1976 maps?
PASHINYAN OFFICE: It's the map with de jure power at the time of the collapse of the USSR. The Armenian government announced that we were not drawing a new border, but rather reproducing the existing border at the time of the collapse of the USSR.
REPORTER: The commissions' statement says that these 1976 maps went through legal procedures in 1979. What does it mean, and why didn't we use the 1990 maps?
PASHINYAN OFFICE: In 1979 the relevant USSR authority verified the 1976 maps and their legal basis. These maps were used until the collapse of USSR. These are the most recent maps verified by authorized state agencies of USSR.
REPORTER: Not all border posts have been installed in the convoluted section of Kirants. How will this be resolved? Will you build new roads or houses?
PASHINYAN OFFICE: The 3 remaining coordinates of Kirants were pinpointed with the use of a computer and the border posts will be installed later. The rest [another 8 posts in Kirants] are already there. The good news for Kirants is that around 25 hectares of land that have been unreachable for 33 years will be returned to the village. The border resembles the 1976 line. As we said earlier, yes, there is a need to build a bypass road, which can be accomplished in 2-3 months. We will also rebuild the road between H-26 and Acharkut and Kirants, which is an alternative road for Kirants. As for property issues, the volumes are small and the government will compensate in such situations.
REPORTER: What about Baghanis, Berkaber, and Voskepar?
PASHINYAN OFFICE: The most sensitive topic in Voskepar was the fate of the church, and on the Voskepar-Baghanis section, it was the Soviet-era road. Both issues received the best resolution: the road is fully within Armenia and so is the church, and the border line is quite far from the road and the church. As for Berkaber, there were no such sensitive topics.
REPORTER: When will the sides deploy border guards?
PASHINYAN OFFICE: Within 8-9 days, and a bit later in the 3 sensitive areas of Kirants after further clarifications. //
On Thursday, PM Nikol Pashinyan spoke about the May 15 border commission.
PASHINYAN: This is a major success for two reasons: (1) A very important cornerstone was placed for the future development of Armenia as an independent and sovereign state, (2) for the first time since independence, we have an officially delimited border, which will significantly increase the level of stability and security in that section and along the entire border. I'd like to thank the border commission leader Deputy PM Mher Grigoryan and all members, and every member of the National Security Council.
I'll provide further details. As you recall from the May 15 statement, it says the borders are delimited based on the 1976 maps that underwent the legal procedures in 1979. As you know, our principle was to reproduce the existing border with de jure power instead of drawing a new one. To accomplish this, we made a reference to the 1991 Almaty Declaration in the April 19 agreement, and it became the basis for the entire delimitation process. On May 15 we specified the 1976 maps; these are the most up-to-date USSR maps with de jure power.
In USSR, a map could be granted a de jure power by a special state agency that collected maps and legal processes and verified their accuracy and legitimacy before confirming the administrative border of Soviet republics. In the area where these delimitations are taking place, in 1979 this USSR state agency verified the 1976 map and it's the most recent map with de jure power.
This was a very important principle for us. We must accept wherever this border passes through. If we chose to draw new borders, that would create a ground for future military conflicts and escalations. The ongoing process, which should not be underestimated or overestimated, abides by the principle of adhering to the legal border and significantly reduces or eliminates possible escalations. This agreement was a major success.
Berkaber: there were no issues here.
Baghanis & Voskepar: at first we thought that some issues could arise here, around the church and, as the locals say, the "old road". If you've ever been there you have seen this road sign, when you pass Baghanis, the sign warns you that the road is being observed [under Azeri scope] and it was not advised to use this road during tense periods. Now, as a result of border delimitation, this road is not only confirmed within Armenia, but it will be safer for travel as a result of the new circumstances [border guards replacing the militarized armed forces, less dispute = less conflicts]. As for the church, we don't have a problem here because the border passes significantly further away from it.
So to recap, we recorded no problems in Berkaber, Baghanis, and Voskepar because we chose to follow the de jure border line and we did so. Following this principle is also why we will have certain problems in Kirants because we don't want to draw an entirely new border. We must use this principle for the entire AM-AZ border, with no exceptions. Not only we are creating a precedence for delimitation, but also a formula to be used for the future entire delimitation process and to make it predictable. If parties decide to make mutual concessions in certain areas, we could discuss the launch of legislative processes to authorize them, but for now, we have agreed on a principle to be used for the entire AM-AZ border. On each section of the border, we will use the most recent USSR maps that hold de jure power.
MHER GRIGORYAN: On May 15 the border commissions also discussed the Regulation and it appears we have an agreement to reflect these principles in the Regulation. Efforts are underway to prepare the Regulation. Azerbaijan wants to continue the border delimitation with the same framework and algorithm used thus far.
PASHINYAN: We should implement the reached agreements in full within 8-10 days. The border guards were deployed in Baghanis-Voskepar around 10 days ago. They were deployed alongside the installation of the white border markers. They are currently studying the terrain to launch the permanent service there. The same will be done in other sections.
source, source, source, source, video,

the list of properties that fall under the Azeri side of the border in Kirants after the delimitation of the 3 problematic sections

1 house, 1 lodging, 1 trailer-shop that doesn't operate, and 1 garage. The government plans to compensate for them and will build a new section of this road that passes fully through Armenia.
source, source, see the map here,

opposition MP from ARF/Kocharyan faction got fed up with protesters' road blocks in Tavush villages

Gegham Nazaryan, a father of a fallen soldier and an opposition MP who - unlike his colleagues - doesn't always engage in toxic exchanges with the ruling party, decided to visit the border village Kirants, where he asked the road blockers to open it.
He engaged in an argument with a protester from another region who came to Kirants to block the road. The MP complained that blocking the road is what Azeris would want.
The MP also engaged with an activist-reporter from an opposition outlet who was covering the road blockings. The MP accused the reporter of "having bad intentions" and of "manipulations". The activist-reporter accused the MP of having secret ties with Pashinyan during an intense yelling match. "Great speech. You call yourself a journalist?", rhetorically asked the opposition MP.
ARF leaders responded saying their MP was not speaking/acting on behalf of the party.
STYOPA SAFARYAN (pro-West figure): MP Gegham Nazaryan also senses that some forces are attempting to carry out Artsakh 2.0 in Armenia by attempting to derail the border delimitation process. //
In related news. The protesters pressured the mayor of Kirants who gave an interview last week and admitted that the delimitation went much better than he expected. On Thursday he offered to resign from his position during a confrontation with an opposition media outlet reporter who was unhappy about the mayor's positive portrayal of the delimitation process.
longer video, video, video, video, source, source,

Armenian government approves a $2 billion permanent housing assistance program for Nagorno-Karabakh refugees; rollout in stages

SOCIAL MINISTRY: We need to provide long-term housing to allow the forcefully displaced persons to socially and economically integrate into Armenia. The program has three components: (1) Obtaining a house or an apartment with a subsidy, (2) building a house with a subsidy, (3) subsidizing the mortgage if the refugee has already purchased a house.

... The size of the subsidy varies depending on the geographical location and the size of the family

(1) ֏5 million ($12,900) per family member to obtain housing in one of the 242 towns or villages.
(2) ֏4 million ($10,300) per family member to obtain housing in one of 148 towns or villages.
(3) ֏3 million ($7,700) per family member for all other settlements except Yerevan's 1st and 2nd Zones.
(4) and ֏2 million ($5,200) if you already have a mortgage.

