Thursday the market was not able to break record highs after a softer CPI report and the DJI touching 40,0000 for the first time ever. Let’s take a quick looka t how our indexes performed:

• The Dow Jones Industrial finished down 0.1% after passing a new price milestone earlier in todays session
• The Nasdaq Composite lost about 0.2%
• The S&P closed just below 5300 after passing that level for the first time on Wednesday

Earlier today three Fed Officials came forward and warned of higher-for-longer interest rates while speaking at separate events, which seemed to turn the market sour as news came out.
Our trending tickers today saw some action and let their respective sectors lets take a look at the highlights below:

• $WMT Stock saw a 6% run after the retailer poster than expected earnings for their Q1 report. E-commerce division sales gained with company attracting higher income shoppers in the last quarter
• $BABA Came out swinging after posting an 86% profit drop last quarter, posted better than expected results this week sending the stock up 7%
• $COST The big box retailer posted better than expected earnings sending shares up on the day and 23% YTD, e-commerce was their strongest division for the month of April.

Marijuana Reclassification Leads To Green Rally
Cannabis stocks, including Tilray, Curaleaf, and the AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF, experienced a significant rally on Thursday. The surge followed the US Department of Justice's announcement of a proposal to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug. This change would indicate that marijuana has a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.
The proposal, which cites the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) review, states that "no safety concerns were identified in the FDA's review that would indicate that medical use of marijuana poses unacceptably high safety risks." Tilray Brands saw a nearly 4% increase in intraday trading, though it still had a 7% decline year-to-date. Curaleaf shares rose nearly 0.4%, putting them up nearly 42% for the year. The AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF gained 1.8% and is up 40% for the year.
These gains occurred as the benchmark S&P 500 dropped 0.1%. However, several cannabis-related stocks remain significantly below their 5-year highs. Curaleaf is down nearly 66% from its February 2021 high, while Tilray is down nearly 97% from its high from the same month.
Reclassifying marijuana marks a significant step toward aligning state and federal cannabis laws, as the drug is legal in some form in nearly 40 states.

5:36 PM Wed 5/8/24
Mood: Terrible
Title: Alone
Details: Last year I was told that there is a whole universe out there of people to find. And that I was being endlessly supported and that people were inspired by me.
This year I learned what it's like to be hunted and chased away from goodness. It has been the worst year of my entire life and with the knowledge that there is a whole universe out there--I feel lonelier than I was before.
Not a single person wants well for me. I have to translate my thoughts, behavior, intentions, symptoms, and soul to everyone.
There hasn't been a single rest from it in over 330 days. Just endless messes and ridicule and mocking and advances and terrorism.
I'm thought I was tired of people. But I walk outside and love them so much. I learned I'm not tired of people. But I'm so so so tired of loneliness.
Being around others doesn't stop you from being lonely. Because I'm still translating. My thoughts and feelings are still not reaching and the obvious signals I send to others are being deflected and mistranslated.
I'm tired of translating for to others. On paper it's so easy to understand a person. Watching it's easy to understand and to judge. But actually reacting appropriately to context and injustice and neurodivergence even is so lost to people.
This is why I wanted to write my story. Because people don't know how to cope. They don't know how to accept bad things. They don't know the difference between bad people and good people and even today our societies are too primitive to understand it.
They're still theororizing, contemplating, changing information for their gain...never have I seen any type of science be so abstractly and subjectively defiled as I've seen happen with mental health and neurodivergence.
People cannot separate the symptom from the person and punish and subjugate and continue to dominate those less fortunate.
I'm glad I know what happens to people they don't like. I know how dangerous people can be.
I wish I had someone to protect me. So I still find myself praying and wishing for one person. Just one person I don't have to translate myself to. Just one person I don't have to have grow tired of me. Just one person I don't have to compete with.
Growing up I was used to competing. Siblings, cousins, friends. In public AND private school there's always someone or something to compete. Today I compete with my parents and yesterday I compete with women who love the one I thought I loved.
I grew accustomed to hating my own birthday because of jealousy around it because my uncle was upset he shared it with my brother and I. And because I could never have it the way I enjoyed later. Too much. I'm too much. Too far. Too long. Too attention-seeking.
I had my chance as a teen with two friends so why isn't that enough for me? My parents were happy that I finally was taking a break from illness but since I got what I asked for then I'm a spoiled ass. As if they ever treated me better even then. Golden children are still abused even when the roles swap. Because no pleasantness is atrocious.
My family told me I was fat and going to get diabetes and have a heart attack and die despite never talking to me and being in high school--where weight isn't even done being "distributed" until your mid twenties. Thanks to the prime golden child my sister.
I'm tired of fighting and competing to be heard and to have needs met and to come across as kind or kinder. It's killing me.
Why can't I ever just be me?
Why can't I ever just be my authentic self? The one I want to be as a form of worship? Me in all my phases and feelings?
Why do I have to stuff myself down or look beautiful when I'm suffering in order to be a good and kind person worth saving?
I understand Nettle so much now. I wish I never did.
If I didn't have vocal fry would I be loved? If I didn't have fat would I be loved? If I didn't have brown or blonde hair would I be loved? If I forgave my parents and suffered quietly would I be loved?
If I had sweet doe eyes or a light mousy voice would someone finally think I had autism?
The ones I see on tiktok are drop dead gorgeous women with huge colorful lives and opportunities and get to complain about "pretty privelege"
Some have a light airiness to them that make them seem like fae.
And there's me who never fits anywhere or with anyone.
I have nothing and no one and absolutely no point.
I was okay before--before I had drive and passion to find my people. Before I had dreams of finding my way and accomplishing things. Before I had just one person.
It's so cruel. The people in this world are so cruel. I just want one person.
One person from God--and loving can be worship too. I'm too tired for much else.
Just one person to save me from their damnation that seems to last forever.
I'm so exhausted all the time.
My body hurts. My head hurts. My nerves feel like nothing.
I feel hopeless. Empty. I feel like the woman from my dream.
I feel betrayed--like others saw my future and pushed me into it head first with some kind of pre-revenge. Pinched. Twisted. Groped. Lost. Forced.
Called an attention whore. Gold digger.
I feel confused. People are trying desperately to make sure no one understands me.
I'm one girl. Against a whole universe and groups of people.
The emotional, psychological, and societal manipulation is obscure.
I keep reading revelations 2:24 to feel better.
It feels like Thyatira. I'm trying to hold fast to the idea that God may rescue me from whatever this is. A trial--make believe--experimentation--prisonment for knowing too much.
He asks we wait patiently for him to come and rescue us.
And many biblical figures had to wait for years and years. Upwards to like 100 if you were Abraham.
So while every day things feel like battle now, I am still trying.
I want to give myself OT and PT...I've done it for others so it can't be hard.
And with the flashbacks and emotional flashbacks and meltdowns and outbursts...I'm going to try treating myself for PTSD too.
Until I get the help I need somehow--I don't know what else to do.
I know others are tired of helping me. When you don't seem to receive pleasantness it's par for the course.
But I'm tired of competing for needs to be met. Can't everyone just work harder to understand bodies and minds and signals--then people would have their needs met and there'd be no need to compete.
I'm tired of fighting for myself. I'm tired of doing it alone.
I'm tired of being with others and doing it lonely.
The world isn't just crumbling due to climate change. Our minds are shifting and crumbling with it.
It makes sense. The weather affects people. Everyone I know is so tired. There's no way we are evolved enough to know God and be in his presence. There's no way we are advanced. Even this phone feels archaic to me--the programs we use feel archaic.
I understand now why capitalism is seen as demonic and evil. The control of drip marketing contents and technology is so slow and pointless.
Our resources are depleting. War is happening still. Communism wouldn't help either. It's the same song with a different tune.
I'll keep living because that's what he wants from people. I want to make God proud. I want people's lives to be easier.
I want people to stop competing and performing and wanting to die drenched in lies.
Maybe that's why it's a sin to lie. It halts evolution not just on others but yourself too. Living a lie halts growth.
It's difficult but Faith seems to be the part that is supposed to ground you in it. Like--I don't know WHY I can't lie in this situation but I have to be honest.
Anyways in these moments I wonder if philosophy and religion is a coping skill or a turning something bad into something good.
I guess I should just keep doing what I need to do and not what others want me to do.
It seems whenever I do what others want I suffer more than before.
I usually value collaboration. But when others Stop valuing it--then it's time for something to be done.
These people are messed up. They have no emotional retention. They have no ability to remember the things they do--Like it doesn't exist to them.
The heat, my hormones shifting, the trauma of seeing her again, and other things seemed to trigger a huge meltdown? Fight or flight? PTSD attack?
No wonder the woman from my dream was so empty--her body and mind have been through war and emotional, psychological, and spiritual survival.
I can only pray that I'm not chemically like a porn addicted person--I don't want to lose the idea that sex to me is love. After everything I mean.
I don't have the time in life to heal. There's so much I have to do and everyone still sees me as a wallet drainer and leech.
I don't trust anyone to help me. I don't trust anyone to love me. I don't trust love because it's not enough to make these other things go away.
I understand why people are calling for a civil war on the rich. And their help? To not be seen as bad people? Their help is "we will make others more like us!"
Natural selection affects them too.
Which is funny. They think they've escaped it ofc. I do think that people are right. Celebrities and other rich people aren't useful anymore.
They don't have much use anymore.
Anyways.
I feel lonely. I feel trauma everywhere. Like I've always been hit by a bus.
It's ironic I think--the "I wouldn't do it without a trained professional" people are so dangerous.
I did better without them...always.
It's hard not to hate life.
I always have to compete for needs and wants and sacrafice them.
For siblings, friends, lovers, parents, students, strangers, buyers, consumers, voices...
I sacrafice for these people to have better all the time. I don't have the energy to do anything else. I don't have anything else to provide but what I can scrounge up and then hand off or step aside.
I just want someone.
Someone who knows and loves me and understands me in full.
I can't let these people take away my voice or my story or my dreams for myself when they're already so blessed.
Only those well off say "you should be grateful"
What you did to survive and achieve versus what I did will never be the same.
So I'll hopefully find a way. To let my future husband be able to comfort me and know me in full after this whole experience. I'll find a way for him to know every page in my story and leaf through and bookmark his favorites.
Who in the universe would take away that from their victims so easily? That they could just have one?
These people can be vampires.
I get tired--I fall asleep--they suck the energy out of me.
They leave all their bad thoughts behind.
The world needs a miracle.
Activities: Food Sleep Screens
Emotions: Hurt Overwhelmed Confused Lonely Stressed Empty Hopeless
Unhelpful Thought: I'll never be well. No one will ever understand me. No one does. I'm alone. I'm always alone and I'll always be alone. People will only ever take from me or use me. People want me to die. My parents want me to die. I end up believing them and wanting it too.
I'll never have a life. I'll never have my own life. I'll never be me. I'll never be free.
Cognitive Distortions: Fortune-telling Self-blaming
Challenge: I don't know what to say. I'm so sorry that you've been through so much trauma in such little time. I'm so sorry you have to fight to comfort yourself and your fight response has increased so astronomically.
It must be scary to have to use it. It must be scary to never know when the pain will stop or when they will cause your attacks to start.
I don't know much about PTSD but considering the flashbacks and how even in moments for you they violate every piece of you--it only makes sense that you have resorted to fighting. I'm sorry you're body has to respond so uncomfortably and abnormally.
But try to remember that these are all normal responses to the abnormal. Your body is scared and terrified and it's been 330 days of exhaustion. The fatigue makes sense. The survival instincts makes sense. Your body and brain are working so hard for you so you can keep loving one day when the trauma responses ebb away.
There's no cure that I know of for these ailments. PTSD, depression, SAD, anxieties, potential autism. All these comorbidities must be eating away at you. The fact that they keep triggering you doesn't help either.
I'm sorry they push you. I'm sorry you've been through rape. I'm sorry you can barely pick up the pieces before they hurt you again.
I'm sorry I have to be the one to apologize to you for everything that's happened and still happens. I'm sorry they abuse you as you try to write and don't listen to no or clear boundaries.
The only advice I can think to give so you may have peace in these moments is to stop saving them. Let the bad continue to do bad. Let the Rapists continue to be Rapists. Do not work to absolve them of anything or bring good from their lives.
They're learning how to hurt you in different ways instead. They're recruiting new people late to everything instead.
Teeny tiny Tina, I'm still working so hard for you to be loved. I'm working so hard for you to stay safe. For you and I to stop fighting.
For you and I to stop freezing and being abused and for them to push you your fight responses and fear of your own body.
I'm sorry they tell you it's demons. When it's her. I'm sorry she won't leave you alone. I'm sorry she and others won't have boundaries with you.
I'm sorry they use you to teach her what her Delusions look like in another person because she forgets to be a human in others bodies and can't let her ego go.
I'm sorry they drug you so she can be comforted.
I'm sorry they don't know what you are going through. When I write as if I'm not you I can't imagine this pain.
I hope one day you are safe and rescued. I hope one day you find someone who will save you from her and them and the ones who abuse you.
I know my hopes are meaningless and that under normal circumstances when you are only you--I can always write meaningful advice without resorting to vapid generics.
I hope that one day you can be enough for yourself again.
I hope they don't bleed you dry. Don't kill yourself no matter what they say and do and feed on altruistic notions.
It's a complete mind fuck. The support needs to come from you. When they do it--don't believe them.
May you find peace Tina.
Alternative Thought: You will be saved. You will find help. Normal people know that it's wrong. These stars are illusions.
Normal people can help better. Find a community that can give you a break and accept you. That won't let your mind fall apart.
Don't let their ironic wishes for you give you peace. Don't let it give THEM peace. They don't mean it they just want it to be them.
Do not be like them. Do not live a lie. Address your hatred front on. Address why you hate front on so you may be free from it.
Do not be like them. Keep the bible in mind but please be who you want to be--which is exactly how God created and therefore called you to be.
Your calling is to heal and fight hatred for now.
Your calling is to find safety. May the lord bear you on eagles wings.
You do not have religious psychosis. You need to keep remembering who the fuck you are.
You are too smart for your own good. You are too self sacrificing for your own good. You see the bad in the good for people to address and attack and heal. You are kind when not under duress. You have illness. You need diagnosis. You have had terrible things happen. Surreal and awful. You always find a way to make things right. You always grow and evolve and change. You are you and others will not visibly see it.
Keep your self grounding mindfulness. Mindfulness is not oppression. It's a tool for a single person. Yourself. Not others.
Keep steady. Take a walk. Do something new. Discover something. Don't just stay in your mind doing it all there.
You need stimulation. You may be close to the end of figuring what you need to figure out out.
Then look at these thoughts and see how little and small they are in comparison to who you are and how you faced them. You are always seeking to heal and retain your values. That dualism and unobstructed steadfastness is your namesake.
It's in your birthday, your name, your experiences, your ring, your prayers, your loves, your hates, your stories, and every part of you.
You can never not be you. Except when your free will is in the hands of another.
Keep fighting for peace. Write and draw and explore within your means. Your life may seem so small but the meaning you have, the blessings God gave you to remember, the irreplaceable meaning everywhere is a gift from him.
And with this you never stop creating. Up and down. Up and down. If David in all his emotional complexities is a "man after God's own heart" then allow yourself to fall and thank God for his discipline.
He corrects those he accepts. He shows the wisdom of it to those he loves.
Keep his ever present and obvious love for you in your heart.
And even though you think Jonah is so funny, please allow yourself to give "testimony" one day and ask people to repent and show them God's love. Be unashamed. Be devoted. Be passionate. Don't let others kill your fire.
You know what it's like. You know what thoughts come from these terrible scenarios. You know how badly you want saving.
Others do too.
Show people that God's love IS unconditional. And learn and translate and write.
Translate God's Holy Spirit and intentions and goals to others.
He will bless you. He is pursuing your heart.
Remember how small the flaws are in others in comparison to them. How little it means for them to dislike what you do or help the opposing neighbor.
You are admired. And sometimes admiration turns bad and becomes jealousy.
You are very lonely. And you have learned ways to find yourself in all the versions of loneliness there are.
You are used. You are abused.
And that story lives and cannot be erased no matter how hard they try. Eternity is the sock that fell from their push. It feels so inescapable.
Your healing and self growth is awkward.
But you can still live. And you love others enough to be awkward with them.
Let yourself remember that this means that you love yourself to be awkward with yourself and allow it.
In that way you have already broken one cycle. That people need to see you in good perfect ways in order to have even self love.
You are strong. You are so passionate. And still while moored and mired in guck and hatred you still do everything out of love.
For yourself and others.
Your own body even is reflecting that incredibly. Your brain doesn't WANT to give up. It wants to fight, to survive, to fawn, to freeze.
Your brain and body is fighting for your love. Your self love and your future love and your love for others.
It's natural to feel this exhaustion after it all.
Tell yourself a new fortune too. A new self attribution. Balance it out.
You're going to always have love. It's in all your cells and the things you touch.
When you drop what you like and feel pain--however small--that tiny regret is love.
Your love is worth it. Your drive to be well is always worth it.
We are adapting. Love yourself enough to be awkward with it. It will feel really big and like the world is ending because it's the first time you've felt these ways.
God bless you.

