I’ve asked the builders rep who I’m working with to show me what the dark and light trim looks like now over 5 times and she either doesn’t respond or says “she is out of office” when she gave me a one week deadline.
She’s now sent me the same pieces of paper with rectangles (blocks of color on paper) and no real examples of the colors on actual houses when my house is the last to be built so there should be plenty of examples. I really need to see the difference between the light and dark trim, as well as the model of my home, and she hasn’t even shown me what my brick will look like on a house.
I went there twice for this and it was a complete waste of my time because she wouldn’t show me any real examples. This is the first time I’m purchasing a home (400K which isn’t cheap to me at age 27) and I am about to call it a loss on the down payment because this lady has made my experience absolutely miserable.
She has only sent me samples of a color block on a sheet of paper and nothing in person or Id even accept a software program since they have one. I am guessing she doesn’t know how to work it.
Is there a way for me to get out of the contract if she isn’t doing her job? Is this at all normal?

I’ve asked the builders rep who I’m working with to show me what the dark and light trim looks like now over 5 times and she either doesn’t respond or says “she is out of office” when she gave me a one week deadline.
She’s now sent me the same pieces of paper with rectangles (blocks of color on paper) and no real examples of the colors on actual houses when my house is the last to be built so there should be plenty of examples. I really need to see the difference between the light and dark trim, as well as the model of my home, and she hasn’t even shown me what my brick will look like on a house.
I went there twice for this and it was a complete waste of my time because she wouldn’t show me any real examples. This is the first time I’m purchasing a home (400K which isn’t cheap to me at age 27) and I am about to call it a loss on the down payment because this lady has made my experience absolutely miserable.
She has only sent me samples of a color block on a sheet of paper and nothing in person or Id even accept a software program since they have one. I am guessing she doesn’t know how to work it.
Is there a way for me to get out of the contract if she isn’t doing her job? Is this at all normal?

Hi all,
Posting this for a friend since he is not on Reddit and most of the freelance subReddits have minimum karma/age requirement.
Due to personal issues health related, he is in need of stable monthly income of around $900. He is also available on per project basis and can build custom Wordpress/ecommerce websites starting from $499
The following are his skills:

1. Wordpress website development (7+ years experience)
2. Wordpress website management/troubleshooting (7+ years experience)
3. Managed client websites for a Digital Marketing agency through WHM/cPanel.
4. Intermediate Photoshop/Illustrator skills
5. Basic video editing skills via Premiere Pro

Excellent management and client communication skills (native English speaker).
Resume - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X3Y-5Y-O_UX6X2lPCTI_J_nGDUjbK57F/view?usp=drivesdk
If you have any openings, please send an email to avinashk30@gmail.com.
Thanks for your consideration!

I hate those damn Jihad Bombardier Goblins with my life. I had managed to amass a lot of scrolls, potions, and weapons. I found the home portal, and cordoned off the corner where Skeleton King was hanging out using barrier scrolls. I had it good! I was hoarding weapons for recycling at the base; I had 4 eraser ammo, 11 gauss ammo + 1 invincibility piercing ammo. I had a silver cross, fire golem heart, crystal golem heart, and several beacons to support me, but STILL in the end I died without having used any of those in the following fight.
I was just homing in on the location of the merchant with 10 perk points when I came upon the brick walls that those Goblins frequent, so I mined the perimeter of the structure when a random robot came in with a fire spider bot followed by a bombardier goblin. Prior to this, I was intentionally keeping my health at around 40hp even though I had 4 health pots and 2 regen crystals. This ambush would have been bearable if I didn't misclick! Instead of using SS, I pressed the brick wall twice in a row, resulting in two bombs to my face and bursts of flamethrower that the robot had :D I promptly died shortly to the realization that I didn't have improved ressurection!!!
As I haven't maxed out my ressurection upgrades at the base, I only had 12 inventory slots left, none of which included anything to help me fight. The second resurrection crystal was luckily still in my inventory, but that was not much to be happy for. SS managed to carry me back to my corpse that had only 4 boxes of loot... I recovered my health crystals and energy crystals, but still died after failing to kill that robot. That was my first encounter against that robot. I've read about that guy here on this subreddit I know I should have been more wary, but damn that loss STINGS. I managed to kill the Jihad, but that's it. I still lost that run because the robot kept summoning spider bots, and I had no energy left to

Last week my wife kicked off over nothing (as she usually does) and then starts punching and smacking me over the head in front of our under 5 kids. She then grabs a knife from the kitchen. Tries to kill herself and the tries to frame me by trying to put the knife in my hand and get me to do it. The kids were wrecked. Police came around and took her. I explained this wasn’t the first time. She had previously threatened to jump from our window with my newborn but after her hospital check she got away with it by playing the stress card. There have been other incidents such as trying to steer the car into oncoming traffic etc. Anyway the police rang back that evening and said she’s fine. The ambulance service checked her out and she’s stressed over other stuff like the rental we live in. I explain there’s been two major knife crimes that have made international in this state, she shouldnt be anywhere near us at the moment. That evening she came home. Lied about it happening although the police have taken an advo out on her. I’m sleeping in the spare room with the kids with one eye open. I don’t trust her at all. What can I do? I believe she’s a psychopath but clinically they struggle proving it, especially as she lies and becomes like a Jekyll/Hyde character when the authorities are there. Using her feminity and a silver tongue, the cops love her. I am stuck as I genuinely don’t know what to do. Had child services around who basically said I’m the ok parent so they won’t remove the kids. She’s not receiving treatment nor thinks she needs it. Most people I know are shocked that she wasn’t sectioned including a couple of nurses who deal with mental health cases. I’m willing to move out but she will make it a massive mountain to do so re belongings etc plus it doesn’t change her lawfully being given time with these children who she’s bullied and said all kinds of rubbish to in the past. Should she have been kept away or am I missing something? Any feedback would be really appreciated