... Conditions to qualify

(a) Families forcefully displaced after 27 September 2020.
(b) Refugees who accept Armenian citizenship.
(c) The living space cannot be smaller than 12 m² per family member.
(d) The property's value cannot exceed ֏55 million ($141,000).

... If you buy a house cheaper than the subsidy amount, you can use the remaining balance to...

(1) buy agricultural land worth up to ֏5 million
(2) renovate the newly purchased house if necessary, worth up to ֏4 million
(3) buy furniture and appliances, up to ֏2 million

... Which forcefully displaced families do NOT qualify?

(a) If they are already a recipient of another housing program that began immediately after the 2020 war.
(b) If one of the family members owned a house or apartment in Armenia as of 2023-09-19 or at the time of application.

... Conditions if you want to receive aid to build your own house

(a) Select one of the preapproved projects/plans.
(b) The construction company must be licensed in Armenia.

... The assistance will stop if

(a) If two family members under the age of 55 are absent from Armenia for >180 days per year unless they leave Armenia to receive education in one of the top 400 international universities, aviation training, or military training.

... The housing assistance will roll out in phases

The first phase will include families with 3 or more children if they want an apartment or 2+ children if they want a house, low-income families, those who already have a mortgage, families who lost a member in war, and creditworthy families who can take out a separate loan amounting 50% of the assistance size.
The second phase, starting 2026-01-01, will include families with 2 children if they want an apartment or families with 1 child if they want a house.
The third phase, starting 2027-01-01, will include everyone else.

... PM Pashinyan about the refugee housing program

PASHINYAN: The working group has done a lot of work to get here, thank you. Spread the word so people will know the details of this assistance program. No one should be forced to visit or call an office to receive basic details.
We have decided not to adopt a "flat" approach; the amount of aid increases based on the family size and the location of the house. We had to exclude the [expensive and crowded] central parts of Yerevan. We also have to ensure a proportional load on the educational facilities.
If the refugee has an active mortgage loan taken in Armenia, let's say taken in 2016, each family member will receive ֏2 million towards that mortgage. So if you have a family of 6 [Nagorno-Karabakh families are often larger than Armenia-based families], you receive $31,000 to pay off your mortgage.
On the other hand, our brothers and sisters from Nagorno-Karabakh who are well-off and already own a house without an outstanding mortgage balance, won't receive assistance because the goal of this program is to help those who don't have a house.

... How much will this cost?

FINANCE MINISTER: There will be up to 25,000 recipient families, and if we use the averages, it amounts to [voice is starting to crackle] ֏500 billion ($1.3 billion) for the housing costs alone. There will be additional expenses associated with this program. Every year, for the next 10-12 years, we will confirm the annual expenditures. So the overall costs will amount to ֏700-800 billion.
PASHINYAN: So that's roughly a $2 billion investment program in Armenia. Also, by becoming citizens of Armenia to take advantage of this housing program, the refugees won't lose any refugee rights or privileges, and they will not lose the ongoing monthly cash [40+10] assistance programs.
FINANCE MINISTER: We have launched a new line in the migration services to handle the expected uptick in applications in the coming months so people won't face long lines. The passport departments in provinces will begin to handle citizenship applications just for refugees; today this is only possible in Yerevan.
video,

EU's EBRD and US's USAID to develop connectivity in the South Caucasus

During the EBRD forum held in Yerevan, the two signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor, to further enhance connectivity between Asia and Europe via the South Caucasus.
It's about expanding trade, green energy, investment, as well as transport and digital infrastructure in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

The MoU seeks to enhance the planning, design and construction of critical energy, transport, digital and agricultural infrastructure in the region. It also aims to: improve the efficiency of customs, tariff and border operations; attract private capital investment into the South Caucasus economies for the development of the Middle Corridor; and adopt the highest international standards to promote economic connectivity with Europe and among South Caucasus countries.

source,

other EBRD projects were announced

source,

Lake Sevan is back to 2021 levels after the heavy precipitation in May: VIDEO

OFFICIAL: As of May, the level was 1900.46, which is 2 cm higher than the 2021 mark and 29 cm higher than January 1.
2021 was a harmful year for Sevan because of unprecedented heat waves. In June 2021 there was an evaporation of 153M m³ water, which was a historical high, while the precipitation on the surface was only 4.8M m^3, which was 4x lower than the previous historical low [WTF?]. Also, the river flow was at 40%. As a result of all this, instead of the usual 7 cm increase for June, we observed a 10 cm decline.
This year the conditions have been much better. We are finally back to the May 2021 levels. The rains filled it up from above, and the Arpa-Sevan tunnel from below the rocks. This tunnel has already brought 89M m³ this year, which is 2x more than last year.
Another contributing factor is the reduced reliance on Sevan for irrigation because the agricultural fields are still wet. Last year we had to tap into Sevan starting May 14. This year the government hasn't even summoned a meeting to authorize a release of water.
The 5 largest reservoirs currently hold 605M m^3, up by 240M. Only the Aparan reservoir is lacking. In Ketchut reservoir the water is above the famous "flowers" (margaritka). This is the first time in 5 years that the water is above the margaritkas. When the water rises above margaritkas, it drops down and flows into Lake Sevan. Overall, 90% of the water entering Sevan is wasted by evaporation.
REPORTER: Rains will return starting May 22.
video,

EBRD will provide $10 million to finance the Armenian private sector’s investments in growth, competitiveness, and greener and more sustainable practices

upgrading their production facilities and processes to EU standards. At least 70 per cent of the loans will go to support the green transition. Borrowers will receive incentive grants and technical advice funded by the European Union

source,

anti-corruption: former MP from Gagik Tsarukyan's BHK party is arrested under the suspicion of defrauding several homebuyers through real estate machinations

AUTHORITIES: Ex-MP Aragats Akhoyan's construction companies collected ֏274 million from several prospective apartment buyers in 2010-2014. He pocketed the funds.
source, source, video,

Armenia signs Council of Europe's Bioethics Convention

The Oviedo Convention is the only international legal instrument that defines the principles for the protection of human rights in the field of medicine and biological medicine.
FM Mirzoyan met Marija Burić on Thursday in Strasbourg to sign it.
source,

Armenia will open an embassy in Cyprus

Currently, Armenia’s Ambassador to Greece also serves as Ambassador to Cyprus. The seat of the Cypriot Embassy in Armenia is in Moscow.
In March Cyprus said it would open an embassy in Yerevan.
source,

Belarus leader Lukashenko suggests he and Ilham Aliyev discussed the 2020 war before it began

Lukashenko is in Baku to strengthen the strategic AZ-BY relations.
LUKASHENKO: We are brothers and we have a common vision of the world and where it's headed. I remember our conversation before the 2020 war, your liberation war, when we had a philosophical debate at a dinner table. At the time we came to the conclusion that it's possible to win the war. That's important. It's very important to preserve that victory. I also agreed with you at the time that the most difficult period would come after the liberation of the lands. Today is that difficult period when we have to revive those lands and return people, while others will born there. It'll be difficult to revive these lands in 5-10 years; it requires extensive work. Belarus is ready to help Azerbaijan. //
Nikol should have greeted Putin at the airport to avoid the war.
source,

Luxembourg lawmakers urge government to act for implementation of World Court orders by Azerbaijan