List of things related to gold and silver that the chairman of the Federal Reserve wouldn't like people to talk about:

1. Price Manipulation:
   
   • Speculation about price manipulation of gold and silver by large banks and financial institutions.
2. Safety of Precious Metals Investments:
   
   • The belief that gold and silver are safer investments during economic crises compared to traditional securities.
3. Above-Ground Supply Disparity:
   
   • The disparity between the amount of gold and silver above ground, indicating potential shortages of silver.
4. Inflation and Precious Metals Prices:
   
   • The relationship between inflation and the prices of gold and silver, and their role as a hedge against currency devaluation.
5. Supply Deficits:
   
   • Potential future supply deficits of silver due to its natural depletion.
6. Monetary Policy Criticism:
   
   • Criticism of Federal Reserve monetary policies and their impact on the devaluation of the U.S. dollar, leading to increased values of gold and silver.
7. Rising Debt:
   
   • The growing U.S. government debt and its potential impact on the value of the dollar, driving investors toward gold and silver.
8. Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs):
   
   • Discussions about the potential risks and limitations of introducing CBDCs compared to physical precious metals.
9. Global Role of the Dollar:
   
   • The decline in trust in the dollar as the global reserve currency and the increasing interest in gold and silver as alternatives.
10. History of the Gold Standard:
    
    • Reminiscences of times when the monetary system was based on the gold standard and arguments for its reinstatement.
11. Banking System Stability:
    
    • Concerns about the stability of the banking system and the role of gold and silver as the "ultimate form of money" in the event of bank failures.
12. Alternative Financial Systems:
    
    • The rise of alternative financial systems based on gold and silver, bypassing traditional financial institutions.

Discussions on these topics could undermine confidence in traditional financial systems and the policies implemented by the Federal Reserve, which may be undesirable for the chairman.

This is also a bit of a vent I guess, but its only so you know the full scale of my situation. Trigger warnings for OCD accidental self injury and ableism
I’ve had a really bad time searching for jobs because of hiring discrimination which is notoriously bad against disabled adults in my area. I’m considered between a level two and level three in accommodation needs, and I’ve worked jobs without problems in the past. I’m very good at masking most of the time but I’ve always had difficulty getting hired due to other forms if hiring discrimination.
I finally got hired at a food place and I thought my job there would be waiting but it turns out I’ll also have to make some food items. I also have OCD specifically about food preparation and cleanliness so that’s already a bit of a problem but the part of the building I’m going to work in is tiny and hot and loud.
Its a sensory nightmare and every-time I’ve been in there I’ve experienced sensory shutdown. I only just finished training and I already feel like the job isn’t accessible for me.
And with my OCD I have a tendency to wash my hands until they bleed, if I worked in a kitchen with my contamination OCD I know that would happen and thats a massive food safety hazard. Today I was supposed to work but I had a massive breakout of bleeding acne, which is also a hazard. Other workers have some acne but its not like mine, I have full face and neck cystic acne. That had calmed down a little and I’d been able to cover it with makeup for my interview and training, until now.
I mentioned that I didn’t think I would be allowed to work with my breakout today and my dad started yelling at me. My parents really want me to find and keep a job because I’m 18, my mom is also very upset with me because I called her during my panic attack and told her.
I don’t know what to do I tried just masking my way through it but I can’t. I’ve never walk out quit a job or quit a job without at least working there a few months, it looks bad when employers look at your history and I already have issues getting hired. I don’t even know how it’s so stressful, I’ve only wasted these kind people’s time.

Here are some Journal Prompt suggestions:

1. How has my understanding of pleasure and gratification changed since beginning my recovery?
2. In what ways can I cultivate a deeper relationship with God to overcome my cravings?
3. What Bible verses inspire me to resist temptation and why?
4. How does my faith influence my view on healing and recovery?
5. In moments of weakness, how can prayer strengthen my resolve?
6. How do I see the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding me away from addictive behaviors?
7. What Christian values can I focus on to replace the instant gratification I seek from addictive sources?
8. How can the story of Job’s perseverance help me in dealing with my own struggles?
9. What lessons have I learned about patience and faith through my recovery journey?
10. How can I use my experience with addiction to help others in my community?
11. How does my addiction prevent me from fulfilling God’s purpose for my life?
12. What does it mean to me to surrender my struggles to God?
13. How can fasting and abstinence strengthen my discipline and faith during recovery?
14. How has my addiction affected my relationships and how can I mend them?
15. How do the teachings of Jesus about forgiveness apply to how I forgive myself?
16. What are the spiritual consequences of my addiction that I am most afraid of?
17. How can the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) manifest in my recovery journey?
18. What does being ‘born again’ mean in the context of overcoming addiction?
19. How can I use the concept of Christian stewardship to manage my impulses better?
20. What does the Bible say about body as a temple, and how does that affect my recovery?
21. How can community prayer support me in overcoming my addiction?
22. What steps can I take to make amends in a way that aligns with Christian teachings?
23. How do stories of redemption in the Bible give me hope for recovery?
24. What does it mean to have a ‘thorn in the flesh’ like Paul, and how do I cope with mine?
25. How can I cultivate a spirit of gratitude during the tough days?
26. What role does humility play in acknowledging and dealing with my addiction?
27. How can the parables Jesus taught guide me in understanding my journey?
28. In what ways has my addiction been a ‘false idol’ in my life?
29. How do I understand God’s love for me even when I feel unworthy?
30. What are specific ways I can serve others that will also support my recovery?
31. How does maintaining hope impact my daily decisions and recovery?
32. What sacrifices am I called to make to remain faithful to my recovery and to God?
33. How can meditating on the life of Christ help me resist addictive urges?
34. What does it mean to wear the ‘armor of God’ in my battle against addiction?
35. How can the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) be a comfort or guide during recovery?
36. What does it mean to experience peace that surpasses understanding in my journey?
37. How can practicing Christian virtues lead to real change in my life?
38. What does true joy look like for me now, in the context of recovery?
39. How does forgiveness play a role in healing from the damage caused by my addiction?
40. What does it mean to trust in God’s timing in the context of recovery?
41. How do I balance my need for God’s grace with personal responsibility in recovery?
42. How can reflecting on Christ’s sacrifice on the cross inspire me to overcome personal trials?
43. What ways can I seek solace in the church community as I battle addiction?
44. How does being transparent with others about my struggles help my recovery process?
45. What wisdom can I find in Proverbs to help guide my daily choices away from addiction?
46. How can I ensure that my actions reflect my desire to live according to God’s will?
47. In what ways has my perspective on suffering and endurance changed through recovery?
48. How can Christian fellowship strengthen me on difficult days?
49. How does embracing vulnerability open opportunities for healing?
50. What are practical steps I can take to apply Christian teachings in my recovery routine?
51. How can I maintain a hopeful outlook even when progress seems slow?
52. What does it mean to live a life that is pleasing to God post-addiction?
53. How can I use my struggle as a testimony to God’s grace and mercy?
54. What does the concept of renewal mean in both spiritual and practical terms for me?
55. How does the church view addiction and what support can I expect from my faith community?
56. What are the ways I can pray specifically for strength and resilience?
57. How can understanding Christ’s temptations in the desert help me handle my own?
58. How does Scripture encourage me to view setbacks and relapses?
59. What are healthy Christian ways to celebrate victories, no matter how small?
60. How can I discern God’s will when making decisions that impact my recovery?
61. How do I use Christian teachings to manage stress that might lead to relapse?
62. What are the ways I can cultivate self-control as a fruit of the Spirit in daily life?
63. How can I be a light to others struggling with similar issues?
64. What does the Bible teach about the power of the spoken word, and how can I use it to aid my recovery?
65. How can the discipline of regular church attendance support my recovery process?
66. How does my journey relate to the concept of ‘walking by faith, not by sight’?
67. What does it mean to ‘renew my mind’ (Romans 12:2) in the context of overcoming addiction?
68. How can Christian music and worship be a therapeutic tool in my recovery?
69. What is the role of confession in healing and recovery according to the Bible?
70. How does the community of saints inspire me to persist in my recovery journey?
71. How do I handle feelings of shame and guilt in a constructive, Christian way?
72. How can the example of Christian martyrs who endured suffering guide me?
73. How can I ensure my daily routine includes significant spiritual nourishment?
74. What role does faith play in the physical aspects of recovery?
75. How can I reconcile feelings of doubt with my belief in God’s plan for me?
76. What are the ways that Christian charity can aid in my own healing process?
77. How can I implement forgiveness, both giving and receiving, as I rebuild relationships?
78. What Christian resources (books, podcasts, sermons) have been helpful in my recovery and why?
79. How can I maintain integrity in every area of my life during recovery?
80. What are some ways to incorporate prayer into my recovery process effectively?
81. How do I combat spiritual warfare that might arise during my recovery?
82. What does it mean to have a ‘prayerful heart’ throughout the day?
83. How can the promise of eternal life influence my perspective on current struggles?
84. How does the concept of stewardship relate to managing my mental and emotional health?
85. How do I find balance between self-care and service to others in my recovery?
86. What does it mean to ‘count it all joy’ when facing trials, as James instructs?
87. How can I use the example of Jesus’ compassion in my interactions with others?
88. How can spiritual discipline improve my resilience against addiction?
89. What are the dangers of idolatry in the form of addiction, and how can I avoid them?
90. How can I ensure that my prayer life is rich and reflects my deepest needs?
91. How does the community of faith act as a safety net during times of weakness?
92. How can Christian art and literature inspire me during recovery?
93. What is the importance of testimony in sharing my recovery story?
94. How can I balance justice and mercy in how I treat myself and others?
95. What does it mean to be a peacemaker in my own life during recovery?
96. How can the lives of the apostles inspire me to overcome adversity?
97. How can I better understand God’s love and compassion through my journey?
98. What does it mean to pursue righteousness in everyday life, especially during recovery?
99. How can the Sermon on the Mount guide my attitudes and actions each day?
100. What role does hope play in continually renewing my commitment to a life free from addiction?

https://preview.redd.it/gi5va063nu0d1.png?width=320&format=png&auto=webp&s=f90a51d22a3337ae08e7e20edcf92a16b69fedd7
Hi! I'm an organizer at one of the Barnes & Noble locations, and I wanted to reach out on reddit

What are we doing?

Right now, we have 7 unionized Barnes & Noble stores, from the East Coast to the West Coast, and we are looking to make this a full-out national movement! This is our best chance at getting the pay and rights we deserve!

Why unionize?

Unionizing will help secure better pay, job security, and more sick time and PTO. It will also force management to schedule consistently and fairly, recognize break times, and be held accountable for any unfair or illegal treatment.
Management might make promises to improve a store in an attempt to stop unionization, but there is nothing that holds them accountable for these promises. Unionizing is what secures a contract that guarantees change and improves working conditions and pay.

Reach out!

RWDSU (already working with East Coast): https://www.barnesandnobleunion.org/contact
UFCW (already working with West Coast): https://www.ufcw.org/actions/campaign/barnes-noble-union/
Or if you aren't an employee and want to help, share the union movement’s Instagram () and this recent article from The Guardian

What info goes on the form?

Describe the issues you have in the store, and how they affect your day-to-day job. Are there scheduling issues? Unaddressed safety issues? Low pay? Non-existent or insufficient training? List every issue you can think of!
Also list ideas and goals that you believe would improve the workplace and morale! If one store has problems, there is a solid chance many other stores have the same issues.

Illegal Anti-Union Tactics

It is illegal for the company to do the following:

• Tell you that you will be punished of fired for discussing unions or partaking in union activities
• Pull you into meetings to interrogate you about union activity
• Promise benefits and promotions to oppose unions
• Claim the store or company will close if you form a unio
• Follow you and spy on you

Remember, it is your right to a union!