I’ve asked the builders rep who I’m working with to show me what the dark and light trim looks like now over 5 times and she either doesn’t respond or says “she is out of office” when she gave me a one week deadline.
She’s now sent me the same pieces of paper with rectangles (blocks of color on paper) and no real examples of the colors on actual houses when my house is the last to be built so there should be plenty of examples. I really need to see the difference between the light and dark trim, as well as the model of my home, and she hasn’t even shown me what my brick will look like on a house.
I went there twice for this and it was a complete waste of my time because she wouldn’t show me any real examples. This is the first time I’m purchasing a home (400K which isn’t cheap to me at age 27) and I am about to call it a loss on the down payment because this lady has made my experience absolutely miserable.
She has only sent me samples of a color block on a sheet of paper and nothing in person or Id even accept a software program since they have one. I am guessing she doesn’t know how to work it.
Is there a way for me to get out of the contract if she isn’t doing her job? Is this at all normal?

Hi all,
Posting this for a friend since he is not on Reddit and most of the freelance subReddits have minimum karma/age requirement.
Due to personal issues health related, he is in need of stable monthly income of around $900. He is also available on per project basis and can build custom Wordpress/ecommerce websites starting from $499
The following are his skills:

1. Wordpress website development (7+ years experience)
2. Wordpress website management/troubleshooting (7+ years experience)
3. Managed client websites for a Digital Marketing agency through WHM/cPanel.
4. Intermediate Photoshop/Illustrator skills
5. Basic video editing skills via Premiere Pro

Excellent management and client communication skills (native English speaker).
Resume - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X3Y-5Y-O_UX6X2lPCTI_J_nGDUjbK57F/view?usp=drivesdk
If you have any openings, please send an email to avinashk30@gmail.com.
Thanks for your consideration!

Hi all,
Posting this for a friend since he is not on Reddit and most of the freelance subReddits have minimum karma/age requirement.
Due to personal issues health related, he is in need of stable monthly income of around $900. He is also available on per project basis and can build custom Wordpress/ecommerce websites starting from $499
The following are his skills:

1. Wordpress website development (7+ years experience)
2. Wordpress website management/troubleshooting (7+ years experience)
3. Managed client websites for a Digital Marketing agency through WHM/cPanel.
4. Intermediate Photoshop/Illustrator skills
5. Basic video editing skills via Premiere Pro

Excellent management and client communication skills (native English speaker).
Resume - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X3Y-5Y-O_UX6X2lPCTI_J_nGDUjbK57F/view?usp=drivesdk
If you have any openings, please send an email to avinashk30@gmail.com.
Thanks for your consideration!

So, its 4 am and I'm still up dealing with a flea infestation that has been recurring for the shittier part of 6 months. That's not the self improvement per se, but it works as a vehicle to express my feelings at the moment.
Anyway.
It's annoying to be this grotesquely obsessed with finding meaning while there are actual fleas living in my home, but it's poignant. Fleas only go away if you are resilient enough to keep hitting them until the source is eradicated. The thought I'm having right now is something like , "Of course. Of course, no matter how much I change or try to work on myself, the problem keeps laying eggs, because I don't want to do the dirty work."
I know I didn't "manifest" the fleas. I know I just kept changing the sheets, bedding, using topicals, but avoiding the overhaul. Avoiding consistency and refusing to throw old clothes out that were probably infested, not even treating them. Somehow it's like? I convince myself over and over that the amount of effort must be so high if I feel so exhausted after doing what I can. But that's the annoying part. Being so exhausted by the amount of work that goes into fixing the problem that I refuse to be thorough. But I can't do that anymore.
This is a piss-poor metaphor(a decent rhyme here, tho), but it's all that makes sense.
I've struggled with my alcoholism and mental health for years, always, always, always convincing myself that I was doing what I could, but it was a comfortable lie. Because saving yourself means remebering that you can't save everyone else with you. You have to trim the excess somewhere; burn the clothes and spray the carpet. It took me a fucking blacked out, belligerant ride in a squad car FOR THE SECOND TIME to realize that I was being eaten alive and I've been sober since then. Two years. I'm also in therapy.
And yet? I still feel so painfully itchy. And its because I let myself get reinfected.
I had what I assume is a falling out with a dear friend 8 hours ago while nuking the hell out of my sheets at the laundromat and I just snapped. I said everything that I've held my tongue on for the last 3 years and even if it was in response to being confronted over petty telephone "he-said-she-said" drama, I meant it. I really meant it. I love him dearly but we are not friends wo can really be friends anymore. Not with who I am and want to be.
For context, I've know this friend since sophomore year of high school. I'm in my mid 20's now finishing a graduate degree while TAing. He's currently unemployed(this isn't 100% his fault and I don't want to shame him for it, but context) and only lives to party and post on socials. He regularly does coke, molly, LSD, and drinks heavily, sometimes until 6 or 7 am.
I've tried to be in his life by going out on these club nights, but I just Don't Get It Anymore. I do, but I don't, I guess. I only ever got fucked up because I was too scared to do the work of being a better person, but now that I've started? I just can't be around it anymore. I know he's going through his own personal metamorphosis that he's resisting (he's told me he wants change but can't because partying is easier), but I just can't sit around in crowded clubs--even if I trust my sobriety!-- waiting for him to actually connect with me like we used to instead of making a million outfit posts and tacking fake captions to every single one of them. And the moments where there's a glimpse of that person? The awkward kid who was nice to me in theater? It doesn't matter because he's fucked up and won't remember or care afterwards. The worst part is that anytime I bring this up, he's dismissed me and said that I'm taking shit too personally.
I was honest. And I can't backtrack now.
So, I deactivated the socials I still have left except for reddit(thin fuckin' ice) because I realize that seeing all of that reflected back at me in an endless doom scroll, hoping that something will change just keeps me from eradicating the problem. It's veneer that I need to shed.
I don't want to look at my life and feel this intense loneliness because I can't do what others do, because I can't sit down in flea infested carpet and pretend the problem isn't multiplying. I want to be a better person. I want to feel good about the people in my life and I want them to see value in me even when I can't be perfect for a post or supply a good time. I'm tired of pretending there aren't still issues to be worked out because I did the hard part and got help. I have to help myself.
Just a few more hours until I vacuum and pass out. I'm sleep-deprived and hungry. Thanks to anyone wo reads this.