Deputies have unanimously adopted a motion asking the government to act for the implementation of the ICC orders by Azerbaijan.
The MPs urge to demand from Azerbaijan an immediate release of all Armenian prisoners of war, support peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, expand the partnership between Armenia and EU, support the normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey, deepen the diplomatic relations between Armenia and Luxembourg.
source,

ranking member of Armenia's ruling party about EU membership

The MP Khandanyan says Pashinyan has already announced that Armenia wants to deepen ties with the EU as much as possible and that how soon Armenia submits a bid to become an EU candidate will depend on the signals coming from the EU. In general, today the EU is not ready to expand because some EU members oppose it, said Khandanyan. When the EU sends a signal that it's ready, Armenia will "accelerate" the steps, said Khandanyan, adding that Armenia itself has already sent that "signal" that it wants closer integration with the EU.
But first, Khandanyan says Armenia must improve its resilience because the transitional phase will be full of risks. Armenia expects the EU's assistance to improve the resilience [reduce reliance on Russia].
source,

Բրյուսելի հանդիպման արդյունքներով ԵՄ-ն կշարունակի նպաստել ՀՀ տնտեսական զարգացմանը

PM Pashinyan hosted EU's Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis to discuss the implementation of the economic agreements reached on April 5 in Brussels to improve Armenia's resilience.
Pashinyan also called for the EU's assistance in implementing the refugee housing program adopted by the Government this morning.
The EU Trade Commissioner said the EU will continue to assist Armenia's development, including in the areas of energy, infrastructure, diversification of markets, implementation of higher standards, improvement of business environment, etc.
source, other meeting, other meeting,

U.S. Ambassador Kvien is "optimistic about the opportunities offered by Armenia to U.S. and other foreign companies"

A meeting was held at the central bank building participated by Ambassador Kvien and other guests of the EBRD forum that's being held in Yerevan this year.
Ambassador Kvien also highlighted Armenia's high economic growth rate in recent years.
source,

Armenia's membership to EAEU is beneficial for Armenia: Moscow

DEPUTY FM of RUSSIA: I don't know what the Armenian leadership plans to do in the future, but EAEU is undoubtedly a mutually beneficial process. This is reflected in the economic growth figures of Armenia.
source,

Armenian government invites the head of Metsamor nuclear plant to join talks with European Commission officials

The infrastructure ministry and NPP chief met a delegation led by the European Commission's Deputy Director-General for International Cooperation and Development Marjeta Jager.
The European Commission official thanked for the invitation and welcomed the steps by the Armenian government towards the energy reforms in Armenia. They spoke about NPP's operation and future plans.
They discussed the exchange of experience and financial programs.
source,

Armenia and European Commission officials discussed the implementation of April 5 agreements reached in Brussels

The head of the European Commission's Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations Adrienn Kiraly was hosted by foreign ministry on Thursday.
They discussed programs to improve Armenia's resilience under the April 5 agreement, the full implementation of CEPA and its expansion.
source,

Moscow released a somewhat misleading statement after the recent meeting between Pashinyan and Putin, according to National Security Council chief Armen Grigoryan

According to Grigoryan, Pashinyan did not "ask" Putin to maintain troops on the borders with Turkey and Iran. According to Grigoryan, Pashinyan asked Putin to remove the Russian guards from Yerevan's airport and AM-AZ border, and when Putin asked Pashinyan if he also wanted to remove them from TR and IR border, Pashinyan said "no", because those guards were installed under a different agreement. Context in Wednesday news digest.
Grigoryan also criticized Russia's attempts to stoke divisions between Armenia and Iran by presenting the EU observer mission as anti-Iranian. Grigoryan demanded Russia present evidence of the EU mission carrying out activities outside of their AM-AZ border monitoring mission. "Iran has already expressed its stance. I don't understand why Russia is attempting to use the EU's Monitoring Mission to cause issues," said Grigoryan.
source,

Armenia's NatSec chief Armen Grigoryan advised Russia to improve its own human rights conditions and freedom of speech before commenting on Armenia's internal affairs

Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova recently complained about Armenian police using force to clear the roads blocked by pro-Russian party activists. Zakharova also complained that the West wasn't criticizing the Armenian government for it.
NatSec GRIGORYAN: Armenian protesters have been able to fully exercise their freedom of speech during legally organized rallies. Illegal actions are obviously countered by police. Perhaps Russia should first look at itself before criticizing us.
REPORTER: Look at what? Russia doesn't have opposition, how can they oppress something that doesn't exist?
ARMEN GRIGORYAN: Russia should discuss its own kitchen. The developments in Armenia are not related to Russia.... or are they? If these protests are tied to Russia, Moscow should directly say so. If Moscow sees a problem, they must say it directly, and not do so by dragging others like they did in the case of Iran and the EU Mission.
source,

during a meeting in Yerevan, Jordan's foreign ministry expressed concern over the attempted takeover of part of the Armenian district of Jerusalem

The Deputy FM of Jordan met his Armenian counterpart in Yerevan to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues. The parties criticized the attempts to change the status quo in Jerusalem.
source,

Pashinyan and Diaspora Office held a meeting about the iGorts professional repatriation program: VIDEO

source,

monkeys could soon become smarter than you

Are monkeys entering the stone age? Capuchin primates were filmed using tools to dig for food underground, days after an orangutan treated its own wound with plant.
The footage joins a growing number of studies looking into the tiny South American primate's use of stone and stick tools, an emerging field that some research universities now describe as 'documenting the Monkey Stone Age in real-time.'
video,

I finally got my wife approved after almost 8 months of waiting, and I wanted to publish my story here so that it may help or inform people waiting for theirs. (I had posted a rant a month ago, but I deleted it for people arguing whether my expedite request was valid or not)
Submitted all the documentation for her September 22nd of 2023 and she got her fingerprints done a week later. Never heard anything since then, and I got a letter requesting more evidence in January 2024 for her greencard.
We replied the same week, and then again, heard nothing.
At the 6 month mark of waiting, I started following up regularly and I even got a call back from a tier 2 officer who told me it was just pending and to wait, that I had until May 22nd to send an official inquiry on the wait, but until then, I was within normal processing time.
I decided to expedite the case, for the following reasons: - I had an offer letter for a pilot internship which would put me in a position that is not financially viable for my family (and I had the instructor write a letter saying It would be a full time commitment similar to a full time job) - My wife had a job offer letter from a company looking for an HR position - The job was pushing for her to work for them, and the CEO was willing to write a letter saying that they would lose money to hire her, since she is multilingual and has over 15 years of HR experience (they estimated the amount of hiring 3 people in order to match her skill level) - We recently moved to a different apartment. We live in a high cost city, and I had inherited a cheap apartment rental contract from an old tenant who was my friend, but It wasn't renewed, so our new places rent calculated to almost double what I was paying before, and it wasn't financially logical long term - Showed the math between my savings and what was being spent with us moving to the new place (I basically showed it was not sustainable long term) - A cover letter basically begging and explaining everything
I sent the expedite request and almost a month went by with no information. I called the USCIS number practically everyday, and I was told to wait, that the case hadn't even been assigned to an officer yet. I asked for an officer to call me back, who did, and they basically questioned me as to why I would bring my wife here if I couldn't financially support her (which I thought was rather insulting after almost 7 months of waiting, so I posted a reddit rant) and he ended up telling me to just wait and hold on, that they are backed up.
Two weeks ago, I got in contact with my local congresswoman, and I opened a case with them. I submitted to them all my expedited documents, and I asked them to try to inquire about the delay.
Yesterday I got a call from the local congresswoman notifying me they approved the work permit, and that there was no real reason for the delay, just that they stated it was the standard process (She forwarded me the email they sent her).
Almost 8 months of waiting, and I know people from my wifes country who have been waiting for 12+ months with still no work authorization. I suggest to everyone to send an expedite request if you have the documents to support your case and especially if your case is past 6-7 months. You'd be suprised.
My wife's greencard is still in process, and if I don't hear anything by early September (almost a year later by then), I will be contacting my local congresswoman again or suing. For reference, I am a USC and my wife and I have been married for more than two years, have a kid together, and I lived in her country for more than three years full time. I even worked there and reported taxes to the US from there. I hope this helps someone.