UNITED WE BARGAIN, DIVIDED WE BEG

Link for all the chapters available here: Engines of Arachnea on Royal Road
Having said his piece, Rene had expected the woman to accept her role as a prisoner of the Fleet. But no sooner had he taken his knee of her back than she was at him again, rolling over and cursing as she tried to spit him on her claws. Training kicked in and Rene applied the wrestling component of his hand-to-hand combat course. He secured underhooks with his arms, locking them together with his hands and hugging her tight from behind. Zildiz bucked and twisted around in a futile attempt to make room for her blades, even managing to get one of her knees beneath her and push off the ground. Rene allowed her to gain her feet, cunningly using the opening to slip the loop of his encircling arms around her waist. Now in complete control of her center of gravity, Rene swung his leg out and arched his back, heaving her up and over like a sack of turnips in a textbook suplex. A fraction of a second before he smashed the top of her skull into the hard ground, he remembered that he was supposed to keep prisoners alive and preferably not in a vegetative state, and so he cushioned the fall with his own body, falling on his side to increase surface area and dissipate the force.
Zildiz was caught totally by surprise. Unlike Rene she had neglected to tuck in her chin before the moment of impact, a vital detail which was one of the first things a recruit was taught to do on the mats.
“Oof!” she said as all the breath slammed out of her by the throw. Rene felt her body go limp as her dazed senses tried to adjust to the violent change of orientation. He took advantage of this moment of weakness and looped his legs around her body, locking his ankles together to form a full body triangle. His left forearm punched up and took her neck in a rear naked choke, a suffocating vise formed by the insides of his elbow crushing her windpipe and carotid arteries.
“I warned you,” he told her. His choking hand grabbed the inside of his other elbow, right forearm sneaking behind her neck and under his armpit, tightening the garrote even further.
“Had enough?”
“Hrrnnkk…” Zildiz choked. She lifted an arm and slid back the blade until it was the length of a finger, deliberately giving Rene the universal gesture to go and fornicate with himself, before sheathing the claw entirely and aiming her fist at him over her shoulder.
Rene ducked as the blade shot out again, only just avoiding it going through his eye socket and into his brain. As it was, it only nicked his temple, sending warm lines of blood trickling down his visor. Rene hugged her even tighter, constricting the chokehold until he heard her breathing reduced to an agonized wheeze. He throttled her until she stopped moving, her struggles weakening until she went completely lax. Then he held the choke for exactly three seconds longer, counting carefully to avoid giving her lasting brain damage. He let go and was relieved to hear her snoring faintly. Gently rolling her onto her back so she didn’t suffocate in the dirt, Rene cast about for a means to secure his prisoner. He had only a few seconds before she regained consciousness. Quickly he cut some vines from the surrounding trees and knotted them into a crude rope. He flipped her back over again and tied her hands at the wrists and elbows. He had no illusions that it would hold her for long. He tied her wings together at their bases for good measure. She had two sets of them, but the larger pair was missing one of its partners that had been torn off at the socket to reveal a gaping wound. They were wondrously tough membranes considering how thin and flexible they were, as sturdy as ultrapod leather. Rene looked over his work and loosened it a bit so as not to cut off the circulation in her arms. It wasn’t bad for something done on the fly. Then again, he’d been playing this whole thing by ear ever since the ambush that had cut his unit to pieces. Ye gods, but that whole experience felt like a lifetime ago. He had not expected to ever use that component of his hand-to-hand training designed for fighting human opponents. Of course, he’d helped put down a fair share of civil unrest in his time, but even during the worst of the food riots in Mound Ulysses he’d never so much as given a person a light shove. The civilians knew better than to antagonize a battalion of the Fleet’s finest over something as routine and reoccurring as a government rationing in the face of crop failure.
He felt quite bad about having to roughhouse the woman, that is, until she sat up awake and glowered hatefully at him, coughing and retching.
“Don’t,” he pleaded with her in exasperation as she gave him the old stink eye, “I don’t want to fight you again.”
“Why?” she spat defiantly, “Afraid you’d lose?”
“Uh huh,” Rene grunted, amused and even a little impressed by her spunk. She couldn’t have weighed more than sixty kilos soaking wet and was at least half a foot shorter than him even with that exomorph of hers, but this woman was all fight and no quit. She would have to be, living on the surface world and facing these abominations day after day. Rene looked at the dismembered corpses of the black-furred devils and had a sudden jolt of inspiration. As Zildiz tested the strength of her restraints Rene went over to the monster he had chopped to bits and poked the misshapen hump on its back, which had excreted thick ribbons of silk at the moment of death. Feeling more than a little squeamish, Rene pulled on the threads of silk. He had only meant to collect two or three meters of the material, but more and more of the stuff kept unwinding out its glands like a handkerchief from a magician’s pocket. Eventually his hands became enmeshed in the horrid stuff and he had to struggle like the dickens to unstick himself and scrape it off onto a bush where it stuck like a lumpy hammock. Remembering how his enemy had plugged the stab wound in its gut, Rene snapped off a twig and curled it into the white mess like those vendors at the fairs did with candy cloud treats, ending up with a spool of silk. He applied it to the cut on his temple by winding it around his head like a bandage, and was gratified when it stopped the bleeding almost immediately. He heard the rustle of dead leaves and turned around to find Zildiz furtively attempting to sidle away from him.
“Don’t even try it,” he told her, “Or I’ll run you down and knock you senseless. I’m taking you back to civilization. The Fleet needs to know what it’s up against out here, and you’re a veritable trove of information.”
Zildiz squatted back down and stared at him, simmering with resentment. Rene shook his head and continued his work, moving on to the monster that had been the first to die at the woman’s hands. Cutting open its hump, Rene was rewarded with a dense lump of thread still packed inside its spinneret. He took another twig and spooled it in, then wrapped the bundle of silk in a large leaf.
A leg twitched of its own accord. Rene nearly dropped the bundle as he sprang back, sword upraised. The devil’s limbs began doing a tap dance and Rene relaxed a bit, recognizing it as the onset of rigor mortis. The side of its face was split open and hanging loosely by a strap of flesh. Struck by a nagging suspicion, Rene stooped down and peeled off the segments of its head, holding the edge of his sword against its neck to decapitate it in the event that it proved too lively for his liking.
The musculature and armor tore away just like it had with Zildiz’s helm, and for the second time that night he found himself staring into the face of another living human being. Only this time it was a man whose face was utterly disfigured, a perversion of the basic form. In the place of his lower jaw were fingerlike protrusions of gummy tissue and exposed nerve endings. His nose cartilage was likewise missing, leaving only a pair of holes dribbling with snot. The man blinked, and glassy eyes with almost no whites at their edges fixed Rene in their gaze.
“Kill…me…” the man whispered.
Rene began to shake uncontrollably, wiping a trembling hand across his mouth as he was forced to consider the carnage he’d just wrought in a new and horrifying light. These weren’t three dead monsters littering the jungle floor; these were three dead men, and some of them he had killed himself.
“Kill me!” the man begged him. He was young, barely Rene’s age, his smooth skin untroubled by the wrinkles of age and worry. He had clear brown pupils and dark, expressive brows. If it weren’t for all the rest of him, Rene might’ve mistaken him for a fresh-faced recruit at the academy, or a paperboy climbing up the terraced apartments of inner hive to deliver news of the Fleet’s latest victory.
On unsteady legs Rene staggered back to Zildiz’s side and away from the awful truth he had uncovered.
“Something the matter?” Zildiz asked in a gleeful tone, “Feeling a little worse for wear, are we?”
“Shut it,” Rene said distantly. He dragged Zildiz to her feet and began winding the silk around her wrists, layering them over thick and tying them off with a simple knot. He kept the vines on her for added insurance and told her to start walking.
“Where to?” she demanded.
“I’m not feeding you to my children, if that’s what you’re asking,” he muttered, “I don’t have any to begin with, and even if I did, I sure as hell wouldn’t raise them to be cannibals.”
Zildiz didn’t move, so Rene grabbed her and frog marched her away. He had no real destination in mind—he just had to get away from this place and the bodies he’d made. Zildiz rounded on Rene, saying:
“Aren’t you going to deal with him? I only severed his neural connection to paralyze his exomorph. He’s still very much alive.”
“No!” Rene yelled, “That’s not how I—how people do things. Almighty ancestors, is that so hard for you to grasp?”
“Yes,” Zildiz replied quite candidly.
“He’s a living, breathing human being. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but those are pretty rare on Arachnea and worth keeping around.”
“No. He is a Leaper. After extracting your gilt helix, he and his packmates would devoured you right then and there.”
“That’s why you saved me, isn’t it? So they couldn’t obtain this shiny helix thing?”
Zildiz ignored his question, continuing:
“If you leave him here, at best he will die of exposure. At worst, his tribe will come looking for him, and if they find him, they will run us down and kill us anyway.”
Rene bit his lip. She spoke the truth and they both knew it. But after all this world had already taken from him, there remained one thing which he refused to part with. And Rene knew that if he gave in now and took the expedient option—the sensible option—he would be surrendering it forever.
“Sorry,” he said finally, “That’s against the rules.”
He dragged Zildiz over to the Leaper and spoke to him, saying:
“I won’t kill you. I’m not about to eat you either, so you can stop begging for a quick death. As long as you tell me what I want to know, we’ll leave you here and go our separate ways. I might even patch your wounds if you’re cooperative. Does that strike you as a fair bargain?”
The Leaper met this pronouncement with a look of utter perplexity that mirrored the one on Zildiz’s face.
“I’ll take that silence as a yes,” Rene said impatiently, “You’ll begin by telling me your name.”
“Kryptusshh,” the Leaper said slowly, as if not daring to hope.
“Very good. Are there any more of your people out there, Kryptus?”
“Why sshhould I trusht you? I would only be dooming more of my kindred, and there issh no certainty you would not kill me afterwardssh.”
“It’s a chance you have to take,” Rene shrugged, “Either that, or I’ll let this woman do as she pleases with you. And just between you and me,” he said in a loud stage whisper, “She doesn’t seem all that fond of your sort.”
Zildiz and Kryptus locked eyes with each other. Rene could almost feel the waves of hatred coming off her as she bristled, every tendon in her body tensing expectantly. Kryptus must have seen something he didn’t like, for he looked away and said:
“I am a warrior of the Weeping Vipersh. We are roughly eleven hundred sshtrong. One tenth of that number are bravesshh like me.”
“He lies,” Zildiz said, baring her teeth in a snarl, “That is less than half their true strength. He does not count the adolescents and the old loom-mothers, who are the deadliest of their kind.”
“Three hundred, then, if they are consshidered,” Kryptman quickly admitted, “Your pardon, merciful one.”
“I’ll excuse your forgetfulness just this once,” Rene warned, “But your memory better not fail you again.”
He questioned the Leaper closely. Kryptus claimed that only he and his pack had seen the safety pod’s crash landing, and that they had told no one else as they wished to claim the great prize all for themselves. The Weeping Vipers were the largest tribe in the rainforest and were always looking for an advantage over their numerous and belligerent neighbors. Apparently Kryptus had hoped to gain a modicum of the Divine Engine’s power by extracting something called a ‘gilt helix’ from Rene’s blood.
“Jussht one sample would have shatishfied uss,” Kryptus swore, “Then we would have taken you back to the Loom alive.”
“I’m sure nothing would’ve pleased you better,” Rene said wryly, all too cognizant of Zildiz’s earlier assumption that he planned to feed her to the Fleet’s youth.
Rene learned from Kryptus that the Divine Engine had ignited a blazing wildfire that was swiftly spreading north and west. The tribes would likely have noticed it by now, and would all be sending braves in a joint effort to douse the flames. For some reason all the Leapers felt collectively responsible for the wellbeing of the region, and could not allow it to come to harm for fear of dire repercussions.
“Last question. Is anyone going to come looking for you?”
“Not till the morning.”
“Good!” said Zildiz, breaking out of Rene’s grip and aiming a vicious kick at the side of the Leaper’s head. Rene barely caught her and yanked her back, shouting:
“Blood and thunder, woman! Is there nothing you won’t do to piss me off?”
“Are you insane? You cannot possibly mean to leave him alive!” the Gallivant hissed.
“That’s exactly what I’m going to do. Now come here!”
Rene took her by the elbow and pulled her forward, leaving Kryptus where he lay.
“You promished you would tend to my woundssh!” the Leaper cried after them.
“Don’t push your luck!” Rene said over his shoulder, “Anyone who follows us will meet the same end as your friends.”
He and his prisoner went tramping off into the night, Zildiz raging at him all the while.
“Fool! We will both come to regret that decision!”
“You’re probably right,” Rene had to agree.
“Then why did you do it?”
“For the same reason I’m letting you strut around and screech into my ear. What can I say? I’m a conversationalist.”
Link for all the chapters available here: Engines of Arachnea on Royal Road

Hi,
I'm currently a rising sophomore at a mid-tier LAC. It's arguably the best college in the state, but I'm not challenged enough. I generally enjoy it, but I wish I had far more resources at my disposal, a better school spirit, and more inspiring/engaging professors with bigger class sizes. I also just generally dislike the aesthetics of the place and find myself constantly feeling isolated by its smallness + horrible weather. I was accepted to UMich and UWashington Honors in HS but couldn't afford to attend.
I'm intent on pursuing law school or at the very least grad school for sociology and/or political science. My current school has a good polisci dept., which is what I'm majoring in, but my heart really lies within sociology. The department here is just... barren, to say the very least.
Stats:
HS and college GPA both 4.0 (valedictorian); 34 ACT (35 superscore); LGBTQ+, female, Arab and white, will be turning 21 in fall 2025; 7 AP's (small HS) with all 4's and 5's
Very talented essay-writer.
Major: polisci but will likely double in sociology or switch altogether; interested in family law and women's rights law
Hook:
I have a very clear vision of what I would like to do, and my EC's reflect that. As a result of my personal experiences with various forms of abuse throughout my life, I am committed to pursuing systemic change when it comes to curtailing the effects of domestic abuse and violence especially as it pertains to families. I am incredibly passionate about women's rights as they pertain to the law and policy.
EC's (not gonna go too in detail to avoid doxxing; some of these are in-progress but will be done by the app deadline, will switch out different ones depending on school):
Resource referral / phone receptionist at women's DV shelteadvocacy nonprofit. Related to legal aid, family law, social work, mental health, and of course women's advocacy. Generally serves an underserved area of the city I live in.
Legal internship with NGO that specializes in serving DV survivors. Worked alongside current law school students to research protective orders across countless districts in order to seek a means of reform for them, hoping to help remove the barriers that exist between victims and safety. Also did research to help the org connect to ally groups/professionals in the field.
Founded SA prevention and awareness student organization for my current school campus following a string of incidents that shook the community. Held info sessions, spread awareness via poster campaigns, held fundraisers for shelters, advocated for campus security to incorporate more means of reporting SA, etc.
-- also may run an unplanned pregnancy kit drive. I did a similar one in HS for foster kid birthdays
Founded NGO - website containing a registrar of local vetted resources and plans of action for victims of DV; doubles as a list of organizations/shelters to donate to
Edited legal professor's book
Volunteered as tutor for creative writing support with underserved elementary-age students my entire freshman year
Worked at student tutoring center as an appointment coordinator my entire freshman year
Founded HS GSA chapter, successfully achieved LGBTQ+ history inclusion in school curricula in Deep South private Christian HS (!!!) during peak Don't Say Gay times
College radio DJ
College debate team member, competed at regional level (hopefully national this year! we usually go!)
Femme-inclusive, female-empowerment-oriented acapella group member (college)
College first-year orientation leader
College paper staff member with featured articles
Published in school journal for several polisci/soc oriented papers
Ran a ~40k+ member online hobby community for several years in HS across multiple websites.
Misc. other stuff: volunteering in HS, very talented in performance and visual arts (ie Scholastic award for art in HS and theater competition success), state-level English competition awards, Spanish proficiency, HS student gov't, very dedicated to personal fitness/exercise
Interested in: UPenn (I am VERY interested in their sociology concentrations), Vandy, Cornell, Brown (my former dream school......need aid tho RIP), Georgetown, Columbia, Dartmouth, NYU, Northwestern, Rice, UChicago, Tulane (legacy but I don't think they care)...
Suggest more if you'd like. I'm open to LAC's but I want to live in the city. My current LAC is in a city, but it's too small and bubble-y. I wanna break out of the bubble!!
I'll also apply to HYPSM just in case. I have connections to HYSP, Penn, and Tulane of varying degrees lol (from family to former classmates).
Worries:
I don't have "impressive" EC's. I don't enjoy going out for big awards or competitions. Being a militant leader type on campus also irks me. I just do good work and things I enjoy. I try to be humble, so I often under-sell myself.
Thanks in advance!!