Y’all I got my test results back! I did a retest yesterday and I fasted for hrs. I thought my test was at 12 PM so original in my head I’m fasting for 12 hrs turns out it was at 2. I’m not sure if that’s whay really made the change but I really wanna cry because omg I’ve been so scared my cholesterol has been high since 2019. I had trouble cutting certain things from my diet because I do eat meat a lot, dairy and a lot of other things. But I realized if I wanted to live better (I’m 20) I’d have to make changes. Here is a history of my cholesterol through the years.
Keep in mind I have health anxiety so sometimes I’d get it done within months of each other just to be sure it’s going down. Or sometimes it’s my doctor requesting it. The 2nd last one was from 2023 the last one is yesterday’s results.
Now I’m not a health expert but this is what I’ve been doing;

1. I walk a lot now, I even got a mini stepper at home(barely use it tbh😅) but sometimes instead of staying home I’d rather just at least 1k steps.
   
2. For breakfast I’d eat oatmeal but I don’t really like the texture so I made them into pancakes and put some honey on top or I’d have avocado toast
   
3. I started taking phylum husk 3 days ago but I only took it 2x not then whole tbs just a tiny bit
   
4. I rarely eat meat, I’m West Indian so we eat meat a lot but for now? I avoid most meals that have meat instead I make black bean burgers (tbh I don’t really like it but I’m not eating it for the taste jsut to get full) without the eggs and eat it with sourdough or white artisan bread. Or fish with white rice, cucumbers and avocados but before this I was eating homemade chipotle bowls wth chicken daily or vegetable and fruits
   
5. Whenever I want something sweet I’d eat Siete churro strips, or for snack I’d have lesser evil popcorn the little bag that got 50 cals.
   
6. I also occasionally eat a spoon or 2 of ice cream but not too much
   
7. I also apparently didn’t lose any weight I thought weightloss would’ve helped but my weight kind of stayed the same.
   

Here what I did and do wrong; Every time I’d go to the doctor and they tell me my cholesterol has gone down I’ve returned back to my bad eating habits. Please don’t do this, I’m trying not to do this myself this time because Gavin high cholesterol gives me so much anxiety and I already have bad anxiety. I know diet won’t work for everyone and it’s hard but I’ll update y’all in 1 month as I have a cardio appointment coming up

DC Next Proudly Presents:

NIGHTWING:

In Hunter Hybrid
Issue Fourteen: The Meek Shall Inherit
Written by AdamantAce
Edited by PatrollinTheMojave
 
<< First Issue < Prev. Next Issue > Coming Next Month
 
 
Dick's heart hammered against his chest like a pounding storm as he stood amidst the laboratory, flanked by Artemis and Barry Allen, the Flash. The weight of worry for Mar'i bore down on him unbearably, each moment without her amplifying his anxiety.
In the secluded closet hidden at the back of the lab, Dick and Artemis had found something haunting: a trove of withered seedlings, dead plants that looked alien in nature. Assuming the worst, but needing to confirm, Dick had quickly summoned a friend with a history of running genetic samples - none other than the Scarlet Speedster - to the scene.
Barry’s brow furrowed in concentration as he examined the specimens, having already run several tests.
“I'm limited in what I can do here; I'm a CSI, not a xenologist,” Barry admitted with regret, evoking his favourite chief medical officer of fiction. “Really, this really feels like a job for someone like Cadmus. Alien DNA is their whole deal.”
Dick could only grimace at the suggestion, reminded of the sickening experiments he had unearthed in the bowels of the Chicago cloning laboratory, of the dozens of aborted attempts at cloning Bruce Wayne. It was hard to stomach, especially knowing that he still had no idea who was responsible. “Not an option," he replied firmly. “Not Cadmus.”
Barry raised an eyebrow, his curiosity evident in his expression. “You don't believe those rumours about the Superboy clones, do you?" he asked. “They’re Reawakened through and through. Blame the other universes’ Cadmuses.”
In response, Dick shook his head. “It’s not that. It’s… something else.”
Barry then looked to Artemis and smiled. “It’s, uh… nice to meet you properly by the way,” he said. “I heard you, uh, shoot arrows.”
Despite the terrible situation they were in, Artemis allowed herself a snicker in response to the Flash’s awkwardness. “Among other things. It’s important to branch out, seeing as I know you already have an arrows guy.”
Just then, Tim emerged from behind a sliding door, draped in his red and black Rook gear, a stack of papers in hand. “Got the printouts you asked for,” he said, handing them over to Barry.
Barry swiftly flipped through the pages at super speed, his expression growing grim as he absorbed the information.
“What is it?” asked Artemis.
“What we feared,” he announced somberly. “The dead seedlings match the profile of alien species, with a significant DNA match for the Morning Eclipse sample you got from Starling’s fingernails.”
Dick's frustration boiled over, his voice dripping with anger. “Wilkof,” he spat, his jaw clenched in fury. “He let that damn killer plant loose.”
Tim struck himself in the shoulder in self-reproach. “I should've put it together sooner,” he muttered. “Wilkof knew plenty about Tamaran even before you let him speak to Mar’i.”
“It’s worse than we thought,” added Barry, and everyone’s blood turned cold. “This Dr Wilkof wasn't just releasing the Morning Eclipse, he was trying to propagate them; taking cuttings to grow more of them. We’re just lucky the Earth's sunlight is too diffuse for their growth.”
Dick's eyes widened in horror. “So he’s trying to create an army of killer plants?”
Barry nodded solemnly. “An army or a particularly menacing greenhouse.”
Artemis's brow furrowed as she pieced together a crucial detail. “Wait, a couple years ago they had me subbing in the bio department at school for a few months. I’m pretty sure plants grown from cuttings are meant to be genetically identical to the parent.”
Tim cursed under his breath and then reached for the printouts to give them a check over himself. “You’re right! Genetic variation only occurs after pollination. But these plants aren't self-pollinated. They're too distinct from the original sample taken from Mar'i’s attack.”
Barry's voice quivered as he raised a troubling possibility. “Could there be two adult killer plants on the loose?”
“No, it's not that,” Tim quickly replied again, his expression grave as he looked up from the stack of papers. “It's worse.”
Artemis' heart sank. “How could it possibly be worse?”
“The dead seedlings share identical DNA with each other. And every single one of their genes is present in the parent sample. But the parent also has additional chromosomes that all of the seedlings lack,” Tim explained as his eyes traced the text on the papers once more. “The parent had an extra 48 chromosomes.”
Barry's face paled. "48? Are you sure?”
“48? What does that mean?” asked Dick, looking rapidly back and forth between Tim and Barry.
Artemis gritted her teeth. “Humans have 48 chromosomes. The adult plant is half human.”
“Fully human,” Barry corrected. “And fully plant too. A symbiosis.”
“What does that mean?” asked Dick, scared of the answer he would soon receive.
“It means I think Wilkof merged himself with the plant.”
 
