Third grade lesson in paraphrasing

Mr. F's Third Grade Class

2012.10.17 07:03 Mr. F's Third Grade Class

Ask a third grade class anything. Provide us with insightful questions and 24 8-year old students will take a crack at it.

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2016.01.25 18:05 TheBalladsOfIrving Where I put my silly writing thingies.

I sometimes use /writingprompts for, well, writing prompts. And now I have a subreddit, because all the cool writers have them. Am I cool yet? I hope I am.

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2020.02.23 20:04 ANGRYGOLEMGAMES BasicFantasyRPG

The Basic Fantasy Role-Playing Game is a rules-light game system modeled on the classic RPG rules of the early 1980's. Though based loosely on the d20 SRD v3.5, Basic Fantasy RPG has been written largely from scratch to replicate the look, feel, and mechanics of the early RPG game systems. It is suitable for those who are fans of "old-school" game mechanics. Basic Fantasy RPG is simple enough for children in perhaps second or third grade to play, yet still has enough depth for adults as well.

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2024.05.18 14:14 vites70 [For Sale] Titles added: Porcupine Tree, Neil Young, Suede, Blur, Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd, Wings, The Pretty Things, The Cure, America, The Kinks, Knifeplay, Tears For Fears, Steppenwolf, The Sherlocks, Reverend & The Makers, Paul Weller, Steve Wilson, The Church, Eric Burdon & War & many more.

submitted by vites70 to VinylCollectors [link] [comments]

2024.05.18 13:57 radianteclipse-444 English language paper 1

Hi this might be a long shot but I have missed a lot of school and currently do not have an english teacher. I haven’t done a lesson on English language in over a year and the exam is Thursday. If I were to do a past paper at some point this week, would anyone who achieved good grades in their English GCSE be willing to help me up my grade and give me some constructive criticism etc because I did get a 5 in my mock so I have somewhat an idea but I really want a 6. I struggle with timing questions, identifying structural techniques etc so I feel I need some help, as well as watching videos about it. Any help would be massively appreciated!

submitted by radianteclipse-444 to GCSE [link] [comments]

2024.05.18 12:07 Shoddy_Specialist_27 Where do I even begin?