The following article may help you to explain what's Hi-Res music to your CD freinds as some of them may be mis-led into believe that "Hi-Res is useless" from information they got on the internet (especially from "audio science" discussion forums)

source: "768kHz for digital music sampling? Can you hear 384kHz? You're crazy... "(no-pseudo-science.blogspot.com)

Do I want to hear up to 384kHz? LOL... of course not 😂 768kHz sampling is for something else...

Hi-Res Audio DAC

The number one mis-understanding of why using Hi-Res music is:

"why we need to to hear frequencies that fall in the ultrasonic range (i.e. higher than 22kHz for most people)???"

If you asked similar question or answered someone's question like below, then you are pretty much belong to a group of people who don't know what's Hi-Res music is.

Hi-Res music is, in fact, to help your DAC to reconstruct better audio output for the audible range (yes, it is for the frequencies BELOW 22kHz with 768kHz sampling)...

(It is a real dialogue as I just saw it today in an Audio Science forum)

Someone asked:

Many DACs descriptions enhance in capital letters 32/768 kHz resolution. Is there any domain when such a resolution may be justified?

Other (more experienced member) replied:

Can you think of a circumstance where you'd even want a dynamic range of over 190dB and/or a frequency response up to 384kHz?

Apparently the Gray Moth can hear up to about 300kHz (gotta get away from those bats with that pesky echolocation thing), so there is that to consider if you want to record those sounds, but otherwise it doesn't seem to be useful for listening to music.

Sorry, I would like to help to debunk these misleading information on the spot in the discussion but I couldn't as I was stopped from replying that thread. I could only help here.

The wrong answer shown above is the number one mis-leading answer in an attempt to kill Hi-Res music (especially for the people who asked such question have limited knowledge about digital music / signal sampling).... I hope that guy won't really take the wrong answer from a supposed-to-be objective audio science based web site as a fact without checking more by himself.

Ok, then you may ask "then what Hi-Res do for us?" It is simple, let's see what it does first:

1. Over-sampling (ie. sample the original music signal more frequently within a second

2. More bits for bit-depth (i.e. 24 or even 32 instead of 16 bit)What are the benefits?

Over sampling helps to reconstruct final better audio signal from a DAC

1. Oversampling does help to reconstruct better audio signal as it improves anti-aliasing performance, increase resolution, and reduce noise.

2. In terms of sampling frequency, "Hi-Res" music (anything higher than 44k) is an example of oversampling (as in theory, only 44kHz is required). It happens during the ADC process. From point 1 above, it would help to regenerate better audio signal, hence, better music.

3. In terms of bit depth, "Hi-Res" music use more than 16 bit. It helps to reduce Quantization#Noise) error. it would help to regenerate better audio signal, hence, better music.

4. The purpose for using "Hi-Res" input is not for its ability to reconstruct signal outside the audible range. It is just a by-product. Yes, based on sampling theory, we can use 768k sampling to reconstruct signal with frequencies up to 384k but again, this is not what we needed.

5. Hi-Res industry used the by-product I mentioned in point 4 above as a marketing material when they initially pushed for SACD. It caused people who knows about the audible frequency range to consider Hi-Res music as snake oil (but it is not snake oil for other reasons stated above)

I don't want to go too deep about all the benefits here as it is extremely technical. If you really want to know. Let me know, see if I can help further.

(updated 29 April 2024, I saw this on facebook: Hi-Res Audio Hi Res: Why higher sample rates sound better and what you can do about it Facebook )

p.s.: Sigh... looks like one more guy (who asked the question above) was somehow convinced by the misleading info....

=========== Follow up ===========

update 28 Apri 2024:

that person was eventually banned for that thread as he was rising some concerns with his critical thinking. As stated in my other blog, "psueduo science hates critical thinking"; they cannot co-exist.

PC

Discord Tag: 7up
Name and House: Ronnel Arryn
Age: 33
Cultural Group: Valeman
Appearance: Cheekbones poised like a falcon perched, an aquiline nose after a raptor's beak, a stature rivalling a mountain's (if it were the size of a tall man), and blue eyes the same color as the sky. Aside from a propagandist's parallels to whatever sigil their patron displays, Ronnel Arryn errs from the example of the aloof falcon. Once possessed of a heedless will, a brashness and an impatience, those qualities have been tamed in turn by fatherhood, husbandhood, and rulership—though those traits still persist, merely tinged by the manner that an elder brother might take with the younger. His hair has shifted from dirty blond to sandy brown with age, and a trimmed beard covers his jaw.
Trait: Inspiring
Skill(s): Blunt Weapons, Cavalryman, Tactician, Cunning (e)
Talent(s): Falconry, hunting (non-mechanical 🤫🧏‍♂️), dragonriding
Negative Trait(s): N/A
Starting Title(s): Lord of the Eyrie, Lord of the Vale, Defender of the Guarded Domains of Arryn, Warden of the East, Warden of the Green Fork, First and Last of His Name, the King Who Flew, Rider of Vhagar (sometimes), and the Last King in Westeros
Starting Location: Feast
Family Tree

AC

Name and House: Marq Hardyng
Age: 32
Cultural Group: Valeman
Appearance: A broad and ruddy man, blonde, brown-eyed, and bearded. Marq Hardyng wears his duty on his sleeve; that duty mostly being hunting with his milk brother.
Trait: Hale
Skill(s): Swords, Investigator (e)
Talent(s): Tourney lore x3
Negative Trait(s): N/A
Starting Title(s): Scion of House Hardyng
Starting Location: Feast