🔹🔹 🪶 🔹🔹
 
Ker-tonk.
Ker-tonk.
Ker-tonk.
Mar’i lay in the darkness of the car’s trunk, helpless. She couldn’t tell how long it had been since she last felt the sun’s warmth on her skin. She tried to summon childhood memories of Tamaran, of the sun her father had found oppressive and her mother found liberating. But they were distant and blurred, echoes from another lifetime - and another timeline.
As the car rumbled on, she focused on her senses, trying to glean any information about her surroundings. The air was stale and musty, tinged with the scent of oil and rubber. The vibrations of the road beneath her reverberated through her body, a constant reminder of her captivity.
Eventually, the car came to a halt, and Mar’i braced herself as the trunk door creaked open, flooding the confined space with blinding light. Blinking rapidly, she squinted against the harsh glare, feeling the rejuvenating solar rays bathing her, a stark contrast to the cold darkness of her confinement.
Dr Wilkof loomed over her, his appearance now almost normal except for a slight pallor that hinted at something darker beneath the surface. He reached out, his hands enveloping her wrists, which were bound with withered rope. Thick, barbed vines extended from the sleeves of his coat, renewing her restraints and further draining what little power reserves she had left.
As he dragged her up out of the trunk, Mar’i found herself in the midst of a desolate car park, surrounded by nothing but empty space and the looming silhouette of a large hangar. She had nary a clue of where they were.
“It will be easier if you don’t struggle,” he said, his tone devoid of joy or malice, as if he were simply stating a fact. But Mar’i knew better than to trust his words.
As Wilkof led her towards the hangar, Mar’i stumbled along behind him, the vines around her wrists taut like a leash. She tried to reason with him, to appeal to the vestiges of his humanity buried beneath the madness that gripped him.
“You don’t have to do this,” she implored, unsure of how much of his humanity really remained. “The plant doesn’t have to control you.”
Wilkof's eyes gleamed with a haunted fervour as he shook his head, the vines’ grip tightening around Mar'i’s wrists. “I've sacrificed too much to stop now,” he muttered. Those words carried a strange quality,like they weren’t fully his. Maybe it was the plant talking, maybe they were words he had rehearsed to himself enough times for them to become hollow. “I won’t let it all be in vain.”
For a moment, Mar’i was left to wonder what he meant by that. Then she remembered what little she knew about him, and a shiver ran down her spine. (He had fed the rest of his team from the lab to the plant, a grim sacrifice to fuel his delusions of grandeur.*
“No one cared about mild-mannered Hunter Wilkof,” he continued, his voice cracking with bitterness. “The plant promised to make me someone special, to make me famous.”
Mar’i shook her head in disbelief as she continued to be lugged along. “The plant doesn’t speak,” she insisted with a rising urgency. “Its pheromones mess with your mind, make you see and hear things that aren’t there.”
But Wilkof brushed off her words with a scoff. “I don’t care,” he replied, his gaze fixed on the hangar ahead. “I fed the plant like I was told, but the fame never came. I let it eat the only thing I ever loved. But… nothing changed.”
Her heart yearned to find some way to free him of the plant’s clutches, to help him see the light, but she knew well what desperation could do to a person, if left unchecked. She knew how far someone could fall.
“Then I realised… I wasn’t meant for prizes and celebrity,” he continued, deranged. “That wasn’t what the plant had planned for us. It’s just like you said in your Tamaranean fairy tale, the Morning Eclipse and its legend. I knew we were meant for infamy, but just one plant and its keeper wouldn’t do the trick. We needed a bigger family.”
At this point, Hunter stopped, and the pair had finally reached the mouth of the hangar. Mar’i searched through the darkness, but was struggling to see straight at all thanks to the toxic, draining effect of her Morning Eclipse vine restraints.
Wilkof just stared into the darkness, and continued. “I tried taking cuttings, but no matter how much blood, meat or southern exposure I gave them… it wasn’t enough, and they wilted. It wouldn’t tell me why it wasn’t working, and all I knew was that the plant was from Tamaran,” he confessed, his voice growing hoarse with emotion. “So I went to look for Starfire, but she was in space. And then… then I found you. A hybrid like me.”
But throughout Hunter’s grim confession, Mar’i was still missing some important details. “How did you know the plant was from Tamaran?” She defied him, “It doesn’t have a mind of its own, so it couldn’t have told you.”
Hunter smiled. “I used to drive out into the countryside and just leave my car behind, go for these long walks to clear my head when city life got too much,” he explained, a shroud of something resembling peace slowly falling over him. “I always felt guilty for it, reasoning I should have been spending that time in the lab, looking for ways to help people. But this one day, a few years ago now, I realised it was all worth it.”
He then pulled a remote from his pocket and pressed a button at its centre. As the lights of the hangar flickered to life, they revealed a magnificent sight, something Mar’i immediately recognised as a First Class Vegan Star Cruiser - a Tamaranean space vessel from the shipyards of Okaara - resplendent in hues of silver and violet. The ship stood tall and proud, a beacon of extraterrestrial wonder amidst the mundane surroundings of the hangar. But why was it here? And how did Wilkof have it?
He gestured towards the ship with an odd gleam in his eyes. “Suddenly, and without warning, this spaceship came crashing down through the sky just a couple of miles away, out here, where it was just me there to see it,” he explained. “So I rushed over, I searched the wreckage… and that’s where I found it. It was only a sapling, a baby really, and it called out to me. I knew I needed to take it home, back to the lab, back for testing.”
Mar’i shook her head. How was he to have known back then that the plant was pulling his strings?
“I stashed the ship away, knowing its potential,” he confessed. “The ship’s computer confirmed its origins: Tamaran. Apparently it even used to belong to a princess named Komand’r.”
Mar’i's mind raced as she processed this revelation. Komand’r - also known as the tyrant queen Blackfire - was Koriand’r’s sister, and Mar’i’s aunt. Someone she had already come across early in her time in this universe. Then, just in time for him to answer it without her asking, Mar’i happened upon another awful question.
“I got some guys in to make repairs, and another guy to… basically hotwire the thing, before I fed them all to the plant. But the ship won’t fly without one final security measure,” continued Hunter, his gaze fixed on Mar’i. “A pilot with Tamaranean DNA.”
 