I'm a 29 year old male and i will try to summarize the horrendous situation I find myself without leaving to many crucial details out. I was with my ex girlfriend for nearly 6 years. The red flags were present fromn the beggining but looking back I had no way to understand what they were at the time partly due to my young nievete and partly due to the fact that coming from a emotijallyabusive household I had normalized many of the more subtle behaviors and therefore they fell within a blindspot of my cognitive distortions at the time. From the very start she would begin punching herself in her own head if i ever became upset with her in any way or during any attempt to verbally work a problem out. I thought she was just a bit flippant and intense. Dare I say I almost found it attractive in a strange sense. She was and still to this day, stunningly beautiful and menacingly seductive and knows how she can have a significant effect on males especially without doing very much in the way of actions. Fast forward she unknown to me at the time discontinued her birth contorll pills while still assuring me she was taking them and ultimetly lied by telling me she had just to fund out she had become pregnant herself after missing a period. We were both in our mid to early 20s still more or less financially dependant on our parents and were living on public city streets in our tow behind rv with our 2 dogs. She was idealizing me and to be frank I remebr this period of time as the happiest iv been eever before and up untill now. This memory of "happiness" I think was the biggest reason it took me so long to finally start trying to advocate for my self respect instead of hanging my head and just ignoring the abuse so that I would get the sweet reward of psedo- intimacy with her a few times a week. Despite my fond memories looking back I see now what could only be described as patterns if coercive control that seriously escalated over the 5 years we were in a relationship with each other and included her beggining to cheat early on and the resulting systemic lies and relational damage from needing to formulate and bend the nature of reality around those lies. Her hot and cold treatment of me with any postive(hot) behavior usually at least in the last few years being exclusively sexual in nature and cold behavior usually manifesting as her stonewalling me and or simply disappearing for multiple days at a time sometimes. The day my son was born i accompanied her to the hospital and sat with her the entire time helped her push ans enouraged her with love. She treated me with indifference and disdain. Once our wonderful little boy came along this a became even worse. The sense that she was making it about him and her vs everyone else including me was strong. She became quite introverted secretive and "cliquey" with my newborn and at the same time seemed to loose all desire to be physically or emotionally intimate with me. (Of course i gave her plenty of time and space right after she gave birth amd was understanding that it might be a while before things were back to normal).it was almost like she had a new partner-our child. she refused to fully move in to the apartment my grandparents had spent a huge amint of money on to give us a chance at raising our soon in a healthy environment. She would start random and seemingly pointless arguments often escalating into her screaming mean things at me innfront of our 3 month old son like she ****ed me and then raging followed by quickly slamming the door and taking our infant son backto her mother's house where she would stonewall me for a few days then send me. A message that emotionally blackmailed me into taking full blame for the rupture and apologizing profusely. In addition she did not trust me with our son but had no reason not too and as a result gatekept him in an extremely overcintrolling and damaging(for him and for me) manner. to this day (he is 3.5] I have never spent the night alone with him and have had him 1 on 1 dad and son time signifigantly less than I should have and not for lack of trying on my part. Despite her overcontrolling coercive sabatoging and alienating actions my son and I formed a loving and beautiful bond that up untill I saw him last a few months ago has amazingly endured through the storm. The tradegy goes on and on but to wrap up ultimitely she purposefully betrayed me by starting a relationship with my good friend and had him suggest to me that he should move in so he became my roommate all the while lying to my roommate that I ht her and simultaneously having him report back to her on my whereabouts at any Givin time and the things I said about her when venting after a prticulringly humiliating attempt to see my son or similar interaction and also give her info about what I was doing during the day. He became quite controlling himself and severed to further isolate me from people that weren't trying to ruin my life. They started to play mindgames with me that ibsee now attempts to gage how much I knew or suspected about what was going on. Mind you my son who was around 2 at this point was privy to the whole thing it was only kept a secret from me and due to this my son was coached to not tell me about it although what was actually said I will never know. Eventually a mutual friend of my roommate and I reached out and told me he had seen my roommate "playing dad" with my girl and son at dollar tree that day. I remebrr that day I sat at a local park in my car sullen and confused having been led on via sms from her only to randomly stop responding and never managing to get any time with my son. This sort of thing had become a regular occurance She then began withholding my son all togethar simply not answering at all or lying about him being asleep ridiculously early in the afternoon etc etc. My own parents failed to suppprt me and are still failing to show any sort of care other than somehwat monitarily. In fact my mom and her were two peas in a pod and my mom activly participated in the emotional abuse partly becauee of being manipulated by her partly because my mother is emotionally abusive. If I had better support or access to court resources at the time I'm confident things would have gone much differently but I was so isolated and lonely and in a deep state of despair at this point and the only thing I still was enduring for was the brief and inconsistent times i got with my boy whom I love more than life itself. I managed to get a hold of her via phone at this point and said i was going to go to court and pursue custody since she seemed unwilling to value my valid role as father. Her mom and her immediately became overly nice and invited me over where they sat me down and offered to make a visitation schedule and kindly suggested I dident go to court. It wasent much but it was signifgantly more respect than I had been shown any instance prior so I gobbled up the manipulations and left feeling invigorated and hopeful. The schedule was never adhered too and within a few days it was back to me not even be able to get a hold of her let alone see my son. The final day I saw him before things blew up I went over to her house in the evening. My son wanted to play hot wheels so we began to line them up on the floor but my ex was hovering over us with a hostile air. I asked if we could have some space or if at least she could sit down and play with us and she just kept standing there glaring at me. This made me uncomfortable and my son noticed this by sayig daddy play with me! Upon hearing this she in a angry tone said "play with your effin kid isent that what you wanted to do soooooo badly" right in front of him. I asked not to be spoken to in front of him like that and she went and got her mom and started whispering abut me to her mom in the hallway while they watched my son and I. I got up and said I'm leaving this is innappropriate and she said "wow that checks out you harrass me to see your son and then you don't even wanna see him. how pathetic and typical" " you just want to stress me out dont you" you don't actually give 2 you know what's about him" right in front of my son again. I speechlessly went to leave and my son comes running after me begging me to wait. I'm on the verge of tears and i picked him up cherishing how warm he was and how lovingly he was clinging to me. I tentatively requested I be allowed to go for a walk with him around the block and her mom this time dismissively says ya go and shoos us out the door. I get down the driveway and my ex comes sprinting out of the house tears streaming down her face and a look of rage and starts hitting me while I'm holding our son. Amazingly he start4d pushing her away saying mommy stop mommy stop. She says you have 5 minutes or I'm calling the cops and goes back in. I walk him around the block and say "mommy's feeling sad right now but it doesn't mean that either one of us loves you any more or any less than we used to and it's absolutely not your fault." I go back inside and without saying anything I walk up to her and give her a hug wich my son joins in too. All the sudden she is happy again and trying to speak to me in a casual tone but I basically just leave without saying much else. After this a week of no contact with my son occurs which at the time was the longest we had gone apart I felt like I had no choice but to confront her and assert my rights AGAIN although looking back I feel terribley silly for thinking she was going to repsect me at that point. Keep in mind i ALWAYS was extrmely respectful of her space and never would just show up at her moms house even though our relationahip by many accounts was more than informal ennough to make an occasionaI drop in to say hi. In addition she on Many occasions had told me that I could just come by if she didn't Answer her phone or simular situation arose. I texted her I was coming by to say goodnight to my son and phrased it as a statement not a question or request. I was already on the way when I sent the message and so I arrived (unintentionally)before her being able to fully respond to it to see my romate come running out of the front door (this is when I first had proof ab about all the stuff I mentioned earlier about their secret relationship) and go hide in the bushes, her poke her head out the door and then shut and lock it and turn all the lights in the house out and close the blinds. I walk up to the door and knock to no avail and so I confront her about what i know and saw via sms. She directly denies all my proof and accusations and then after calling me crazy and a stalker blocks me on all channels of communication. I go back to my car and collapse in tears and ultimtly fall asleep. I wake up to see her quickly shoving a duffel bag and my son into her moms car and her and my roommate get in and she pulls quickly away. Upon passing me on her way to the main road she becomes aware that im still there in my car and she burns rubber and begins driving extremely fast and erratically. In a moment of panic I knew she was probably trying to go into hiding with my son to prevent me from evrr seeing him again and I fearing for the safety of my son and our relationship I regrettably felt compelled to follow. We got on the freeway where she initiatied speeds of 100 plus miles perhour weaving in between semi's and this sort of thing continued d for an hour in the interim I had called 911 and also she had pulled up too a gas station casually got out and pumped gas upon her getting back in the car I witnessed my roommate making derogatory and taunting sexual gestures referring to my ex and also what i can only describe as cuddling with my son in the back seat and became enraged and made some threatening motions with a large wooden shovel handle while standing next to her car that were directed at my betraying friend and I feel terrible for doing in front of my child but in the moment I was so desperate and upset by the psychological torture i had been through it clouded my normally good judgment. In the end the police couldn't locate us due to my 911 call continually being transfered fron highway patrol dispatch back to whatever city we were in at the times dispatch. Also ultimetly no physical harm or even any other attempts happend or anything to anyone of the people involved and eventually I gave up and drove back to my hometown. She immediately filed for a domestic violence restraining order and used a recording she took of me looking aggressive and threatening outside her car as proof im abusive and violent even though i have never been either of those things. Especially not violent. I may not have been the most mature or experienced or attentive partner for some of our relationship but anything I did was truly a far cry from the serious emotional anguish I have ben subjected to here and not abusive. I did not lie, cheat,manipulate, gaslight, trick, triangulate, turn family againts or ever feel superior or entitled to harm or use her in any way. I loved her and she did all those to me and now is trying to steal the most precious thing I have left in the world from me so she can emotionally scar him with her idea of what good parenting is which in truth is emotional abuse.. She moved my old roommate in to her moms house full time the very next day and from what I hear they both are abusing meth and who knows what else currently plus this guy is not somone that is safe around my son to that degree. He is not a healthy safe adult for such a young boy and in addition he is vindictive and dislikes me mostly because my ex told him I hit her and abused her which are absolutely complete lies. I'm facing a situation now where I have to sit by and watch my son turned agsints me and withheld from me and abused and eveyone treats me like im the abuser. I have tried to contact every dv organization in my local area and as soon as they hear what happend it's almost like I can Feel the switch flip and in the moment it's evident that all the abuse that I had recounted surviving through doesn't matter because I'm some "unhinged abusive guy that chases people down the freeway" eveyone I have reached out to locally has invalidated me and berrated me for "what I did" and successfully pathologized what I consider to be a huge mistake that I feel very regretful for loosing my composure but also a rather understandable emotional reaction to severe mistreatment and fear for my son. I'm beggining to feel so isolated riding the emotional Rollercoaster of self doubt and powerlessness that this abuse at the hands of my ex but dare I say worse yet the abuse by way of victim blame and invalidation from these people and organizations that exist to help dv survivors has caused me. which because I reacted I'm not worthy of being included as a survivor. Cn you offer any advice or support or suggestions? I'm terrified for my sons wellbeing currently and haven't been able to see him in going on 2.5 months now clear and to be clear the domestic violence restraining order is still temporary. I have the final hearing in August.i

My take on the Unicorn fruit. It revolves around the fact that people in the past thought that unicorn horns were real and had healing properties, while also taking into consideration the modern day representation of unicorns.
Name : Horse-Horse fruit/ Uma-Uma no mi model Unicorn
Fruit Appearance : A pink apple with a stem in the shape of a horn.
Ability : The user gains the ability to turn into a full unicorn form or a unicorn hybrid, granting it enhanced stamina, speed, strength and other abilities.
Hybrid Form : The user gains the hoofs of an unicorn, as well as its horn, also gaining pink hair and white skin. This form grants more strength than the full form, but it has less speed.
Full Form : The user turns fully into a unicorn. It has higher speed than the hybrid form, but it has less strength.
Non-Combat Info : The user's horns can be extracted and used in plenty of different ways to make cures for diseases. It can be used as a powder, a recipient, a purifying object, etc. and with enough experience of mixing it with other healing products, it can cure almost any disease. The horns can also be made to emit an aura that heal wounds, although it's very slow. It can't heal the user's wounds though.
Combat Info : The following techniques can be used on both forms :

• Horn Extension : The user's horn grows 0,5 meter long in hybrid form and 1 meter long in full form. It's often the first technique used by the user in a fight since it allows for way better range. It doesn't have a time limit.
  