Biography

Little of the Last King’s early years are of much import; Ronnel Arryn was born to King Joffrey I and Queen Sharra Arryn. His few memories of his father were that of a pallid man, wan and sickly but still a king who bloody well fought the illness that plagued him.
Or perhaps those were just fanciful tales, an imagined story that supplanted the truth of the matter.
Joffrey Arryn did at least survive, if he did not fight. Ronnel’s siblings, Jonos and Roland, would be born in succession. The falcons grew in number, Joffrey’s ailment ceased, and—the gods took him away and brought Arwen Arryn into the world.
Shortly after his sister’s birth, Sharra Arryn dressed her son in royal regalia and placed a crown on his head, assuming rule as sole regent while the boy distracted himself with toys and games. He would be nursed with Marq Hardyng, and he and his milk brother grew to be quick friends.
The Queen Sharra could not rest. There were new contenders on the horizon, greater than what meager assaults the Hoares could occasionally muster against the Bloody Gate: the threefold conquerors atop their dragons. Where the ravens sent by Aegon were met with scorn by Durrandon and hubris by the Hoares, Sharra offered alliance. Her hand in marriage and the left bank of the Green Fork to be annexed into the Guarded Domains.
The dragons rejected the offer, and instead, a Velaryon fleet was sent to take Gulltown and establish a foothold. They were repelled and the Targaryen ships were sunk for that transgression, but Vhagar’s fire consumed the Grafton fleet with them.
Ronnel knew what war was. It was like those tales in storybooks, that of the Griffin King and the Winged Knight, the legends of the Battle of Sevenstars. He, Jonos, and Marq fashioned themselves as Jaime Corbray or Luceon Templeton and fought each other over who could best live up to Artys Arryn’s example. When the Gates of the Moon swelled with men-at-arms, knights, and levied smallfolk, the three would find the most fearsome looking of them and challenge them to duels. Once he heard of dragons, though, Ronnel was consumed. He begged his mother to let him lead a parlay under a peace banner just so that he could see them, but Sharra sent him off to the nurses or left him to kick rocks in the courtyard.
The banners gathered, and the defenses were headed by Lord Rodrik Hardyng. Orders were given, the soldiers were drilled. And Vhagar’s wings cast a shadow so large that it engulfed the Bloody Gate whole. Shouting on the ramparts and in the valleys, but high above in the Eyrie? Ronnel, then just eight, was in awe at the sight.
Sharra could only muster a smile when she returned to find her son on Visenya’s lap. An accord was struck, on Ronnel’s terms this time: he asked to fly on Vhagar and his mother would surrender the crown to the Targaryen Queen. The mercy that Visenya afforded was well-taken, though in Sharra’s mind, the threat of dragonfire crystallized.
A marked shift came then. There were no battles to be won, no politicking to be done that outweighed the import of her sons and her daughter. The Queen-Regent, now the Lady-Regent, empowered her son’s advisors and devoted her time to looking after her children. When Visenya returned after burning House Sunderland whole and gave reprimands, Sharra frowned and offered blunt words in turn, which the Queen acquiesced to. Their relationship thawed hence, though Ronnel had never wavered in his admiration of the Targaryen. A Winged-Knight-Come-Again. Perhaps he could ride a dragon of his own one day.
Ronnel was a rowdy lad and by the time he was of squiring age, he was content to leave the rule of his lands to his mother and whoever she picked as an advisor. Lords such as Lyn Egen, Willem Ryger, and Rodrik Templeton would come to advise the young lord or hawk with him. Lord Mathos Grafton became the most prominent of that cadre, his wisdom in old age allowing him more room for criticism. Ronnel wanted to while his time away with falconry and training, while the old lord reminded him of the issues that Targaryen reign brought.
At four-and-ten, Ronnel stole away from the Eyrie and gathered what boys and knights he could to face the mountain clans. He knew what war was; it was the Root Father and his savages, stealing and laying waste to the lands he was sworn to protect. It was in the throes of battle that Ronnel would be dubbed as a knight by some unknown dying man. The knighthood was left unmentioned, though the purpose he found for his rule—no, his guardianship—lingered.
In his victorious return to the Eyrie, Ronnel would be clouted on the ear for the stunt then barred from leaving for months. Visenya Targaryen landed once more in the Vale. This time, she took it as a home, and she was welcomed with open arms. Aegon’s heir was born in the Eyrie that year, dubbed as Laenor Targaryen and soon practically adopted by the Arryns as their younger sibling. Sharra would grow close to the dragon queen in the years to come.
A year later, Ronnel was sent to King’s Landing to squire for Orys Baratheon. Only a few months elapsed before he grew incensed with the Hand over one thing or another, and the squireship ended when the Arryn came to blows with his knight-master. Ronnel was sent back to the Vale, where he earned his spurs once more. Publicly this time, before a crowd of tourneygoers and then holding a vigil with oaths modeled after those of the Winged Knights.
Though he gave off the impression of a true knight by that time, he was more preoccupied with wine and women and the hunt than statecraft. In any room he entered, he laughed the loudest, boasted the loudest, fought the hardest, always with Marq at his side. Nothing but a scolding from his mother Sharra or a clout on the ear from his second mother Visenya could fetter him. He was a falcon, and he flew high and bright.
Such a lofty stature is bound to attract envy. As any elder brother would, he butted heads with his siblings often. His rivalry with his brother Jonos was much more than a sibling spat, however, though the nature and root of their rivalry is unknown to all but a select few. In later years, their quarrels grew louder and their rifts deeper, with Jonos having been sent thrice to play second fiddle to the Knight of the Bloody Gate, and threatened with taking the black twice as many times. Still, their early quarrels proved to be mere distractions, and they wreaked what havoc boy-lords would in taverns and winesinks.
But his lip had to become stiff the day his mother died, just a few months after he came of age and assumed power. Sharra Arryn's last words of advice ate away at his spirit.
"Kill the boy."
So he was offered at the altar, and so did Rhaenys Targaryen seize the opportunity. Ronnel Arryn would be wed to the Queen’s lady-in-waiting, Serena Stark, and that match was confirmed by Sharra’s will. Yet numb, he received his wife to be in Gulltown with courtesy, and they were wedded with haste. Once a Princess of the North and now the Lady of the Vale, Serena found no home in the Eyrie. Ronnel came to avoid her; going on hunts, staying at the Moongates or even the Bloody Gate, and offering only short conversation in their rare meetings.
It came to a head when Serena stated her intention to return to Winterfell. Ronnel gave a shrug in response, and asked when she wanted to depart. Jonos could be his heir if need be, and his mother’s death still dragged his thoughts, so why bother at all?
The intervention of one dragon queen then another halted the split: Visenya reminded Ronnel that Aegon made two marriages work at once. A raven carrying a letter from Queen Rhaenys arrived, affixed with a ring wrought of Valyrian steel. Ronnel gave it to Serena as a peace offering.
There was no parting from the Targaryens’ grand plans, it seemed. So Ronnel’s marriage with Serena began anew. She would be introduced to the Vale and its customs with feasts and tourneys, sitting on councils and holding court as the Lady of the Vale. In the same vein, more familiar items and furnishings were brought in from the North, and Ronnel would journey to the weirwood tree that the mountain clans held sacred to try to pray with his wife. He did not hear the old gods’ whispers and could not bear the stillness, but the two came to understand one another, and their marriage grew warm. Their first child, Robar Arryn, was born a year later, and the Tourney by the Maiden’s Bay would be held in his honor.
Ronnel settled into his reign. His liveliness returned, though boyish pursuits were restrained with fatherhood. He replaced the Keeper of the Gates of the Moon after the Cavaliers proved more competent, sent tax collector after tax collector when Witch Isle grew silent (and nearly called the banners before being dissuaded), and ensured that the mountain clans and any other would-be invaders were quelled while Lae Targaryen was raised to be a greater king than their father. The Brotherhood of the Winged Knights, once decrepit, grew stronger after pieces of the Winged Knight’s armor were found.
His second child, a daughter, would be born then. Faced with the choice of naming her after Sharra or Visenya, she would instead be named after her great-grandmother Cynthea. Artos Arryn would follow four years later, his name chosen by the Lady Arryn.
Another day in the Eyrie. Five-and-twenty years after Aegon's Conquest, and near thirty years into Ronnel's reign. He slides a razor over his cheek and coughs once into a fist. Ronnel opens his palm to see droplets of blood. He wipes his cheek. A shaving cut, no doubt and no matter.
The next week while he sups with his family, the coughs come back. He excuses himself, blames his trip to the valleys with a chuckle, and Jonos meets his gaze with a sidelong glance before shirking away.
He sees his maester without telling anyone. And once more after a hunt. Soon, he is left sitting on his bed with grains of sweetsleep in hand and a warning: he would die. And soon.
Ronnel Arryn is honorable. He is just, or at least just enough. But when he bounces his son on his knee and looks into smiling grey eyes where his Stark mother's are oft stern, he wonders whether the next Targaryen to come to the Eyrie would let little Artos fly or burn him and his family whole.
It is not enough. Ronnel Arryn is not just enough. As the last king yet walking on the earth of this damnable regent's kingdom, he needs to ensure that the next monarch in Laenor Targaryen sits firmly on the Iron Throne before he dies—honor be damned if need be, by any means fucking necessary. That is his duty to the realm. That is his duty to his wife and children, and that will be his legacy.