So I don't know if I have anhedonia or alexithymia, or maybe both, or worst case scenario... I don't have a "soul".
Whatever it is, I'm fairly certain I know where it started. Back when I was a child, ages 8-13, I was in an extremely abusive foster home. I won't go in to detail because I don't want to break any rules or anything.
But suffice it to say, I've only had maybe a couple dozen encounters with emotions. Most of which were jealousy and rage. At least, that's what I understand them to be.
I've only felt "good" 3 times in my entire life. The first was when I was going through Basic Combat Training, we were 4 or 5 weeks in and we were doing our morning routine and while I was stretching my arm behind my head, I felt my bicep push against my head. I could feel how solid it was and this sent a momentary sense of pride, physically it felt like a shock but it felt good.
The second and third occurred about a year ago. I was experimenting with cooking (first time I had ever done so), I was making jalapeño hotdogs with a roasted garlic whipped cream spread.
The third time I was making chicken enchiladas, which turned into burritos, in a heavy cream reduction sauce.
Both of these occasions I felt, the best I could describe is like an exhilaration, a natural high maybe. It lasted for only a few minutes.
Now, my experiences with jealousy and rage were far more substantial and lasted way longer.
My first bout with jealousy began a few weeks after I found out my first girlfriend was pregnant. It was constant, incessant all hours of the day, every day. I just couldn't escape the feeling that the child wasn't mine. We had been trying to get pregnant for over 2 years and then one day, poof!
I never expressed these issues to her though. I never accused her of anything. I kept it bottled inside and I just shoved it down as best as I could. The even odder thing is, the day our son was born, while he was getting his first shot. I put my index finger in the palm of his hand and he gently squeezed my finger when the needle went in and at that moment, all those thoughts just seemed to vanish.
A few years later she broke up with me and took our son out of state and I couldn't do anything to stop her.
2 years passed by and I found a new girlfriend, we git pregnant within 2 months. After 6 months, we moved in together and for the first few days everything was OK. But then I completely lost control of myself. I won't go in to detail but I know what all I did to her, and I can never take that back. It still haunts me to this day.
Our son died 1 week before birth, his umbilical cord had wrapped around his neck. And we only talked one time after that.
Then about 4 years later, I got with a girl I had met online. It was probably the most toxic relationship I've known of. We're talking like Eminem levels of toxic. Screaming, fighting, jealousy and rage. But when we were together it was like all was forgiven.
The truth is that after our fights, I would lay down in my bed and I just remember this physical sensation like the whole world was upside down. I tried to convince myself so many times that I hated the feeling, but in truth... I loved it and she knew I did.
After about 7 months or so, we got pregnant, what can I say? I guess I just didn't learn my lesson. And I've only seen him once since he was born. I tried to get her to let me see him, but she always had some excuse. I tried every day for 2 and a half years. And then I was just done... I couldn't do it anymore. So I walked away.
And you know, I was suicidal, had a plan and everything. But I ended up having second thoughts, so I did the most rational thing I could think of. I called for help. And God help me, they took me to the hospital my son was born in, and at first everything was OK. Just sitting there out in the hallway on a bed.
But then they moved me up to the psych ward and the second I walked into that room, tears just started flooding from my eyes. In my head, I wasn't feeling anything... but in my body, it was a sharp, burning sensation in the front of my throat. The room that they put me in looked identical to the room he was born in.
Bed in the same location, same blinds, same couch, everything. I wouldn't be able to tell you what I was feeling at that exact moment. Was it sadness? Was it rage? Was it sorrow? I don't know... all I know is I sat there and cried for 4 or 5 hours and then I just stopped, just out of the blue. And there was this new sensation in my chest that I had never felt before.
It felt warm, like a fire, a campfire to be specific. I could physically feel the warmth radiating in my chest. To this day, I don't know what it was, why it was there or where it came from. The only thing that was going through my head was that I was never going to let jealousy run my life again.
So after a few days they let me out and the first thing I did when I got home was I started searching on YouTube on how to control jealousy. Spent a few days watching numerous videos and I think I succeeded.
But that wasn't enough for me, oh no. That was just the beginning. I did this sort of made up meditation, I came up with it myself. I laid out all my memories in front of me, put them on the wall and I began going through them, one by one. Just kind of reprocessing each and every one.
At first it was rather easy, but it became excruciatingly difficult as I kept moving. I mean, physically, it felt like I was drowning. The burning in my throat, the feeling if needing air. And I just kept going and going. For 8 days I pretty much did nothing but this. I barely slept in those 8 days, hardly ate, hardly drank anything, hardly went to the bathroom. I just sat there for hours, just processing everything I had been through.
And you know... I'm not sure if it worked or what the intended outcome was or if I broke something inside my skull. But up until that point, my mind had always had several thoughts running through it. But the day that I woke up... there was nothing. Not a single damn thing was going in my mind. It was like everything just shut off and it's been that way ever since.
I had one major relationship after all this, but it just didn't pan out. But I had never accused her of cheating, even though there were several times where I really wanted to. So I'd say I was successful.
But more recently I've become aware of this emptiness inside me. I can't tell you exactly where it is, but it feels like there's something missing. Something important.
And at first, it ate at me for the longest time. And something changed inside my head. I've been being haunted by every single thing I have ever done, all the things I missed with my children, everything. It's been like a relentless tidal wave of sheer suffering, the worst it's ever been. It just keeps going and it doesn't stop.
To be honest with you, I've just become to numb to care anymore. I honestly feel like I'm dead already, I'm just waiting for my body to catch up.
Edit: you know, I'm not really sure what this is but I can you what it's not. It's not depression, or rather it's not JUST depression. There is something far, far worse going on inside me. I don't know what it is, but I know it's there. I honestly don't have the words to truly describe it.

submitted by Shoddy_Specialist_27 to anhedonia [link] [comments]

2024.05.18 11:48 Extreme_Sprinkles429 Masters student, just got a C in a course, what do I do?

So I just finished my first year in the M.S. Data Science program. to be honest I'm not quite sure how I got accepted to being with, because everyone else seems a lot more intelligent than me. But that's beyond the point.
Last semester, I ended with a 3.3 gpa. This was a huge shift from getting nearly straight A's in undergrad but I was still just happy to be done with the semester. This semester, so far I have one A- and one C. My third grade hasn't been put in yet. I'm very worried because the course website says students must maintain a 3.0 every semester. If I make under a 3.0, will they immediately kick me out? What should I do?

submitted by Extreme_Sprinkles429 to nyu [link] [comments]

2024.05.18 10:04 Immediate_Memory_309 Made the biggest and dumbest mistakes- Getting a D in class

Literally, I believe I'm going to get a D. And it wasn't even a hard class.
Context: Trying to declare Political Economy. Wanted to do Econ at community college. Did Macro last semester. Did Micro this semester and class ended at 11:59, May 17th, so yesterday. Because it was simple and easy, I left almost everything in the last minute and got 20 missing assignments. Finished the Final and got a 74/100 without it being fully graded, but assignments were worth 30%, the most out of any... Also had a bit more than 10 missing work. Kept adding 0's on Canvas to my missing assignments and i just kept seeing the score get lower and lower until I officially hit a 70 and stopped caused I didn't want to look any more.
On the Poli Econ website, we can only take econ once with a C.
Okay, came back to this post and had a fabulous idea. Just sent the Community college transcript to Berkeley from Parchment. It'll have the econ classes, but it won't have this graded econ class and just last semesters. I can take another micro class at another CC and just never attend my current community college ever again and send that future transcript :) . Would this actually work?? I think it will.
My dad just came in and I told him I failed the micro class and he said, "You should have applied yourself." lol ... :,,) I know. Also, where did I hear this phrase before?? Teachers growing up :/ .
Anyway, lesson learned. Don't be like me. Rant over.