• Horn Charge : The user charges with his horn pointing forward, threatening of empaling his opponents
  
• Horn Spear : The user launches his horn forward at high speed, making it a deadly projectile. The horn takes 2 seconds to regrow.
  
• Safety Veil : The user plants his horn in the ground, making it emit a pink veil on a 5 meter radius. Every projectile/energy blast that passes through the veil gets its momentum/power reduced by around 30%. The veil can last for around 20 seconds, and its radius lowers with time, until it disappears. It can only be used once at a time, and has a small cooldown before being used again.
  
• Healing Horn : The users shoots out an horn towards an ally. It emits an healing aura that slowly heal minor wounds. It can't be used to heal the user however.
  

Awakening : The user gains even more stamina and speed, even matching the speed of the fastest animals in his full form, and gains the power to control rainbows in all sorts of ways. The following techniques, that all cost a lot of energy, can be used in awakened form :

• Rainbow Beam : The user shoots powerful rainbow beams that can burn foes.
  
• Rainbow State : The user surrounds the target in rainbows, which enhances their physical capacities. Can be used on a maximum of 5 people at a time. Lasts for around 2 minutes.
  
• Rainbow Barrier : The user spawns a rainbow veil that blocks off any projectile/energy blast. It only lasts for half a second, and requires great timing. Regular attacks can go through the barrier
  
• Rainbow Bridge : The user spawns a rainbow bridge that can be as long as the user's sight allows him to see. For exemple, it can lead to an island if it's in sight of the user. It's indestructible, but the user cannot use any other rainbow technique while it's active.
  

Hello community,
Today I would like to share with you my experiences with my EVO ICL surgery. I spent a long time reading up on the various networks about the procedure and would like to give something back to the world today.
First of all, a little information about myself: I am 35 years old and very short-sighted. I have worn glasses since I was a child. The values have stabilized at around 9 diopters and a astigmatism of around 0.5 RE and 1.5 LE. These values have been very stable over the last 7-10 years. I also have a very thick cornea. This is around 630 micrometers thick in some places. Despite all this, various doctors advised me against Lasik, as the spherical equivalent is higher than 10 diopters and I would therefore have to reckon with severe night vision problems during a laser procedure. I therefore opted for the Evo ICLs. I visited various clinics for informational interviews. I quickly realized that the 5-star centers often provided less good and patient-specific advice than expected. In the end, I had the best feeling with CareVision. This is a group in Europe with around 60 treatment centers. The advantage here is clearly a high volume of operations and a lot of experience, although a certain turnover-driven nature was to be expected. The treating doctor in Nuremberg made a very good impression on me. In the end, it was a decision in favor of the surgeon rather than the provider.
After a very detailed preliminary examination, I booked another one in a different center, this time in Munich in one of the most renowned centers in Germany. The results were generally similar, including the recommendation for Linse. Unfortunately, however, the personal feeling was very negative. So I stayed with my doctor in Nuremberg. I don't want to mention any names here, but he is Colombian and is very empathetic and patient-oriented, which will become clear as time goes on.
The operation took place on two consecutive days at the end of April. Beforehand there was a short preliminary examination, after which we were carefully prepared for the operation. Everything was done very conscientiously. For safety reasons, an anesthesiologist was present to place an access as a precaution, but the surgery only took place under local anesthesia. I was therefore awake and witnessed everything. The surgeon explained every single step and all in all the operation was as easy as a walk in the park. A visit to the dentist is worse.
I had very dilated pupils after the operation on both days and was therefore very blinded. This improved over the course of the day and in the evening it was usually almost back to normal. The second operation is much more noticeable as you now know what is happening. As I had a toric lens in my second eye, the procedure took a little longer.
Day 1 after the surgery:
The first eye is operated on and is examined immediately. There were no negative abnormalities such as inflammation, incorrect lens size etc., so the second eye was operated on immediately afterwards.
Day 2 after the surgery: Both eyes are operated on. Follow-up checks are carried out on both eyes. The eye pressure is measured and a few other examinations are carried out. A first vision test is also carried out. No negative abnormalities on the second day either. My visual acuity was already back to around 20/25 and I was allowed to drive again.
1 week after the surgery: Now it was time for my weekly check-up. A lot more tests were carried out and the results were also very positive this time. My visual performance has continued to improve. The lenses fit well and there is no reason to suspect an infection. On recommendation, I was able to stop taking all the drops just one week after the surgery.
Week 2: Minor complications In the second week after the operation, it was clear why the decision to go to the clinic in Nuremberg was a good one. I had developed an inflammation of a meibomian gland in my eye and asked for advice at the clinic. Although this had nothing to do with the operation, it was treated without discussion or additional costs. After a brief discussion, the doctor insisted on looking at it and treated the gland immediately. In addition, a complete aftercare program was carried out, as I was there anyway. That made a positive impression on me.
Day vision: It is impressive. Everything looks very sharp and very rich in contrast. I think I can see better than with glasses. What was very clear at the beginning was the ring caused by the aquaport. This is very sharply defined and clearly visible in bright light sources. However, it is in the peripheral field of vision. So it is not disturbing for me. You also get the feeling that you get used to it quite quickly and notice it less and less.
Night vision: Night vision is better than with glasses. However, there are still minor problems with slight halos and glare. This only occurs in my left eye and is directly compensated for to a very large extent by the right eye. I think this will improve over time. I feel the process already started. It also depends a little on the form of the day. I feel that dry eyes promote these phenomena. All in all I am very happy with the result currently. But I hope that the EVO Ring will disapear even more and the brain will adapt to halo and glare on my left eye. Saying that the EVO lenses do not cause any side effect is not the truth. Be aware if your pupil is too big at low light. I am sure the halos are even worse. My pupils are only 7mm in the darf and I got the latest EVO PLUS version. I
All in All: Day Vision: 9.5/10 Night Vision: 7.5 / 10
... will keep you updated.