Timeline

• 8-9 BC (33 now idk how BC works): Born the first child to King Joffrey I and Queen Sharra Arryn.
• 3 BC: Joffrey I dies of a chill. Ronnel is crowned king at age six.
• 1 BC: After House Grafton’s fleet is burned, the armies of the Guarded Domains gather at the Bloody Gate. Visenya’s landing.
• 2 AC: The Three Sisters burn.
• 4 AC: Ronnel begins squiring for Elbert Waynwood.
• 6 AC: Ronnel fights his first battle against the Sons of the Tree, and undergoes his first dubbing.
• 7-9 AC: Visenya arrives at the Eyrie. Ronnel departs for King’s Landing to squire for Orys Baratheon, returning after a fight with his knight-master. He is knighted once more at a tourney.
• 10-11 AC: Sharra Arryn dies, and the Arryns’ grief is cut short by a match arranged by Rhaenys and approved by the Lady-Regent before her death. Serena Stark and Ronnel Arryn are wed, and the marriage nearly falls apart before the intervention of the dragon queens.
• 12 AC: Robar Arryn is born. The Tourney by the Maiden’s Bay is called in the new heir's honor.
• 13 AC: The Cavaliers fight off the Painted Dogs outside the Gates of the Moon, and are given wardenship over them as reward. Marq Hardyng begins pursuing the tourney circuit.
• 15 AC: Cynthea Arryn is born.
• 19 AC: Artos Arryn is born.
• 23 AC: With Jonos Arryn settling into a discontent life at the Bloody Gate, the need for a sworn sword is lessened. Marq Hardyng travels to Essos to search for clues linking the Winged Knight to the Andal conquerors. He finds none, and returns a year later.
• Early 25 AC: An illness wells in Ronnel’s lungs. His maester tells him that he has about a year to live.
• Late 25 AC: The Arryns travel to the celebration near King’s Landing.

Sup porting Characters

• Cortnay Arryn, 54 (General): Ronnel’s uncle. Once a prince, Cortnay served variously as the Knight of the Gate, the Captain of the Guards, or an advisor. Cortnay is known for his exasperated sighs, and struggles to keep up when he hunts with his nephew. Still, he has a good head for tactics and participated in actions against the Mountain Clans and the Hoares.
• Jasper Arryn, 19 (General): Ronnel’s second cousin. Though removed from the main line of House Arryn, Jasper was raised in the Gates and remained a fixture in the Arryn household. He swore vows modeled after the Ash-Branded, though his cheery disposition seems to contradict them.
• Cynthea Corbray, 78 (N/A): The Queen-Grandmother claims to have been asleep when Visenya landed in the Eyrie, and preserved her coronet by hiding it in the Gates. She resides at the Gates of the Moon with the Cavaliers, and it has become tradition to pay one’s respects to her when passing through.
• Jonos Arryn, 31 (N/A): In another world, Jonos would be known as the Kinslayer, and he certainly possesses that propensity. Wed to Maris Grafton and perhaps favored by her lord grandfather, he has long since hated the Targaryens, and blames Visenya for his true mother’s death. Jonos’ truculence precedes him, and he is kept fettered with thankless offices.

Hello Poe_AI Community,
Today, I'm reaching out to share my frustration and concern about the point system implemented by Poe. It's become a critical issue that affects all of us, especially those who are subscribers and frequent users of their services.
The Core Issue:
Poe has implemented a point system that significantly limits user interactions. For example, subscribers are given a quota of 1,000,000 points, but engaging with certain services, like Claude 3 Opus, deducts 2000 points per interaction. This barely translates to 500 messages. If one seeks to undertake a larger project, like writing a book or engaging in extensive research, this limit is quickly reached. Additionally, if a response from the AI is unsatisfactory and one requests another, another 2000 points are deducted. Therefore, the point budget depletes rapidly, making it impractical for regular use, let alone for more intensive tasks.
Why It Matters:
This system not only restricts our ability to utilize the services effectively but also feels fundamentally unfair, especially given the financial commitment of subscribing. It's disheartening to see a platform, known for its potential and capabilities, choosing profit maximization over user satisfaction and utility.
Call to Action:
I propose that we, as a community, take a stand. If we collectively voice our dissatisfaction and threaten to unsubscribe or actually do so unless changes are made, we might influence PoE to reconsider and revise their point system. Here’s how you can help:
Email PoE:
1. Express your dissatisfaction directly. [feedback@poe.com](mailto:feedback@poe.com)
2. Share your experiences and opinions: Comment below if you’ve faced similar issues. The more stories we gather, the stronger our case.
3. Consider pausing your subscription: A drop in revenue is often a wake-up call for businesses to reassess their strategies.
My Experience:
I have personally reached out to Poe expressing my disappointment, highlighting how the system feels almost scam-like, diminishing the inherent value of their service. If many of us take similar steps, it's more likely we will foster change. I believe in the power of community action. PoE needs to understand that without us, their platform would not exist. We deserve better, and together, we can ensure they hear us.
Thanks for reading, and I look forward to seeing your responses and actions!
Tony