submitted by Immediate_Memory_309 to berkeley [link] [comments]

2024.05.18 09:50 EKOKEfly Sustainable Real Estate Investing: Navigating Trends and Leveraging Technology

In recent years, sustainable real estate investing has become a critical consideration for investors worldwide. As we move toward a more environmentally conscious future, integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into real estate investment decisions is no longer optional—it’s table stakes for real assets.
Key Trends in Sustainable Real Estate Investing:
High ESG Standards Raise the Bar:
The sustainable real estate market is growing rapidly, with key players leading the way in integrating ESG considerations throughout the investment process.
According to the EVORA Global Insights into Real Estate Investment Sustainability (IRIS) 2023 report, one-third of global investors are spearheading this trend.
Investors managing over $20 billion in assets are at the forefront, while an increasing number of investors with $5 billion or more in assets are closely following suit.
Clearer sustainable finance regulations, investor scrutiny, legal interpretations, and the risk of reputational damage and financial penalties are driving this shift.
Leveraging Sustainable Technology for Compliance:
Purpose-built technology platforms play a crucial role in meeting stringent regulations.
Solutions like SIERA provide robust regulatory reporting capabilities for collecting, managing, and disclosing investment-grade ESG data.
Asset managers and financial institutions can use SIERA to prepare Principle Adverse Impact (PAI) disclosure reports for the 2023 EU SFDR submissions.
Leveraging sustainability technology enhances efficiency, reduces resources needed for compliance, and minimizes the risk of errors.
Reducing ESG Risk for Resilient Investment Decisions:
Sustainable practices not only align with global goals but also mitigate risks.
By embracing sustainable technology and data insights, investment managers can optimize resource utilization, reduce costs, and deliver high-performing buildings.
Transforming Real Assets into Digital: Tokenization
Beyond sustainability, another transformative trend is the tokenization of real assets. Here’s a glimpse:
Tokenization of Real Assets:
Involves converting traditional assets (e.g., real estate, art, government bonds) into digital form for use in the cryptocurrency and blockchain ecosystem.
Expands investment opportunities and significantly changes the financial market.
Blockchain powers the tokenization of commercial real estate equity, offering fractionalized yet liquid ownership of unique, high-yield assets.
It also simplifies buying and selling homes, making the home-buying experience more efficient.
In conclusion, sustainable digital assets and real estate tokenization are reshaping the investment landscape. As investors, embracing these trends ensures not only financial returns but also positive impacts on our planet and communities. 🌱💡🏢 🌿💻 #NFT #Sustainability #nftrealestate #nftproperty #nfts #whatisdao

submitted by EKOKEfly to u/EKOKEfly [link] [comments]

2024.05.18 09:41 Ok-Ad47 Idk what to do now

I (intp F) recently had some friendship issues with my friend (entp F). Basically, it started out when I went for competition, and the whole team had a miserable loss. Because of that, I was quite visibly upset. The next day, I told her what had happened and how the whole team's negativity was also sort of getting to me. I also told her how today was a bad day because I had to wake up earlier for some presentation, and there were some kids on the bus that got on my nerves (10yr old kids that were screaming and kicking my seat. About 30-40 of them)
We were then talking about some other stuff, before she brought up that some people from my humanities class thought I was sort of annoying, and it kinda got me thinking about that for the next few hours.
Skip forward to the third day, i got back my math results. It was 1 mark from an A, which kinda dampened my mood after a relatively chill morning. She said she got an A, and I pointed out it was a one mark difference. She then said it was not one mark, but a whole grade's difference. I know she meant it as like a joke or something, but quite frankly, I wasn't in the mood. She then backtracked her words, but I was already quite upset.
Afterwards, she pointed out that I was being really negative and that it was getting to her as well. She got quite mad and irritated, and I felt kind of bad. So I apologised, and though she seemed normal after as I tried to act neutral, I was still upset and guilty.
She messaged me later that night, saying she didn't mean to diss me and stuff, but to not be so negative and piss her off.
I don't know what to do now. She seems back to her usual self, but I can't help feeling upset about the whole situation, and maybe a little mad at her for pointing it out my negativity. (It is been something I've been actively trying to work on, but I kinda lost it after one bad event after another)
TL;dr: My friend said I was being too negative and irritating her after I've been annoyed at many bad events back to back. She's back to normal now and I don't know how to react. Pls help.🙏

submitted by Ok-Ad47 to INTP [link] [comments]

2024.05.18 09:27 Brief-Skirt-1870 Class retake, 1st take pass, 2nd retake possible fail

I’m in a bit of a pickle at the moment. So I’m retaking an ME upper division class currently where I have previously passed. I was initially retaking to get a better grade but unfortunately it seems like I am going to fail the course. I understand the website says that the repeated grade is included in the GPA regardless if it’s better or worse but the original grade is not removed from the transcript. If I do fail this class which I initially passed on first take, does my pass automatically get deleted? If that’s the case, what are my chances of petitioning for a third take and having it get accepted?

submitted by Brief-Skirt-1870 to ucr [link] [comments]

2024.05.18 09:21 Plastic-Oven19 [rant] What is wrong with this community?