🔹🔹 🪶 🔹🔹
 
Back in the lab, Dick, Artemis and Tim continued to put the pieces together, now sans Barry who had raced off to join Wally in combing the city for either Mar’i or the Morning Eclipse, not knowing that both were far from the city limits.
“Why Mar’i?” Dick demanded. “What does Wilkof want with her? Her Starbolts could be used to fuel the plant and its cuttings, but that’d only make a difference at night, when they can’t get sunlight for themselves.”
Artemis nodded in agreement. “Surely they can survive a night without sunlight,” she surmised. “So what else would he come to Mar’i for?”
“Could it be her DNA?” posed Tim. “Maybe he has a use for DNA from a Tamanrean.”
“What kind of uses?” asked Dick. It wouldn’t be that, but his mind once again returned to the cloning vats of Cadmus. “No, it’s not that.”
“Then what else could it be?” Artemis sighed, frustrated. All of this analysis, brainstorming and scheming, and they were no closer to finding the missing Titan.
Then, Dick’s face blanched with fear. “She knows the way,” he said simply, his voice barely above a whisper.
“The way to what?” asked Tim, his own anxiety rising.
“To Tamaran,” Dick replied with dread. “A place where the sun shines bright enough for a hundred Morning Eclipses.”
 
🔹🔹 🪶 🔹🔹
 
In the dimly lit interior of what was once her aunt Komand'r's ship, Mar'i's heart raced with fear and uncertainty, now strapped into her seat beside the demented Dr Wilkof. The vessel, a marvel of Vega System technology, exuded an otherworldly aura, its sleek silver surfaces shimmering with an ethereal glow. Yet, to Mar'i, it felt more like a prison than a wonder.
She couldn't shake the sense of dread that gripped her. Tamaran, a place she once called home, now loomed before her as an unfamiliar and foreboding destination. She knew of the tumultuous history of this universe's Tamaran, the tales of military coups and the reign of the Orange Lantern Larfleeze, all of which added to her apprehension. The planet had hundreds of Morning Eclipses, but none had ever merged with a sapient vessel before. The killer plants were best survived by being completely ignored, which wouldn’t be possible with an intelligent host scheming and bringing the plants to their vulnerable prey. Could she inflict that threat on Tamaran?
Wilkof's jubilant smile did little to assuage her fears as he spoke. “When we reach the planet - with its gleaming sun - I’ll have everything I need. I'll create more Morning Eclipses, genetically superior ones, and they will bond with Tamaranean vessels to enhance their intelligence. And then there’ll be no more sacrifices, just feeding.”
Mar'i's stomach churned at the thought of being complicit in Wilkof's madness. But she also knew that she was in no position to bargain. And he knew it.
With a heavy heart and a sense of resignation, Mar'i steeled herself for the task ahead and the ship hummed to life around them, hurtling toward an uncertain destiny.
Then, as they quickly hit sonic speed, Hunter turned to his pilot and prisoner, keen to share a thought he hoped would bring her peace. “I want you to know… once we get to Tamaran, I’ll never have to return to Earth again. Don’t think about where we’re going, think about what we’re leaving behind. This is you saving planet Earth.”
 