I just want to say,
I am truly blessed to have been able to know you and spend time with you. Even though at the time I thought we had forever, I know that not all things are meant to last in this life.
From the first time I met you I remember truly being infatuated in a way no one else had made me feel before. And when it didn’t work, I thought maybe we were destined to be star crossed lovers in some tragic romantic way. But when you came back into my life 10 years later, I thought I would be ready to get it right this time. Maybe we were just waiting for the stars to align.
Unfortunately, I guess we weren’t ever meant to be. Maybe if I started working harder and finding a purpose earlier in life. Or maybe if you didn’t have a child to raise now, who knows? But in this life, it wasn’t part of the plan.
You said that being around me made you feel like you had to dull yourself. I’m sorry that instead of making you shine, my personality somehow made you dim your light. I guess you needed someone more exciting, someone more outgoing. You needed a golden retriever, when I’ve always been a black cat. I’m sorry that I made you feel like you had to dilute yourself and suppress your personality when with me.
Some of my favorite memories are the simple ones. Like every time you tried to interact with the stray cat who decided to choose my front yard as his new home. 90% of the time he’d give you no reciprocation, and you’d do that eye roll you always do when you’re annoyed. That was my favorite expression of yours. It’s the same one you’d do when I told a stupid joke, or said something dumb, or I was purposely being a dick.
I’d see your eyes light up when I made you a card or gave you a gift, to show you how special I thought you were. You told me your love language was gifts and acts of service, maybe I should have done more of that.
Unfortunately I had a late start in life, and I’m still trying to figure it out. I’m not able to get you all the things you want or take you on trips. The consequences of a failure to launch. It’s no one’s fault but my own. I dont talk about my struggles, my financials, or anything I'm going through. We all know men dont like to show weakness. But I was doing all I could, tried to plan accordingly, I just didnt have the financials to give you anything more.
I wish that i knew when it was you decided I wasn’t the one for you, maybe I would have tried harder or cherished our time together more. I threw out all the photos and letters, deleted all the pics. How were you unhappy when in all the letters and messages you were singing my praises? You looked happy to me. Yet you were apparently looking for an exit the whole time, thats hard to grasp.
There will probably always be a part of me that still loves you, and one of my biggest regrets in life will be that I somehow fumbled you and was not able to keep you in my life. I’ve accepted the fact that just because I love someone, doesn’t mean they are obligated to love me back. And just because from my perspective I was doing everything right and everything I could, I know that you didn’t have to see it that way. I know that you dont have to wait for me to figure my life out. And you arent obligated to teach me how to love better. I just thought thats something you WOULD do.
I hope one day I can look back at this and see the good times without feeling like there’s a knife in my chest. I pray that you find whatever it is you’re looking for. Maybe one day you’ll look back and see I tried my best too, and appreciate all the ways I tried to show you I cared in my own way. A product of my environment I suppose, I didnt grow up with a lot of love being shown. No birthdays, no hugs, no kisses, no feelings. I didnt understand how to do that.
I heard you might be seeing someone else already. Its only been a month. I was supposedly your best friend, you supposedly loved me, I guess that was all talk. You tossed me aside without even a conversation. Thats pretty shitty to me, but I dont want to think about it anymore. You said you'd be happier without me, so it is what it is.
I know we’ll never see each other or speak to each other again, but hopefully putting these thoughts into the universe will somehow get to you on a spiritual level, and that’s good enough for me.
I’ll see you in another life, when we’re both cats.

Now that some time has passed, let's address the question: when will men be introduced into the Adepta Sororitas in Warhammer?
The issue with franchises like Warhammer, Doctor Who, Magic: The Gathering, and others isn't just about adding women or retcons—it's about how these changes are implemented and how the response is managed. When the loyal fanbase, who are essentially the financial backbone of these once-niche and stigmatized hobbies, feel disregarded or alienated, it risks losing the support needed to sustain the IP's growth. Asking what percentage of profit comes from women in these hobbies is a valid inquiry. But why historically were women less involved? It's not solely due to marketing; these hobbies weren't heavily advertised, and they're not inherently male-centric in content. Yet, historically, they've been perceived as such.
Let's consider a more plausible explanation: these hobbies often attract socially awkward and predominantly neurodivergent individuals, who happen to be mostly men. You didn't see celebrities like Henry Cavill or Post Malone frequenting your local game store. Even prominent athletes like NFL players were rarely associated with Magic: The Gathering. It's commendable that these spaces are becoming more mainstream, but could this have happened 15 years ago?
Now that these hobbies are gaining mainstream attention, there's a dilemma: how to attract new players and audiences without alienating the existing fanbase. Can recons help? The introduction of characters like The Sentry, retroactively woven into the lore, suggests it's possible. Alternatively, simply adding characters, as seen in the latest Ghostbusters movie, can also work. However, unlike Games Workshop and Wizards, who've faced criticism from within their own communities, there's a trend in the media to amplify fringe voices as representative of the majority. Yes, there are trolls and a small minority of genuinely misogynistic or racist individuals, but they're not the norm. It seems the media struggles to address valid criticism, instead focusing on sensationalized narratives.
Returning to the original question of when men might join the Adepta Sororitas in Warhammer, it's uncertain. There's a sense that the push for equality isn't always about fairness; it's about appealing to a broader, potentially more lucrative audience. Women Custodians, for instance, might be seen as an attempt to distance from the original player base to appeal to the mainstream.
That's my take. What's yours? Why do you think the media continues to mishandle these criticisms, and more importantly, why is it problematic to have spaces exclusively for one group, even if that group was once the majority?

Sadly unable to commit here even if it was a dream I had since 5th grade to attend, but shoutout to the financial aid and admissions team, they're honestly the most fast and helpful people ever. Other colleges would take days to respond/just straight up ghost my email but Stevens responds in just a couple hours. I even got calls asap when needed. They were so helpful and really lovely to talk to + they knocked down my tuition to almost 17k before loans (which ngl, for Stevens standard that's a little cheap). Don't know how the other admin is like here but I'm thankful I had the pleasure of experiencing helpful staff for months. Also, shoutout to Phoneboy and stream their music, cause they're hella awesome

Hey Reddit,
I'm reaching out to this community in hopes of gaining some clarity on a tough decision I'm facing. After months of anticipation, I finally got the news that I've been taken off the NYU waitlist. It's a moment I've imagined countless times, but with a twist I didn't expect: my acceptance is for the London campus, not New York. The London campus represents everything I've ever wanted in my college experience. It's the perfect blend of my love for liberal arts and my desire to immerse myself in a new culture. However, there's a significant financial consideration. Post-aid, I'm staring down the barrel of an $87k bill, which is a tough pill to swallow for my family. They're supportive of my education but drawing the line at the cost of an overseas program, especially when the NYC campus is right here. I'm at a crossroads between the dream of studying in London and the practicality of staying in NY. The NYC campus is an excellent option, no doubt, but it's hard not to feel like I'm compromising on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I'm looking for some wisdom from anyone who's had to choose between their ideal school and a more sensible option. How did you decide? What factors tipped the scales for you? If you've been in my shoes, especially with NYU, I'd love to hear how you navigated this decision. Appreciate any insights you can share i would really appreciate it!

Hey Reddit,
I'm reaching out to this community in hopes of gaining some clarity on a tough decision I'm facing. After months of anticipation, I finally got the news that I've been taken off the NYU waitlist. It's a moment I've imagined countless times, but with a twist I didn't expect: my acceptance is for the London campus, not New York. The London campus represents everything I've ever wanted in my college experience. It's the perfect blend of my love for liberal arts and my desire to immerse myself in a new culture. However, there's a significant financial consideration. Post-aid, I'm staring down the barrel of an $87k bill, which is a tough pill to swallow for my family. They're supportive of my education but drawing the line at the cost of an overseas program, especially when the NYC campus is right here. I'm at a crossroads between the dream of studying in London and the practicality of staying in NY. The NYC campus is an excellent option, no doubt, but it's hard not to feel like I'm compromising on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I'm looking for some wisdom from anyone who's had to choose between their ideal school and a more sensible option. How did you decide? What factors tipped the scales for you? If you've been in my shoes, especially with NYU, I'd love to hear how you navigated this decision. Appreciate any insights you can share i would really appreciate it!

As simple as the title says, really. Anyone have any advice for the above?
I'm in IT project management at a Fortune 500 in the EU, with about 5 YoE of IT service delivery/management. I'm a US citizen but have never worked stateside, having lived overseas my whole life. In my field (IT services) salaries are arguably 2-3x more what I can make here, so I have been thinking of a move stateside for a few years to make some money and save up before moving back to Europe. I've inquired with my employer about an internal transfer but unfortunately that is not an option + with a restructuring about to kick off, even if possible it probably wouldn't be a good idea.
I've been targeting LinkedIn postings asking for experience levels similar to or slightly above my profile, in the IT services (both agency and in-house) and consulting industries. Short yet concise CV (1 pager) and a targeted cover letter go out to most applications. I have a US number (esim), but unfortunately I do not have a US address as I do not have any family or friends there. I've made it clear on my resume that I am a citizen and do not require sponsorship + that I am happy to relocate. However, I'm getting next to no hits, while I am constantly being approached by recruiters in my local market right now. My current employer is one of the largest in its field and is also a household name in the US, so I was hoping my experience would carry some weight. Thus my question is how to make myself more appealing to US recruiters or employers beyond what I am already doing. My search is currently targeted mainly at the East Coast, mainly due for easy access to Europe. While we are at it, any suggestions at tax-friendly states with competitive job markets I may stand a chance in? Thank you!