Edit: hey everyone for some context I wrote this post shortly after arguing with a student (who I talk about here) and I was not in an emotionally sound state of mind while typing it. It is hence not worded very well and I sound rlly angry in this post which isn’t how I’m feeling rn. I’m going to take a day to think about what I want to do in regards to the whole initiative because I am also getting lots of WhatsApp messages from other participants asking me to continue with it and I feel rlly bad haha. But I’m going to keep my original post untouched because this was not something that happened just because of that one mean student, it was because I was dealing with many people making character judgements about me. In fact at least the rude student said it to my face the other cowards all created new reddit accounts for the sole purpose of sending me nasty dms. ————-————-————-————-————-
I know that reddit isn’t a very happy place but from my 2 years lurking on this community as a JC student I always viewed it as one of the few nice communities on this app. And I was wrong. I don’t know why I’m even posting this rant over here, it’s unlikely that I will get any validation from the people I am criticising but I am so angry right now that I rlly need to get this out and maybe, just maybe, those of you who have been cyberbullying me (yes that’s what it is) would reflect about yourselves.
TLDR: people who know nothing about me are assuming that I am only offering free gp lessons to bait people into paid lessons and are making extremely unkind dms to me. I was ignoring them and staying off reddit but a student I taught today echoed the same sentiment which crushed me.
I made a post very recently offering free GP “lessons” during the June holidays. My intentions behind offering this was to give back to a community I benefitted a lot from. I am not from a well off family, I couldn’t afford tutoring myself despite really needing extra help due to a host of family and health issues I was facing as a Jc student. My saving grace for GP was this kind man I met through this subreddit while I was in j1. I have no clue what his name is as he wished to remain anonymous but he is an ex Jc tutor whose zoom name was Micheal at one point and Paul after that. He has Tourette’s syndrome, and I’m saying this just so that if he is reading this post or if anyone who knows him is this man literally changed my life. He taught me for 3 2h lessons in total but I continued to use the very techniques he showed me for the rest of my Jc years. He helped me get my first GP A and I have never gotten a lower grade since.
Of course I have also picked up a lot of my own study techniques after that and I wanted to help other people the way he helped me. Which is why in my original post I also stated that I am not teaching GP content but rather study techniques. Due to overwhelming response I have already had a few sessions and those who have attended will know that all I did was ask them where they were struggling in for GP before sharing tips and advice on how to study and improve. I didn’t even have time to go through the prep activity I gave which were 4 essay outlines because the whole 1.5h was spent on sharing studying tips and answering questions.
And it is fair for someone to see a post like the one I made and question my intentions. There’s honestly a 50/50 chance that I could be a good or selfish person. But why is it that so many people have so much hatred and rage in their tiny little hearts that they take the time to create new reddit accounts for the sole purpose of DM-ing me hate comments. I am well aware that the majority of the community perceived my post as one made with selfish intent just from the fact that it has 5 upvotes whereas I have close to a 50 signups on the google form. But to want to harass me not even through commenting on my post but DM-ing me?? What did I ever do that makes you so sure that I am only doing this to make money?
I started this not expecting so many sign ups and when I saw the interest level I was so happy. I even rescheduled my own get togethers to make time for this and I was even planning to make this more regular if I could afford the time. I had plans to try it again next year or maybe set up a telegram chat to answer more questions or check up on the participants as the year goes along. I really enjoy teaching GP and I saw a younger me in the students who were signing up.
So when I started getting harassed on reddit I just deleted the app. I just reasoned that it is normal for people to be cynical and judgmental, I myself would’ve had similar doubts if I was a student looking at my post. Sure the hate dms did upset me a lot but my first session went really well and the student even sent a rlly sweet message thanking me afterwards which was enough to keep me going.
But I had a session just now that has broken my heart enough to make me scrap all plans altogether. I was discussing dates for the second session with a boy who signed up (I have your name number and email but I won’t dox you, but if you are reading this 1-2:30 pm student give yourself a pat on the back, you’re the straw that broke the camel’s back)
I was not free on the days he was suggesting and he questioned why I was free on Friday for one week but not the other and I explained that it was because of the very initiative he signed up for that I had a very messy schedule. Well he goes on to use the meger number of upvotes my post had to claim that I was exaggerating the number of participants I had in a really insulting way. I was offended given that I had spend my precious time and energy reading this guy’s Google form responses where he detailed his gp grades, what topics he is more comfortable in for paper 1 and his gp concerns to choose 4 questions to give him as prep work. Then I had to think of study recommendations for him because my guy stated that he doesn’t study gp outside of school lessons because he has no time. And after a 1.5h+ session of me teaching him all the tips and tricks I had and giving him many sets of GP notes for free he demands I accommodate his schedule and also calls me a liar? I told him to show more respect to someone who is helping you for free and he proceeds to tell me that I’m just doing this to find more tutees. Not once did I bring up my tuition, not to him or anyone else I have taught for free. And yes I am tutoring to help my family who are struggling financially and to hopefully save up for some of my uni expenses which will be large as I am a foreigner. But as someone who hated the tutoring industry as a student for giving an unfair advantage to my richer classmates I always strove to be sincere in eveyhing I did be it by offering extra help to all my students in the form of prepping them for exco interviews or giving them advice when they felt like a teacher was being biased against them.
It hurts so much to hear those words despite all my good intentions and all my efforts to give others an easier time than I had. Iwish I was just doing this for the money, I wish I hadn’t spent hours preparing for these free lessons and I wish I had never offered them in the first place and just chose to be a money minded greed goblin who only helps those who pay me.
So guess what that’s what I’m going to be. To those with whom I have already fixed dates I will see you for 1 session instead of the promised 2 but for the rest who either haven’t messaged me back yet or said you will confirm dates later as your cca hasn’t confirmed their June holiday plans I’m sorry I can’t take it anymore. Pay me if you want my time energy and effort because I’m now a money minded bitch who only helps those who are blessed with wealthy parents and have the ability to fill my pockets.