 
Next: Sun it up in Nightwing #15
 

Sorry, couldn't think of a better title
My wife and I have been married, coming up on 9 years, but we have been together since 1996(when we were teenagers). We have a 7yo daughter.
She has never worked, she doesn’t cook, she doesn't drive. She doesn't have any friends and the friends that I had, accepted her, we were all hanging out for years together. About a year after we got married, she got pregnant and she didn't want to have much to do with any of them anymore. When our daughter was young we would co sleep(her thought process) instead of putting her in her bedroom. When she got a little older I went from bedroom to couch in living room for almost 2 years. For the last year and a half pur diameter sleeps in her own room, but my wide sleeps on a small mattress on the floor in there with her. She has babied her, her whole life.
I worked a ft job and a pt job for 20years to make ends meet. I currently only work 1 FT during the day, and kinda comfortable with my careesalary. Haven't seen my friends, and because of her I don't do anything outside of being the provider who works 48hrs/wk, the one who cooks dinner every night after a long work day, Indo the food shopping, and basically cater to her needs.
Last year we had issues with our daughter going to Kindergarten. She made it through half the year then she stopped going. Was scared to go, saying she hated her teacher & school, wouldn't get dressed, fought us way too hard for a 6yo(at that time). This was all sudden change. We thought there might be MH concerns. We proceeded with some suggestions from some specialists, but this was the start of the downfall of US. Daughter has gotten better and resumed Grade K this year, but still some concerns, here & there.
She says she hates my family, Says they were not there for us during my daughter's issues and did nothing, but my divorced/remarried Dad has Parkinsons and battles slight depression. My mom lives 4 hours away, provides us with a house to live in free of charge, and asked during the troubling time "What she can do" but I didn't know what to say, so she didn't do anything, except saying she'd pray for us. Her family(lives 6 mins away) helped us get through everything. They were very helpful.
We fight, most chances we get, or barely speak to each other, and there's rarely a good day. I work extra hours so I don't have spend much time with her when I get home( she'll put our daughter to bed at 730 and basically stay upstairs)because I just don't want to anymore. I'm miserable and basically hate my life(not suicidal at all, no thoughts of harm). We dont sleep in the same room anymore, havent had sex in a long time. I don't want to leave and get divorced, cause then I won't see my daughter regularly, and one of the best parts of my day is coming home and seeing her at the end of the day.
The last 2 years ive always said I would rather live a miserable life and be with my daughter everyday(compared to what could be the opposite).
I just don't know Anymore. My weight is up, I'm smoking more, I don't feel as healthy as I have in the past, I'm turning into a hypochondriac thinking ever little pain or movement is something terrible. Im really starting to hate my life(still no self harm).
Please, anyone/everyone... say something. My feelings are not easily altered so be brutally honest if needed.

I have been working away from home for 2 years that time i start zynning out of boredom and I feel this is the worst thing I ever did ..it ruined my mental health and my ability to focus..I feel it changed my personality badly.. I really miss my old version
This week i decided to be a person with goals and issued my FAR NTS and i had the idea of quitting zyn at the same time
But I’m concerned about the effect of the withdrawal symptoms on my studying
Need help 😶‍🌫️
Sorry for the weak language 🥶

Hi everyone!
Before I had my baby, I was working part time as a freelance writer. I wasn't making a huge amount of money, but most months I was doing okay, bringing in a few hundred pounds every month. My partner works full time, so this was enough.
But now I have a 3 month old baby and our household costs have gone up a bit. A lot of my work has dried up and I'm now making around £250-300 a month, which isn't enough. We are getting by for now as we have some savings, but it's not ideal. I really need to be earning more. Childcare isn't a huge issue as my mother in law can help to look after our baby a few hours a week if needed.
However, as my health isn't great, it has to be something either working from home or a job where I can mostly sit down. Does anyone have any suggestions? Have you found anything that works for you? I keep checking Indeed but I can't find anything. Also, I don't drive, so that rules out quite a few things!

JD reported a solid Q1 2024 with total revenue of $260.049 billion, a 7% increase, and an EPS of $2.27, surpassing analysts' expectations.

Key Metrics

Revenue	$260049M	7.0%
Net Income	$7365M
Earnings Per Share	$2.27	17.2%
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$179300M

Segment Performance

• JD Retail (revenue - $226835M, growth - 6.8%) - JD Retail, including JD Health and JD Industrials, among other components, mainly engages in online retail, online marketplace and marketing services in China.
• JD Logistics (revenue - $42137M, growth - 14.7%) - JD Logistics includes both internal and external logistics businesses.
• New Businesses (revenue - $4870M, growth - -19.2%) - New Businesses mainly include Dada, JD Property, Jingxi and overseas businesses.

Business Highlights

• JD Retail’s net revenue increased by 6.6%, while net service revenues increased by 8.8% for the first quarter of 2024, compared to the first quarter of 2023.
• JD Health partnered with multiple pharmaceutical companies, such as Pfizer and Sanofi, to debut new and specialty drugs online, continuing to enhance medicine accessibility.
• JD Logistics continues to help Chinese brands expand overseas with one-stop service offerings.
• JD introduced an AI digital representative of its founder and chairman of the board, Mr. Richard Qiangdong Liu, to join its supermarket, home appliances and home goods livestreaming rooms, drawing over 20 million views within the first hour.

Guidance
Additional Notes

• The Company’s total expenditure for human resources, including both its own employees and external personnel who work for the Company, amounted to RMB106.6 billion for the twelve months ended March 31, 2024.

Expectations: BEAT
JD's reported EPS of $2.27 significantly exceeded the average analyst estimate of $0.64 for Q1 2024, showcasing a robust earnings performance. Revenue also surpassed the expected $35.78 billion, indicating strong sales growth, particularly in the JD Logistics segment which grew by 14.7%. However, the New Businesses segment saw a decline of 19.2% in revenue.