I'm a 29 year old male and i will try to summarize the horrendous situation I find myself without leaving to many crucial details out. I was with my ex girlfriend for nearly 6 years. The red flags were present fromn the beggining but looking back I had no way to understand what they were at the time partly due to my young nievete and partly due to the fact that coming from a emotijallyabusive household I had normalized many of the more subtle behaviors and therefore they fell within a blindspot of my cognitive distortions at the time. From the very start she would begin punching herself in her own head if i ever became upset with her in any way or during any attempt to verbally work a problem out. I thought she was just a bit flippant and intense. Dare I say I almost found it attractive in a strange sense. She was and still to this day, stunningly beautiful and menacingly seductive and knows how she can have a significant effect on males especially without doing very much in the way of actions. Fast forward she unknown to me at the time discontinued her birth contorll pills while still assuring me she was taking them and ultimetly lied by telling me she had just to fund out she had become pregnant herself after missing a period. We were both in our mid to early 20s still more or less financially dependant on our parents and were living on public city streets in our tow behind rv with our 2 dogs. She was idealizing me and to be frank I remebr this period of time as the happiest iv been eever before and up untill now. This memory of "happiness" I think was the biggest reason it took me so long to finally start trying to advocate for my self respect instead of hanging my head and just ignoring the abuse so that I would get the sweet reward of psedo- intimacy with her a few times a week. Despite my fond memories looking back I see now what could only be described as patterns if coercive control that seriously escalated over the 5 years we were in a relationship with each other and included her beggining to cheat early on and the resulting systemic lies and relational damage from needing to formulate and bend the nature of reality around those lies. Her hot and cold treatment of me with any postive(hot) behavior usually at least in the last few years being exclusively sexual in nature and cold behavior usually manifesting as her stonewalling me and or simply disappearing for multiple days at a time sometimes. The day my son was born i accompanied her to the hospital and sat with her the entire time helped her push ans enouraged her with love. She treated me with indifference and disdain. Once our wonderful little boy came along this a became even worse. The sense that she was making it about him and her vs everyone else including me was strong. She became quite introverted secretive and "cliquey" with my newborn and at the same time seemed to loose all desire to be physically or emotionally intimate with me. (Of course i gave her plenty of time and space right after she gave birth amd was understanding that it might be a while before things were back to normal).it was almost like she had a new partner-our child. she refused to fully move in to the apartment my grandparents had spent a huge amint of money on to give us a chance at raising our soon in a healthy environment. She would start random and seemingly pointless arguments often escalating into her screaming mean things at me innfront of our 3 month old son like she ****ed me and then raging followed by quickly slamming the door and taking our infant son backto her mother's house where she would stonewall me for a few days then send me. A message that emotionally blackmailed me into taking full blame for the rupture and apologizing profusely. In addition she did not trust me with our son but had no reason not too and as a result gatekept him in an extremely overcintrolling and damaging(for him and for me) manner. to this day (he is 3.5] I have never spent the night alone with him and have had him 1 on 1 dad and son time signifigantly less than I should have and not for lack of trying on my part. Despite her overcontrolling coercive sabatoging and alienating actions my son and I formed a loving and beautiful bond that up untill I saw him last a few months ago has amazingly endured through the storm. The tradegy goes on and on but to wrap up ultimitely she purposefully betrayed me by starting a relationship with my good friend and had him suggest to me that he should move in so he became my roommate all the while lying to my roommate that I ht her and simultaneously having him report back to her on my whereabouts at any Givin time and the things I said about her when venting after a prticulringly humiliating attempt to see my son or similar interaction and also give her info about what I was doing during the day. He became quite controlling himself and severed to further isolate me from people that weren't trying to ruin my life. They started to play mindgames with me that ibsee now attempts to gage how much I knew or suspected about what was going on. Mind you my son who was around 2 at this point was privy to the whole thing it was only kept a secret from me and due to this my son was coached to not tell me about it although what was actually said I will never know. Eventually a mutual friend of my roommate and I reached out and told me he had seen my roommate "playing dad" with my girl and son at dollar tree that day. I remebrr that day I sat at a local park in my car sullen and confused having been led on via sms from her only to randomly stop responding and never managing to get any time with my son. This sort of thing had become a regular occurance She then began withholding my son all togethar simply not answering at all or lying about him being asleep ridiculously early in the afternoon etc etc. My own parents failed to suppprt me and are still failing to show any sort of care other than somehwat monitarily. In fact my mom and her were two peas in a pod and my mom activly participated in the emotional abuse partly becauee of being manipulated by her partly because my mother is emotionally abusive. If I had better support or access to court resources at the time I'm confident things would have gone much differently but I was so isolated and lonely and in a deep state of despair at this point and the only thing I still was enduring for was the brief and inconsistent times i got with my boy whom I love more than life itself. I managed to get a hold of her via phone at this point and said i was going to go to court and pursue custody since she seemed unwilling to value my valid role as father. Her mom and her immediately became overly nice and invited me over where they sat me down and offered to make a visitation schedule and kindly suggested I dident go to court. It wasent much but it was signifgantly more respect than I had been shown any instance prior so I gobbled up the manipulations and left feeling invigorated and hopeful. The schedule was never adhered too and within a few days it was back to me not even be able to get a hold of her let alone see my son. The final day I saw him before things blew up I went over to her house in the evening. My son wanted to play hot wheels so we began to line them up on the floor but my ex was hovering over us with a hostile air. I asked if we could have some space or if at least she could sit down and play with us and she just kept standing there glaring at me. This made me uncomfortable and my son noticed this by sayig daddy play with me! Upon hearing this she in a angry tone said "play with your effin kid isent that what you wanted to do soooooo badly" right in front of him. I asked not to be spoken to in front of him like that and she went and got her mom and started whispering abut me to her mom in the hallway while they watched my son and I. I got up and said I'm leaving this is innappropriate and she said "wow that checks out you harrass me to see your son and then you don't even wanna see him. how pathetic and typical" " you just want to stress me out dont you" you don't actually give 2 you know what's about him" right in front of my son again. I speechlessly went to leave and my son comes running after me begging me to wait. I'm on the verge of tears and i picked him up cherishing how warm he was and how lovingly he was clinging to me. I tentatively requested I be allowed to go for a walk with him around the block and her mom this time dismissively says ya go and shoos us out the door. I get down the driveway and my ex comes sprinting out of the house tears streaming down her face and a look of rage and starts hitting me while I'm holding our son. Amazingly he start4d pushing her away saying mommy stop mommy stop. She says you have 5 minutes or I'm calling the cops and goes back in. I walk him around the block and say "mommy's feeling sad right now but it doesn't mean that either one of us loves you any more or any less than we used to and it's absolutely not your fault." I go back inside and without saying anything I walk up to her and give her a hug wich my son joins in too. All the sudden she is happy again and trying to speak to me in a casual tone but I basically just leave without saying much else. After this a week of no contact with my son occurs which at the time was the longest we had gone apart I felt like I had no choice but to confront her and assert my rights AGAIN although looking back I feel terribley silly for thinking she was going to repsect me at that point. Keep in mind i ALWAYS was extrmely respectful of her space and never would just show up at her moms house even though our relationahip by many accounts was more than informal ennough to make an occasionaI drop in to say hi. In addition she on Many occasions had told me that I could just come by if she didn't Answer her phone or simular situation arose. I texted her I was coming by to say goodnight to my son and phrased it as a statement not a question or request. I was already on the way when I sent the message and so I arrived (unintentionally)before her being able to fully respond to it to see my romate come running out of the front door (this is when I first had proof ab about all the stuff I mentioned earlier about their secret relationship) and go hide in the bushes, her poke her head out the door and then shut and lock it and turn all the lights in the house out and close the blinds. I walk up to the door and knock to no avail and so I confront her about what i know and saw via sms. She directly denies all my proof and accusations and then after calling me crazy and a stalker blocks me on all channels of communication. I go back to my car and collapse in tears and ultimtly fall asleep. I wake up to see her quickly shoving a duffel bag and my son into her moms car and her and my roommate get in and she pulls quickly away. Upon passing me on her way to the main road she becomes aware that im still there in my car and she burns rubber and begins driving extremely fast and erratically. In a moment of panic I knew she was probably trying to go into hiding with my son to prevent me from evrr seeing him again and I fearing for the safety of my son and our relationship I regrettably felt compelled to follow. We got on the freeway where she initiatied speeds of 100 plus miles perhour weaving in between semi's and this sort of thing continued d for an hour in the interim I had called 911 and also she had pulled up too a gas station casually got out and pumped gas upon her getting back in the car I witnessed my roommate making derogatory and taunting sexual gestures referring to my ex and also what i can only describe as cuddling with my son in the back seat and became enraged and made some threatening motions with a large wooden shovel handle while standing next to her car that were directed at my betraying friend and I feel terrible for doing in front of my child but in the moment I was so desperate and upset by the psychological torture i had been through it clouded my normally good judgment. In the end the police couldn't locate us due to my 911 call continually being transfered fron highway patrol dispatch back to whatever city we were in at the times dispatch. Also ultimetly no physical harm or even any other attempts happend or anything to anyone of the people involved and eventually I gave up and drove back to my hometown. She immediately filed for a domestic violence restraining order and used a recording she took of me looking aggressive and threatening outside her car as proof im abusive and violent even though i have never been either of those things. Especially not violent. I may not have been the most mature or experienced or attentive partner for some of our relationship but anything I did was truly a far cry from the serious emotional anguish I have ben subjected to here and not abusive. I did not lie, cheat,manipulate, gaslight, trick, triangulate, turn family againts or ever feel superior or entitled to harm or use her in any way. I loved her and she did all those to me and now is trying to steal the most precious thing I have left in the world from me so she can emotionally scar him with her idea of what good parenting is which in truth is emotional abuse.. She moved my old roommate in to her moms house full time the very next day and from what I hear they both are abusing meth and who knows what else currently plus this guy is not somone that is safe around my son to that degree. He is not a healthy safe adult for such a young boy and in addition he is vindictive and dislikes me mostly because my ex told him I hit her and abused her which are absolutely complete lies. I'm facing a situation now where I have to sit by and watch my son turned agsints me and withheld from me and abused and eveyone treats me like im the abuser. I have tried to contact every dv organization in my local area and as soon as they hear what happend it's almost like I can Feel the switch flip and in the moment it's evident that all the abuse that I had recounted surviving through doesn't matter because I'm some "unhinged abusive guy that chases people down the freeway" eveyone I have reached out to locally has invalidated me and berrated me for "what I did" and successfully pathologized what I consider to be a huge mistake that I feel very regretful for loosing my composure but also a rather understandable emotional reaction to severe mistreatment and fear for my son. I'm beggining to feel so isolated riding the emotional Rollercoaster of self doubt and powerlessness that this abuse at the hands of my ex but dare I say worse yet the abuse by way of victim blame and invalidation from these people and organizations that exist to help dv survivors has caused me. which because I reacted I'm not worthy of being included as a survivor. Cn you offer any advice or support or suggestions? I'm terrified for my sons wellbeing currently and haven't been able to see him in going on 2.5 months now clear and to be clear the domestic violence restraining order is still temporary. I have the final hearing in August.i

In the vast universe of investment opportunities, gold stands out not just for its glitter but for its enduring value and historical significance. The allure of gold has not diminished over the centuries; instead, it has woven itself into the fabric of financial stability and wealth preservation. Herein, we delve into why investing in gold is not only a prudent decision but one that could safeguard your financial future in ways that other assets cannot.
Why Investing in Gold is a Good Decision
The decision to include gold in one’s investment portfolio is driven by several compelling factors. First and foremost, gold is universally recognized for its intrinsic value. Unlike paper currency, whose value can be eroded by inflation or government policies, gold’s worth is not tied to the performance of a particular economy. This unique characteristic makes it a sought-after asset for those looking to preserve their wealth over time.
Moreover, the resilience of gold becomes particularly evident during periods of market volatility. When stocks and bonds are buffeted by the storms of financial markets, gold often remains a beacon of stability. Its price movements are not directly correlated with those of other assets, making it an excellent tool for diversification. This uncorrelated behavior is a testament to gold’s standing as a safe haven in times of economic uncertainty.
Lastly, the liquidity of gold is another factor that contributes to its attractiveness as an investment. Gold can be easily bought or sold in various forms, from physical bars and coins to gold-backed exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This ease of transaction ensures that investors can quickly adjust their positions in response to changing economic conditions, enhancing gold’s appeal as a versatile asset.
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Historical Performance of Gold as an Investment
The historical performance of gold is a testament to its enduring value and appeal as an investment. Over the centuries, gold has not only preserved wealth but, in many instances, has significantly appreciated in value. This long-term appreciation is particularly notable when compared to other assets that may depreciate due to technological advancements or changes in consumer preferences.
During periods of high inflation, gold has historically outperformed other investments. Its value tends to rise when the purchasing power of fiat currencies declines, thereby providing a hedge against inflation. This characteristic was notably evident during the 1970s, a decade marked by high inflation, during which gold prices surged.
Furthermore, gold’s performance during economic downturns has reinforced its reputation as a safe haven. In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, for example, investors flocked to gold, driving up its price. This flight to safety highlighted gold’s role as a stabilizing force amidst economic turmoil.
Hedge Against Inflation and Economic Downturns
One of the most compelling reasons to invest in gold is its ability to act as a hedge against inflation and economic downturns. Inflation erodes the purchasing power of money, diminishing the real value of cash holdings and fixed-income investments such as bonds. Gold, however, maintains its purchasing power over the long term. As the cost of goods and services increases, so does the price of gold, thereby preserving the value of investors’ holdings.
In addition to its inflation-hedging properties, gold offers protection during economic downturns. During such times, investors often lose confidence in traditional assets like stocks and bonds. The uncertainty that pervades financial markets during recessions drives investors toward safer assets, and gold is frequently the beneficiary of this shift in sentiment. Its ability to maintain value when other assets are declining is a crucial reason why gold is considered a cornerstone of a well-diversified portfolio.
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Diversification in Your Investment Portfolio
Diversification is a fundamental principle of investing aimed at reducing risk. By spreading investments across different asset classes, investors can mitigate the impact of a poor performance by any single asset. Gold plays a vital role in this diversification strategy due to its low correlation with other financial assets.
Including gold in a portfolio can reduce volatility and improve returns over the long term. Studies have shown that portfolios containing a mix of stocks, bonds, and gold have outperformed those without gold, particularly during times of market stress. This diversification benefit is a key reason why financial advisors often recommend allocating a portion of an investment portfolio to gold.
Tangible Value and Stability of Gold
Gold’s tangible nature is another factor that contributes to its appeal as an investment. Unlike digital assets or paper money, gold is a physical substance that has been valued by human societies for millennia. This tangible value provides a sense of security and permanence that is unmatched by many other investments.
The stability of gold is also reflected in its supply. Gold cannot be produced at the same pace as paper money or digital currencies, which central banks can create at will. The limited supply of gold, combined with its enduring demand, underpins its value and makes it a stable investment over the long term.
Protection Against Currency Devaluation
Currency devaluation is a risk that affects all investors, regardless of the currency in which they hold their assets. When a currency loses value, it takes more units of that currency to purchase the same amount of goods or services. Gold offers protection against this risk because it is priced in currency terms. As the value of a currency declines, the price of gold in that currency tends to rise, preserving the purchasing power of investors’ holdings.
This protection is especially valuable in countries with volatile currencies or those prone to inflationary pressures. For investors in such environments, gold can serve as a safe haven, protecting against the adverse effects of currency devaluation.
Tax Advantages of Investing in Gold
Investing in gold can offer certain tax advantages, depending on the jurisdiction and the form of gold investment. For example, some countries do not levy capital gains tax on gold investments, or they may offer favorable tax treatment compared to other assets. These tax benefits can enhance the overall return on gold investments, making it an even more attractive option for investors.
It’s important for investors to consult with a tax advisor to understand the specific tax implications of investing in gold in their country. Taking advantage of these tax benefits can maximize the returns from gold investments and contribute to a more efficient investment strategy.
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Different Ways to Invest in Gold
There are several ways to invest in gold, each with its own set of advantages and considerations. Physical gold, in the form of bars or coins, is a popular option for its tangible value and direct ownership. However, it requires secure storage and insurance, which can incur additional costs.
Gold ETFs and mutual funds offer a more convenient way to invest in gold without the need for physical storage. These financial instruments are traded on stock exchanges and are backed by physical gold or gold futures contracts. They provide liquidity and ease of trading but may come with management fees.
Gold mining stocks and mutual funds are another avenue for gold investment. These options involve investing in companies that mine gold, offering potential for dividends and capital appreciation. However, they also carry risks related to the performance of individual companies and the mining sector as a whole.
Risks and Considerations of Investing in Gold
While gold offers many benefits as an investment, there are also risks and considerations that investors should be aware of. The price of gold can be volatile in the short term, driven by factors such as currency fluctuations, interest rates, and geopolitical events. This volatility requires a long-term perspective and a tolerance for price fluctuations.
Additionally, investing in physical gold involves costs for storage and insurance, which can erode returns. Investors should carefully consider these costs and weigh them against the benefits of holding physical gold.
Finally, it’s important to recognize that gold does not produce income, such as dividends or interest, which some investors may seek from their investments. This lack of income should be considered in the context of an overall investment strategy and financial goals.
Conclusion: Is Investing in Gold Right for You?
Investing in gold offers a range of benefits, including diversification, protection against inflation and currency devaluation, and stability in times of economic uncertainty. However, like any investment, it also comes with risks and considerations that must be carefully evaluated.
For those seeking to preserve wealth and reduce risk in their investment portfolio, gold can be an excellent choice. Its historical performance, tangible value, and role as a hedge against economic downturns make it a compelling option for many investors.
Ultimately, whether investing in gold is right for you depends on your financial goals, risk tolerance, and investment strategy. By carefully considering these factors, you can make an informed decision about including gold in your investment portfolio.