submitted by Plastic-Oven19 to SGExams [link] [comments]

2024.05.18 09:18 Agneus [Online] [5e] [18+] [GMT+1] Virtues of Essence - Roleplay Focused Mystery and Lore Driven Forgotten Realms Campaign seeking a replacement player

“What defines virtue and how are we to gauge it? An inquiry that reverberates through epochs, its answer as fickle and capricious as the fates of those who deem to ask it. Duty, honor, justice - many over the ages would name these virtues, the conduits through which noble intentions find expression. Yet, as the battlefield of beliefs unfolds, a legion emerges, each as sworn to these principles as to obliterating all who would dare stake alike claim. Thus, battles rage and wars are waged and, in the end, those who are left are no more right than those fell by the blade. Alas, it is the victors whose ideals are etched into monuments for posterity. Except even words chiseled in unyielding stone are fated to fade in time. So is the wicked cycle destined to repeat in all its futility, its ephemeral prize seized again, only to be lost and sought anew. Try and picture, if for but a moment, a world where our rulers paused to reflect on the lessons of yore. They, too, would discern the elixir that enables one to escape the confines of memory—the very burden our fleeting nature forbids us to carry. Progress and evolution. Adaptability and transcendence. Everlasting and yet not stagnant, irrefutable, and yet fluid, these are the only true virtues. Thus, must we ever venture into the uncharted and unfamiliar for only from these unexplored domains may the truly virtuous arise.”
Where: Discord (Video and Voice) + FoundryVTT
When: every Saturday 5 - 9/10 pm GMT+1 (CET), 11 am - 3/4 pm EST
Who: party of 4 players and a DM seeking one extra player
Updates: Recruitment updates will be posted here.
Hello there and well met! If you’ve made it past the flavor text (or skipped it) and through the basic info (hopefully didnt skip past that one) you might very well be at the right address! Without further ado onto the post.

🐲The campaign🐲

Having only just recovered from the Second Sundering and the War of the Silver Marches, the North had been ravaged by a whole new set of tumultuous events - the rise of the Cult of the Dragon and that of the Absolute, the Fall of Eltruel and the short reign of the beholder crime lord Xanathar just some among them. After a brief respite from the twisted and the unnatural the clouds once more begin to gather. Along the Long Road, whole hosts of wild beasts and monsters have been accosting travelers seemingly at random and in the grand metropolis of Waterdeep a sudden rise in crime seems to coincide with strange events passing unnoticed beneath the surface. Amidst all this, in spring of 1493 DR, a party of adventurers delves into a mystery of enchanted gemstones being utilized to nefarious ends by unknown perpetrators all the while navigating the labyrinthine twists of city faction politics.
As implied by the post title, this is an ongoing campaign (we are 12 sessions in at the time of this post). Due to some irl commitments weve recently dropped a player and are looking to replace them.
As the title suggests, this is a roleplay focused mystery/lore driven campaign. Expect an overreaching plot with ample secrets to uncover, conspiracies to unravel and eldritch truths to unearth. The first word of the password is "Doth". On the same level of importance or more important even be that the players preference, there is a variety of subplots to engage with, from small and goofy and random to ones rivaling the main story arc in complexity and variance. Among these, individual character story arcs play a leading role, at times seamlessly intertwined with the current focus of the party, at times separate and independent.
As was already mentioned and is further described below, this is a roleplay focused campaign and a roleplay heavy game. This means that roleplay exists as a unifying concept for all other aspects of the game including exploration, combat, and puzzles. That said DnD is only DnD with all three of its main pillars intact and this campaign is no exception in that regard. I very much enjoy the mechanical side of the game as well besides roleplay and so things like multiphase boss fights and custom magic items are definitely on the table.