As simple as the title says, really. Anyone have any advice for the above?
I'm in IT project management at a Fortune 500 in the EU, with about 5 YoE of IT service delivery/management. I'm a US citizen but have never worked stateside, having lived overseas my whole life. In my field (IT services) salaries are arguably 2-3x more what I can make here, so I have been thinking of a move stateside for a few years to make some money and save up before moving back to Europe. I've inquired with my employer about an internal transfer but unfortunately that is not an option + with a restructuring about to kick off, even if possible it probably wouldn't be a good idea.
I've been targeting LinkedIn postings asking for experience levels similar to or slightly above my profile, in the IT services (both agency and in-house) and consulting industries. Short yet concise CV (1 pager) and a targeted cover letter go out to most applications. I have a US number (esim), but unfortunately I do not have a US address as I do not have any family or friends there. I've made it clear on my resume that I am a citizen and do not require sponsorship + that I am happy to relocate. However, I'm getting next to no hits, while I am constantly being approached by recruiters in my local market right now. My current employer is one of the largest in its field and is also a household name in the US, so I was hoping my experience would carry some weight. Thus my question is how to make myself more appealing to US recruiters or employers beyond what I am already doing. My search is currently targeted mainly at the East Coast, mainly due for easy access to Europe. While we are at it, any suggestions at tax-friendly states with competitive job markets I may stand a chance in? Thank you!

So the scholarship is for my little brother. My fear with it being a smaller school is that he may not have the best chances at landing internships or offers out of school. So I’m thinking it may be beneficial for him to take advantage of the full offer and then transfer to a SUNY school halfway through where he would get a bit more unified structure at the SUNY since it’s effectively all the same at all SUNY state schools (generally to my understanding.)
LIU is a private school and at the moment the campus does not have too many professors for CS. There is no computer science club there yet. I spoke with the head of the engineering department who told me that he is heading up the revamping process for the CS program. Apparently they have new state of the art facilities, are on a hiring search to add a bunch of new quality professors, and I don’t know he really seemed to make me comfortable. Seemed like it might be an alright choice but the program is pretty small. He talked all about wholistic learning and how students get exposure to all manner of paths within CS and how he’s currently looking for students to be part of a research grant he received and that over time my brother could be a strong candidate.
Are we being bamboozled? He isn’t getting any financial aid, so going to a SUNY school or community college right now feels like it doesn’t make sense when he has a full ride, even if he only stays there for a couple years before transferring to SUNY. But LIU isn’t necessarily “up there” for computer science from what I can surmise.

Hey guys how will a Master of Science in Health Promotion and Management from Merrimack College compare to an MPH - Community Health Education from UMASS? UMass is my state-flagship insitution but they haven't given me any financial aid information (scholarships, graduate assistantships, fellowships, etc) but Merrimcak College has given me a Presidential Fellowship opportuntity that'll cover 100% of my tuition. Basically what are my chances being success (as in having access to good paying jobs post-graduaton) if I pick a well known program from a well known state flagship or niche degree from a niche regional school? I'm afraid since the MS in a newer, niche major from a smaller regional school that'll I struggle to find a job. I have until Friday May 17th to decide.
tldr: Help me pick the best for long term career success: MS in Health Promomtion and Management at Merrimack College (100% off tuition) vs MPH - Community Health Education from UMass(financial aid: unknown) ?

So in our college there is this attendance system where you have to attend the lectures and at the end the professor will hand you a piece of paper with a QR code on it and on the back there is a random number, after you receive your QR code you have to return home and wait for the professor to send you a google doc link where you have to fill in the serial number inside the QR code and the number on the back both have to match or you attendance will not be counted additionally you have to collect and maintain all the physical copies of the QR code in case any of discrepancy. This term the college had a 40% absence policy (originally it was 20% but they changed it due to the fact that almost all students have had more then 20% absence rate) and i was sent an email that i have missed 4 out of the 10 lectures in the course and that i was deprived from attending the final exam , after reading that email i got extremely anxious because i already have a lot of academic load that i was intending to attend summer courses to finish them so one more subject added to them will set me back a lot, after pacing around the apartment for hours trying to find all the codes i had and counting them i found out that i have attended 8 out of 10 lectures meaning ive missed only 2 so way less then 40%, so admittedly i was frustrated and went to the college with an appeal letter because the hell is this (additionally the subject that i was deprived from it final exam was about a week away so the timing of this BS couldn’t have been worse) after meeting with me I provided sufficient evidence to them that i have attended all the 8 lectures out of 10 and after reviewing the professor told me ok congratulations study well for the final exam you may leave, now before leaving the office i made a remark to on of the professors in the office that i thought the mistake was on their part not mine (don’t know why i said it i guess i just wanted to voice my frustration to them) the professor that congratulated me asked me what do i mean by that ?, i doubled down on my position and stuck with my narrative that a technical error had happened on their part that caused all this mess but he fucking hated my guts that i dared to speak to him as of he was doing me a massive favor for revoking the deprivation decision, one think led to the other and he started shouting at me and called the security to escort me out of the office and speaking with a vague language that he may not revoke decision, after leaving I filled a complaint about the professor at the dean’s office the complaint was about the fact that i was scared the professor will keep the deprivation decision even though i have provided enough evidence to revoke it. I got an email the next day says that the decision was revoked but around night time the same day a second email was sent that i had to be at the vice dean’s office urgently. After going their i found out the that they asked me to discuss my complaint letter to the professor but they did anything but that, the vice dean charged me guilty as soon as i entered her office refusing to let me sit and asking me to explain what happened but with every sentence i said she spoke in insanely judgmental voice so i realized she is not interested in hearing my side she just going with whatever the professor told her so i immediately folded and let her do her worse and take it all in, after speaking to me in horribly insulting voice she demanded that I apologize to the professor and if he does not accept my apology they will keep the deprivation decision and i should be grateful for him for revoking the decision (which is grade A bullshit there is no precedent anywhere that a professor could fire a student from a course that he is not even a professor in just because the student looked at him funny) so i just stayed silent and left. I know i did right by voicing my frustration and i know i did no wrong even with the professor i kept a very calm voice and never raised mine, but everyone from my friends to family telling me that i should’ve kept silent and did wrong by speaking up, all my life for 12 years in school I probably talked to a teacher like 5 maybe 6 time i was always kept to be scared from teachers from people older then me and fearing what they might do if i speak this was the first time ever i have stepped up to someone that I thought he was in the wrong but man after all this im still anxious and sick in the stomach and sure not feel like i gained anything out of all this mess, im an international student in this college and studying on my own expense and the country that im in is sure not know for any good legal system hell after that vice dean interaction it felt like a shake down and abusing the fact that I probably can’t go anywhere to find a voice of reason. So was i wrong for speaking up ?