In the vast universe of investment opportunities, gold stands out not just for its glitter but for its enduring value and historical significance. The allure of gold has not diminished over the centuries; instead, it has woven itself into the fabric of financial stability and wealth preservation. Herein, we delve into why investing in gold is not only a prudent decision but one that could safeguard your financial future in ways that other assets cannot. Why Investing in Gold is a Good Decision The decision to include gold in one’s investment portfolio is driven by several compelling factors. First and foremost, gold is universally recognized for its intrinsic value. Unlike paper currency, whose value can be eroded by inflation or government policies, gold’s worth is not tied to the performance of a particular economy. This unique characteristic makes it a sought-after asset for those looking to preserve their wealth over time. Moreover, the resilience of gold becomes particularly evident during periods of market volatility. When stocks and bonds are buffeted by the storms of financial markets, gold often remains a beacon of stability. Its price movements are not directly correlated with those of other assets, making it an excellent tool for diversification. This uncorrelated behavior is a testament to gold’s standing as a safe haven in times of economic uncertainty. Lastly, the liquidity of gold is another factor that contributes to its attractiveness as an investment. Gold can be easily bought or sold in various forms, from physical bars and coins to gold-backed exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This ease of transaction ensures that investors can quickly adjust their positions in response to changing economic conditions, enhancing gold’s appeal as a versatile asset. Historical Performance of Gold as an Investment The historical performance of gold is a testament to its enduring value and appeal as an investment. Over the centuries, gold has not only preserved wealth but, in many instances, has significantly appreciated in value. This long-term appreciation is particularly notable when compared to other assets that may depreciate due to technological advancements or changes in consumer preferences. During periods of high inflation, gold has historically outperformed other investments. Its value tends to rise when the purchasing power of fiat currencies declines, thereby providing a hedge against inflation. This characteristic was notably evident during the 1970s, a decade marked by high inflation, during which gold prices surged. Furthermore, gold’s performance during economic downturns has reinforced its reputation as a safe haven. In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, for example, investors flocked to gold, driving up its price. This flight to safety highlighted gold’s role as a stabilizing force amidst economic turmoil. Hedge Against Inflation and Economic Downturns One of the most compelling reasons to invest in gold is its ability to act as a hedge against inflation and economic downturns. Inflation erodes the purchasing power of money, diminishing the real value of cash holdings and fixed-income investments such as bonds. Gold, however, maintains its purchasing power over the long term. As the cost of goods and services increases, so does the price of gold, thereby preserving the value of investors’ holdings. In addition to its inflation-hedging properties, gold offers protection during economic downturns. During such times, investors often lose confidence in traditional assets like stocks and bonds. The uncertainty that pervades financial markets during recessions drives investors toward safer assets, and gold is frequently the beneficiary of this shift in sentiment. Its ability to maintain value when other assets are declining is a crucial reason why gold is considered a cornerstone of a well-diversified portfolio. Diversification in Your Investment Portfolio Diversification is a fundamental principle of investing aimed at reducing risk. By spreading investments across different asset classes, investors can mitigate the impact of a poor performance by any single asset. Gold plays a vital role in this diversification strategy due to its low correlation with other financial assets. Including gold in a portfolio can reduce volatility and improve returns over the long term. Studies have shown that portfolios containing a mix of stocks, bonds, and gold have outperformed those without gold, particularly during times of market stress. This diversification benefit is a key reason why financial advisors often recommend allocating a portion of an investment portfolio to gold. Tangible Value and Stability of Gold Gold’s tangible nature is another factor that contributes to its appeal as an investment. Unlike digital assets or paper money, gold is a physical substance that has been valued by human societies for millennia. This tangible value provides a sense of security and permanence that is unmatched by many other investments. The stability of gold is also reflected in its supply. Gold cannot be produced at the same pace as paper money or digital currencies, which central banks can create at will. The limited supply of gold, combined with its enduring demand, underpins its value and makes it a stable investment over the long term. Protection Against Currency Devaluation Currency devaluation is a risk that affects all investors, regardless of the currency in which they hold their assets. When a currency loses value, it takes more units of that currency to purchase the same amount of goods or services. Gold offers protection against this risk because it is priced in currency terms. As the value of a currency declines, the price of gold in that currency tends to rise, preserving the purchasing power of investors’ holdings. This protection is especially valuable in countries with volatile currencies or those prone to inflationary pressures. For investors in such environments, gold can serve as a safe haven, protecting against the adverse effects of currency devaluation. Tax Advantages of Investing in Gold Investing in gold can offer certain tax advantages, depending on the jurisdiction and the form of gold investment. For example, some countries do not levy capital gains tax on gold investments, or they may offer favorable tax treatment compared to other assets. These tax benefits can enhance the overall return on gold investments, making it an even more attractive option for investors. It’s important for investors to consult with a tax advisor to understand the specific tax implications of investing in gold in their country. Taking advantage of these tax benefits can maximize the returns from gold investments and contribute to a more efficient investment strategy. Different Ways to Invest in Gold There are several ways to invest in gold, each with its own set of advantages and considerations. Physical gold, in the form of bars or coins, is a popular option for its tangible value and direct ownership. However, it requires secure storage and insurance, which can incur additional costs. Gold ETFs and mutual funds offer a more convenient way to invest in gold without the need for physical storage. These financial instruments are traded on stock exchanges and are backed by physical gold or gold futures contracts. They provide liquidity and ease of trading but may come with management fees. Gold mining stocks and mutual funds are another avenue for gold investment. These options involve investing in companies that mine gold, offering potential for dividends and capital appreciation. However, they also carry risks related to the performance of individual companies and the mining sector as a whole. Risks and Considerations of Investing in Gold While gold offers many benefits as an investment, there are also risks and considerations that investors should be aware of. The price of gold can be volatile in the short term, driven by factors such as currency fluctuations, interest rates, and geopolitical events. This volatility requires a long-term perspective and a tolerance for price fluctuations. Additionally, investing in physical gold involves costs for storage and insurance, which can erode returns. Investors should carefully consider these costs and weigh them against the benefits of holding physical gold. Finally, it’s important to recognize that gold does not produce income, such as dividends or interest, which some investors may seek from their investments. This lack of income should be considered in the context of an overall investment strategy and financial goals. Conclusion: Is Investing in Gold Right for You? Investing in gold offers a range of benefits, including diversification, protection against inflation and currency devaluation, and stability in times of economic uncertainty. However, like any investment, it also comes with risks and considerations that must be carefully evaluated. For those seeking to preserve wealth and reduce risk in their investment portfolio, gold can be an excellent choice. Its historical performance, tangible value, and role as a hedge against economic downturns make it a compelling option for many investors. Ultimately, whether investing in gold is right for you depends on your financial goals, risk tolerance, and investment strategy. By carefully considering these factors, you can make an informed decision about including gold in your investment portfolio.

Looking for any parents that have been unable to get help through york district one school transportation SC. I have a unsafe bus stop issue and unlike some other school districts, they do not have any policy, form where a parent can state a unsafe bus stop.
I have two teen girls which have been followed from school stop twice. Last one I was able to file a report to police because I was home and able to get description of the male and car tag#. They also have people yell out to them along the road the bus stop is along.
If it is happening to my kids, I'm sure other children are having issues? Transportation is basically telling me I'm shit out of luck they will not change the route. I requested the route to be changed to a loop so children can get off and on safely not along the main road where the creeps come out from.
If you are in the same district and having safety issues please let me know. I want to get this situation fixed and a policy made for unsafe bus stop.
Thank you.

I'm a new "DELVIERY DRIVER ASSOCIATE" at Sherwin Williams.
Recently management has started to attempt to get me to train for cash register amongst other duties that are not in the job description. Now I don't mind helping out the sales associates when I have no deliveries or backstore stuff going on. But I'm not doing their job and mine for $14 an hour. What can I do legally speaking?

• the official job title is "delivery driver associate" not hybrid.
  
• the job description says nothing about cash register duty but does say I have to answer customer questions, which I don't mind.
  
• I'm supposed to be doing a daily vehicle safety check form but my manager hasn't provided me with the paperwork or any help with that. He doesn't care if it's done or not.
  

It seems to me like the nature of the Dark Forest and the “laws of physics” which have apparently been used as weapons implies that war and violence are an inherent part of life in the universe. The “hiding genes” and “cleansing genes” mentioned by Singer implies that a true intergalactic harmony is impossible because the life forms that try to have peaceful relations with other species are outcompeted by those that want to fight or hide. With that it mind, my question is why would any species leave the safety of their mini-universe? Who cares if the universe dies a cold death instead of a Big Crunch?
Although Cheng Xin’s mini-universe was extremely small, there doesn’t seem to be a limit. Given how massive the universe is, an advanced species could potentially put an entire star cluster or galaxy into a mini-universe. Why would any species, hiding gene or no, take the risk of living in an uncontrolled universe when the safety of the pocket dimension promises ultimate defense against those with the cleansing gene without limiting your species to a black domain?
Also I was confused about the Constantinople chapter at the beginning. Was that foreshadowing the 4D fragment that Blue Space found?