🧙‍♂️The DM🧙‍♂️

Hello there, Jay here, 25 yo law student from Central Europe currently working on finishing his master’s degree, trying to stay afloat in the current lease market. I study and work in a law firm by day and DM or play DnD by night (more like evening but night sounded cooler). I have been a big fan of TTRPGs since my early teens and of online DnD for the past five years. I’ve DMed multiple campaigns, finished CoS not least among them and I currently play in a long-term campaign. Before you ask, yes, my schedule is strained but not to the point I am unable to engage with my hobbies.
I would describe my DMing style as driven, realistic, and involved but also very conscious about player agency and collaborative storytelling as core values that make TTRPGs so popular and unique. I spend a lot of time ensuring the worlds I create and the stories I want to tell feel alive. From hand-picked music, to fully voiced NPCs and scenic descriptions designed to breathe life into the campaign setting I daresay my games rival in quality those of the professional DMs that charge for each session.
There is a drawback to this all however. Second word of the password is "thy". I expect a lot from my players as well. Writing a story in DnD is not a one person job. It takes a collective effort of the entire group to create something truly unique, something that one can be proud while looking forward to each session. Unwinding and letting off steam means something else for everyone. For me it means losing myself in the creative process of roleplaying an NPC or describing a scene, watching my players masterfully portray their own characters or having the party derail my plans in an awesome unforeseen and unexpectedly enriching way. If you find yourself in any of what I just described than this may be a game for you. If you don’t, that’s fine. This is definitely not a game for everyone.

🏰The setting🏰

Forgotten Realms is a default setting of Dungeons and Dragons but it is anything but boring and mundane. With now decades worth of lore behind it, it offers an unparalleled opportunity for anyone wanting to build on solid foundations to bring their ideas to life. While it has garnered a lot of attention lately with the release of a certain videogame (more people now know Astarion than a good amount of Hollywood celebrities I’d say) it has had its loyal following even before then, being constantly expanded and living its own life in a host of both online and home games. It’s been a natural choice of mine for a while now and not once have I had any regrets. The third word of the password is "mirror". I feel with how great of a variety of content the Forgotten Realms offer everybody is able to pick something that suits their creative vision. In summary the Forgotten Realms almost feel like a real place with how much worldbuilding has been done with them and offer a diversity of content few other TTRPG settings can boast.
When it comes to setting of the campaign in the world of Faerun I have once again made a somewhat traditional pick and decided to place the onset of the game onto the Sword Coast, more precisely into the city of Waterdeep. If one of the key upsides of Forgotten Realms is diversity of content, Waterdeep is one of the best representations of this. Being the largest settlement on the known Faerun, Waterdeep offers nigh limitless options in terms of main story arc genre, character creation and character backstory implementation. It has everything every large TTRPG settlement ought to have (fickle upper class, enigmatic factions, quaint taverns and extravagant nightclubs, always in bad mood city watch, a castle and a harbor) as well as few pretty original ideas such as colossal definitely not alive statues, a city council where even its members don’t know each other’s identity and a massive dungeon right underneath the city where you can literally fall right from a tavern taproom.
In case you are wondering, while this campagn takes place primarily in the city of Waterdeep itself, there is nothing stopping the players from exploring past the city if they so choose. The final word of the password is "crack?". Different parts of the main plot and various subplots can and will encourage the party to explore Waterdeep environs and sometimes even further.

📃The requirements📃

No exceptions here. Unless otherwise stated, the requirements must be met at the time of application.

to apply you need to be 20+ yo
you need a functioning webcam (at the time of application) and a stable internet connection - we will be using both video and voice on discord and as a general rule Wifi doesn’t handle long video calls well (believe me when I say I speak from experience) so cable or other similar form of stable connection is strongly encouraged
you need a Discord account and you will need a Forge account - Forge is a hosting service for Foundry, don’t worry, you won’t need to input any personal info (besides maybe an email) to register and I will be footing the bill
you need a PC that can and will run Foundry Virtual Tabletop - check the minimum requirements on the Foundry website, a fair warning, Foundry won’t run on tablets and phones (not that you should consider those in the first place)
you need at least an elementary knowledge of Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition - when it comes to the awareness of the rules, I won’t be too harsh, but definitely don’t apply if the first time you’ve seen the PHB was a week ago
you need TTRPG/roleplay experience and/or a very strong roleplay inclination - this is a heavy roleplay game where most if not all ingame talk will be done in character and where you will be expected to voice your character in a way that is distinct from your standard voice
you will need to be very punctual when it comes to session attendance - I expect my players to attend most if not all sessions, online or not, this campaign is a designed as a longterm commitment and by applying you are acknowledging this, having other hobbies and time-consuming real-life obligations is understandable (I got those too) but those 4-5 hours you will be expected to set aside for the session