Obesity affects about 42% of the adult population in the United States and contributes to the onset of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and other conditions. Understanding the mechanisms behind this is crucial to combating the obesity epidemic. "We wanted to explore the mechanisms that might explain why late eating increases the risk of obesity," said Dr. Frank A. J. L. Scheer, the senior author of the study. Previous research indicated that late eating is associated with increased body fat and less successful weight loss.
The Study: Timing Matters The researchers asked, "Does the timing of our meals matter when all other factors are consistent?" The answer was a clear yes. Eating just four hours later than usual significantly affected hunger levels, how calories are burned after eating, and how the body stores fat.
In their controlled lab study, the team worked with 16 participants with a Body Mass Index (BMI) in the overweight or obese range. Each participant followed two eating schedules in the lab:
Normal Schedule: Eating at typical meal times. Late Schedule: Similar meals but eaten 4 hours later than usual. Before the lab sessions, participants maintained a fixed sleep-wake schedule for two to three weeks, and for the final three days, they followed a strict diet to standardize intake.
Measurements and Observations In the lab, participants reported their feelings of hunger and cravings, provided frequent small blood samples throughout the day, and had their body temperature and energy expenditure measured. To understand how meal timing affects fat storage pathways, the researchers also took fat tissue biopsies from a subset of participants under both early and late eating conditions for genetic expression analysis.
Study Findings: Hormones, Calories, and Fat Storage The study revealed profound effects of late eating on hunger and the appetite hormones leptin and ghrelin:
Leptin Levels: This satiety hormone was lower over 24 hours during the late eating condition compared to early eating. Calorie Burning: Participants burned calories at a slower rate when following the late eating schedule. Fat Storage Genes: Gene expression in fat tissue showed increased fat creation and decreased breakdown (lipolysis) under late eating conditions. These findings highlight the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying the correlation between late eating and increased obesity risk.
Implications and Insights These findings align with a substantial body of research indicating that late-night eating can increase a person's likelihood of developing obesity. They elucidate how this might happen by revealing changes in different control systems related to energy balance. By conducting a randomized crossover study and tightly controlling behavioral and environmental factors like physical activity, posture, sleep, and light exposure, the investigators could pinpoint changes in different systems that control energy balance, providing a clearer picture of how our bodies use the food we consume.
This research suggests that modifying our eating times could be a straightforward approach to reduce obesity risk, improve metabolic health, and better manage appetite and fat storage.
Conclusion The study emphasizes that not just what we eat, but when we eat, plays a significant role in health outcomes related to obesity. Shifting meal times earlier could be a viable strategy for reducing hunger, improving metabolic rate, and ultimately aiding in weight management and obesity prevention.
https://youtube.com/shorts/qqFD1mZViis?feature=share
#NutritionScience #ObesityResearch #MetabolicHealth #HealthyEating #LateNightEating #WeightManagement #AppetiteControl #EnergyBalance #HealthAndWellness #DietAndHealth

Welcome to the Gobinx Subreddit!

Hello Gobinx Community! 👋
Welcome to the official Gobinx subreddit! 🎉 This is the place where the Gobinx team will share the most trending finds, answer your questions, and respond to requests directly from our Binx AI app algorithm. Whether you’re hunting for the latest fashion trends, top-rated electronics, or unique home decor, you’ll discover it all here.
Here’s what you can expect in this subreddit for each e-commerce category:

• 👗 Fashion & Apparel:
  
  • Trending Finds: Discover the latest fashion trends and must-have apparel items.
  • User Requests: See what fashion items users are asking Binx about and get inspired by personalized outfit recommendations.
  • Special Requests: Need an outfit for a specific occasion? Ask here and let Binx guide you to the perfect look.
• 📱 Electronics & Gadgets:
  
  • Trending Finds: Stay updated with the newest gadgets and top-rated electronics.
  • User Requests: Find out what tech-savvy users are searching for and how Binx helps them choose the best devices.
  • Special Requests: Looking for a gadget with specific features? Post your request and get tailored suggestions.
• 🏠 Home & Living:
  
  • Trending Finds: Explore stylish home decor, furniture, and living essentials.
  • User Requests: Check out the unique home improvement queries and Binx’s personalized recommendations.
  • Special Requests: Want to redecorate a room? Share your ideas and let Binx help you find the perfect pieces.
• 🍳 Kitchen & Dining:
  
  • Trending Finds: Discover top kitchen gadgets, cookware, and dining essentials.
  • User Requests: See what kitchen items users are interested in and how Binx assists them.
  • Special Requests: Need a specific kitchen gadget? Post here and get precise product suggestions.
• 🎮 Games & Toys:
  
  • Trending Finds: Stay in the loop with the latest games and popular toys.
  • User Requests: Find out what gaming and toy queries users have and how Binx answers them.
  • Special Requests: Looking for a game or toy? Let Binx provide you with the best options.
• 🧴 Beauty & Health:
  
  • Trending Finds: Discover the latest beauty products and health essentials.
  • User Requests: See what beauty and health items users are curious about and Binx’s recommendations.
  • Special Requests: Have a specific beauty or health need? Ask here and receive personalized suggestions.
• 🚴 Sports & Outdoors:
  
  • Trending Finds: Explore the newest sports gear and outdoor equipment.
  • User Requests: Find out what outdoor enthusiasts are looking for and how Binx helps them choose.
  • Special Requests: Need equipment for a specific sport or outdoor activity? Let Binx guide you.
• 🍼 Babies & Kids:
  
  • Trending Finds: Stay updated with the latest baby products and kids’ essentials.
  • User Requests: Check out what baby and kids’ items users are asking about and Binx’s advice.
  • Special Requests: Looking for something specific for your child? Get personalized product recommendations here.