🙋‍♂️How to sign up🙋‍♀️

Youve made it all the way to the end of this long post. Congratulations. Or maybe you’ve skipped all the way to the end. In that case I strongly recommended you go back. If not to learn what you are applying for than to make sure you haven’t missed something very important. Now if you are confident that you have what it takes and that this is a game that you could have a lot of fun with, please fill the below attached google questionnaire (if for any strange reason the link doesn’t end up working, please let me know in the comments under this post) and if fortune favors you, I shall get back to you promptly. Best of luck to you and I hope to speak to you soon!
https://forms.gle/5kc4RbwavJPfT8PD9
______________________________________
PS: As a part of the questionnaire, you will be asked to submit a short piece of your narrative writing in a form of a google doc link (not a custom piece of writing, any relevant past one you have will do). Maybe best have that ready beforehand? On that note, dont apply for the game with a detailed backstory of a character you want to play that you arent willing to adapt to the conditions of the setting/campaign.
PSS: Not to discourage you but if you do make it through the questionnaire and into the second group of applicants you will be asked to do a discord interview with your webcam turned on. I am asking you to go through a lot for a game you might not even end up liking I know, but if you do end up liking it, all this effort will be well worth it as I am sure my other players would agree.

submitted by Agneus to LFG_Europe [link] [comments]

2024.05.18 09:18 Agneus [Online] [5e] [18+] [GMT+1] Virtues of Essence - Roleplay Focused Mystery and Lore Driven Forgotten Realms Campaign seeking a replacement player

🐲The campaign🐲

🧙‍♂️The DM🧙‍♂️

🏰The setting🏰

📃The requirements📃

No exceptions here. Unless otherwise stated, the requirements must be met at the time of application.

to apply you need to be 20+ yo
you need a functioning webcam (at the time of application) and a stable internet connection - we will be using both video and voice on discord and as a general rule Wifi doesn’t handle long video calls well (believe me when I say I speak from experience) so cable or other similar form of stable connection is strongly encouraged
you need a Discord account and you will need a Forge account - Forge is a hosting service for Foundry, don’t worry, you won’t need to input any personal info (besides maybe an email) to register and I will be footing the bill
you need a PC that can and will run Foundry Virtual Tabletop - check the minimum requirements on the Foundry website, a fair warning, Foundry won’t run on tablets and phones (not that you should consider those in the first place)
you need at least an elementary knowledge of Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition - when it comes to the awareness of the rules, I won’t be too harsh, but definitely don’t apply if the first time you’ve seen the PHB was a week ago
you need TTRPG/roleplay experience and/or a very strong roleplay inclination - this is a heavy roleplay game where most if not all ingame talk will be done in character and where you will be expected to voice your character in a way that is distinct from your standard voice
you will need to be very punctual when it comes to session attendance - I expect my players to attend most if not all sessions, online or not, this campaign is a designed as a longterm commitment and by applying you are acknowledging this, having other hobbies and time-consuming real-life obligations is understandable (I got those too) but those 4-5 hours you will be expected to set aside for the session

🙋‍♂️How to sign up🙋‍♀️

submitted by Agneus to lfg [link] [comments]

2024.05.18 08:47 Strong_Schedule5466 Another academical burnout

I really hope this post won't come out as a joke because of other people striving to be at the academic top and struggling with it, and here I am on that top ranting about it.
Basically, I'm one of the "smart kids" in my class. Still, tbh, I'd rather be on the average level since the start. Always trying to be the best one grade-wise made me go through a lot of pressure, in turn having a huge impact on me. Almost every single test felt like I was gambling on my life. If the grade was lower than average it felt like the end of the world. Until I just said "fuck it" last year. I skipped a ton of stuff while being in England, so I had some hard time in school. It took some toll on me, yet again, but at some point I just stopped caring and didn't even hope for the best result. Just the one that'll allow me to pass through this shit. And, ironically, I got the best result.
I'm still going for the best results, but my approach is way more chill and cynical than before. I don't worry about getting a bullshit grade because I know that I can either easily cover it up later on or the grades I got before can cover it up easily. I honestly wish I started doing this way earlier, it'd help me out a lot.
However, it's not all what I had to go through as a "smart kid". This other one is not as serious, but really annoying nonetheless. In a few words, schools in my country host those things called "olympiads". They are tests based on the school subjects, but they require a lot of knowledge of the subject that extends far beyond the school boundaries. They have those stages that start with just kids from the city ending with the kids from the entire country. Example: the Maths olympiad. I used to do it pretty much every single year and always fail it because I didn't prepare for it at all, mostly just writing random bullshit to get through this (I always got above average grades in Maths, so I don't think I'm that bad at it).
This year, as usual, our school hosted those in the first months of education. Take a guess who got asked to do, pretty much, all of them? Yep, me. It didn't help that because of my country's shitty state due to some ongoing conflict the olympiads are hosted very poorly. At this point I was done with things like this because the last time I actually was able to do good in those was in Year 5 or something. I said no to most of these, but some teachers used a different approach and just gave out the olympiad tests during the lesson to the kids they thought were smart enough to do those. I'm not angry at them or anything, I understand that they have to do it as a part of their job. Still, I was kind of pissed off about all of this. The first time it happened, I actually tried (it was the English olympiad btw. I got a good amount of points, but didn't pass on to the later stages). The other times, I barely wrote anything except for a few questions just to make it look like I actually tried. It was kind of frustrating, but I went through this. My Maths teacher kept asking me to do one of those, but I kept denying the offer.
The most annoying part of this is that my classmates kept bothering me about me not going to any olympiads whatsoever for almost an entire fucking months or even two. Some of these people didn't do shit, but still had this annoying fucking question "Why didn't you participate?". Why did they care so much? Like genuinely. That's my own shit and my own way of dealing with it, they got their own shit and their own ways of dealing with it. So why couldn't they just fuck off for such a long time? I guess that at some point it just became a running joke to purposefully piss me off because, the truth is, it always worked. Still, that was fucking irritating.
The thing is, I'm still kind of sensitive to people talking about my grades level and telling that I "fell off" or something. I'm not dependent on others' opinion, it's just that I get pissed when someone bothers me with things that are not their damn business.
Anyway, to finish it off, I've just got to say: I hate being the "smart kid". It burned off the little passion I actually had for learning and made me go through a lot of shit. I'm deeply disappointed in myself and wish that I could just go back to the past and tell myself "Fuck the grades, go hangout and fuck around. You're just a kid, who cares". As it is not possible, the only thing I can do is deal with the consequences head on right now.