We’re excited to build this community with you. Dive in, explore, share your experiences, and let’s make smart shopping a reality together!
Best, The Gobinx Team

Gobinx #SmartShopping #AI #TrendingFinds #Fashion #Electronics #HomeLiving #KitchenDining #GamesToys #BeautyHealth #SportsOutdoors #BabiesKids #Community #UserRequests #AppUpdates #Feedback #ShoppingAssistant

Hi all,
I had a partial thyroidectomy for a thyroid cyst and I’d really appreciate some advice and opinions!
My surgery was almost two years ago, in July 2022, and I didn’t get much support afterwards. I had one blood test, was told it was normal and that was it. I had to have more blood tests as I was so exhausted all the time and even when my results highly suggested hypothyroidism, I had to ask my doctor to trial me on Levothyroxine. He only gave me a small dose of 25 micrograms a day, but it seemed to help. I didn’t feel completely well but the tiredness and depression definitely felt less intense.
In December 2023, I went to a follow up at the hospital with a registrar (it was a year later than it was meant to be but that’s the NHS I suppose) and he said that I didn’t need to be taking the Levo as the dose is so small that it wouldn’t be making a difference. I told him I felt better with it, but he said it was likely a placebo effect. I stopped taking them as per his advice and now 6 months later, I’m more exhausted than ever.
I had bloods done recently, by my request, but no tests for vitamins or iron deficiency or anything like that , only TSH and T4. I’ve got the results and the difference between a blood test I had back in November 2023 compared to the one I had last month. I’ll post it here for you to see. Everything comes under normal so the doctor just wrote a note saying within normal range and that was that.
Serum TSH: 3.7 in Nov 2023, 4.3 in Apr 2024 Serum Free T4: 11 in Nov 2023, 10 in Apr 2024
I’m pretty clueless regarding my test results to be honest. I only know what things mean from Google searches and we all know how limiting that can be. My family and friends wanted me to take my levothyroxine again as they are all noticing a big difference, so I’m on one a day at the moment.
As well as being tired 24/7, I’ve also got constantly itchy skin that I have to take medication for, depression, brain fog, aches and pains in my legs and feet (which I’ve always had but seem to be worse now) and bad intolerance to heat or any kind of warmth. I have the fan on constantly, which is okay at this time of year, but I had it on all through winter and I feel terrible for my partner because of it.
I also sweat a lot more and my weight is a nightmare to maintain, which makes the sweating and heat intolerance ten times worse. I’m embarrassed to go outside because of it and I’m dreading the summer as I know I’m going to just lock myself away (I work from home anyway) so I don’t have to face anyone while looking so red, sweaty and having put on so much weight.
Life is getting less bearable by the day because of all this, so if anyone has any advice, it would be so appreciated!
Thanks everyone and wishing you all the best and good health
Nia xxx

Hi all, new to the sub so please be patient if I come off stupid. I’ve been walking home from work for about over a month now, I am no means a “serious” walker but I am m trying my best to get my steps in whilst also trying to kick start my new healthy routine. It takes about 50 mins to walk from my work to my house, and I do it at a steady pace whilst listening to podcast. I work at a rather stressful place and walking has become my “safe place” where I get to de stress, I love it! However in the past two days my wonderful walking has taken a tumble as i have ankle pains. Around 15mins in my ankles are on fire and with each steps it’s painful to move, more so on my outer right side. I know many here may have experience this, and my question is what can I do about it? I love walking, it’s become my favourite part of the day and I don’t want this inconvenience to deter something that is improving not only my physical but mental health. And that’s what I’m worried about.

Hi all,
I had a partial thyroidectomy for a thyroid cyst and I’d really appreciate some advice and opinions!
My surgery was almost two years ago, in July 2022, and I didn’t get much support afterwards. I had one blood test, was told it was normal and that was it. I had to have more blood tests as I was so exhausted all the time and even when my results highly suggested hypothyroidism, I had to ask my doctor to trial me on Levothyroxine. He only gave me a small dose of 25 micrograms a day, but it seemed to help. I didn’t feel completely well but the tiredness and depression definitely felt less intense.
In December 2023, I went to a follow up at the hospital with a registrar (it was a year later than it was meant to be but that’s the NHS I suppose) and he said that I didn’t need to be taking the Levo as the dose is so small that it wouldn’t be making a difference. I told him I felt better with it, but he said it was likely a placebo effect. I stopped taking them as per his advice and now 6 months later, I’m more exhausted than ever.
I had bloods done recently, by my request, but no tests for vitamins or iron deficiency or anything like that , only TSH and T4. I’ve got the results and the difference between a blood test I had back in November 2023 compared to the one I had last month. I’ll post it here for you to see. Everything comes under normal so the doctor just wrote a note saying within normal range and that was that.
Serum TSH: 3.7 in Nov 2023, 4.3 in Apr 2024 Serum Free T4: 11 in Nov 2023, 10 in Apr 2024
I’m pretty clueless regarding my test results to be honest. I only know what things mean from Google searches and we all know how limiting that can be. My family and friends wanted me to take my levothyroxine again as they are all noticing a big difference, so I’m on one a day at the moment.
As well as being tired 24/7, I’ve also got constantly itchy skin that I have to take medication for, depression, brain fog, aches and pains in my legs and feet (which I’ve always had but seem to be worse now) and bad intolerance to heat or any kind of warmth. I have the fan on constantly, which is okay at this time of year, but I had it on all through winter and I feel terrible for my partner because of it.
I also sweat a lot more and my weight is a nightmare to maintain, which makes the sweating and heat intolerance ten times worse. I’m embarrassed to go outside because of it and I’m dreading the summer as I know I’m going to just lock myself away (I work from home anyway) so I don’t have to face anyone while looking so red, sweaty and having put on so much weight.
Life is getting less bearable by the day because of all this, so if anyone has any advice, it would be so appreciated!
Thanks everyone and wishing you all the best and good health
Nia xxx

I play on an iPhone XR and I realized I had a problem - sometimes, or occasionally, when I play songs, there are sometimes occasional lag spikes happening. These lag spikes cause me to lose all my health, or the music video is a little bit out of sync with the music. I usually have 3D mv settings and cut in effect, AP effect, and skill display. What settings should I change to keep the lag away? The lag spike occasionally happens when I play at school (i use mobile data at school), and happens at home too (sometimes)