submitted by Strong_Schedule5466 to teenagers [link] [comments]

2024.05.18 08:01 SharkEva I (50 M) just learned my spouse (47 F) was unfaithful years ago in marriage. She came clean from guilt. Where do I go from here?

I am not the OOP. The OOP is u/SRBias posting in relationship_advice
Ongoing as per OOP
1 update - Long
Original - 10th May 2024
Update - 13th May 2024

I (50 M) just learned my spouse (47 F) was unfaithful years ago in marriage. She came clean from guilt. Where do I go from here?

This will be quite a lengthy read because I'm laying out everything to get honest opinions with all the context. There's a TLDR at the end for those who'd rather skip the backstory. I know that most people go incognito with a throwaway account for this kind of post. But I wanted this to be authentic, using my real account. I didn't want anyone to think this was disingenuous. If we know each other in real life or you find me on my other socials, let's keep our chats here or in PMs. I don't want anyone harassing anybody, and I have a sixteen-year-old daughter who has been spared this drama so far.
I tied the knot shortly after high school, and let's just say, if my marriage were a collegiate course, it would be "F*** Up - 101." It was a masterclass in what not to do, featuring every red flag in the book. I was fresh-faced and barely off on my life journey, thinking I'd hit the jackpot. I'd assumed I'd accomplished what my parents did, that being the poster couple for marital bliss. I was so naive, always giving the benefit of the doubt. Meanwhile, my then-wife, fresh from escaping her parental fortress of solitude, went bat s*** crazy, deciding that 'living life to the fullest' didn't include me in the picture.
Before I knew it, I was Mr. Mom with our toddler while she was trapped underneath a few individuals, making up for lost time. After finally catching her in the act, I filed for a divorce and braced for the impact. Divorcing in '97 in the heart of the bible belt was not favorable towards the husband back then. What followed was straight out of a horror movie. I paid my attorney five thousand dollars to watch her take everything from my guitars and video games. She even claimed keepsakes from a departed relative, and the judge seemed happy to grant her every wish. Not only did I bid farewell to everything I owned, but my time with my son got slashed to a mere Wednesday afternoon and alternating weekends.
My faith in women was broken. I went on a few dates here and there but mostly kept it to casual encounters and dinners. I never let anyone get too close. But, in early 1999, at a friend's birthday party, I met a woman whose marriage had crashed harder than mine. She'd had a stillbirth six months into her pregnancy, and her husband dared to bring his girlfriend to the funeral. She was heartbroken, to say the least, to learn about her husband's affair and the end of her marriage on the day they laid her daughter to rest. We sat on a couch that night, swapping tales of romantic ruin. She was clever, and to me, that is an instant connection. It's rare for me to find someone who makes me laugh instead of vice versa. As I headed home, I couldn't shake her from my thoughts, kicking myself for not asking for her number.
The next, my phone rang, and it was her! She'd gotten my phone number from someone we both knew and asked: "Would you like to get food sometime?" I said, "Now sounds great!" So, I drove to her grandmother's house, and off we went on what turned out to be what I still consider the perfect date. Now, I get it; we were both lonely and had our hearts broken, but trust me, this was no spark; it was an inferno. And believe it or not, we've been inseparable since that day. We have not spent a night apart. That was twenty-five years ago, with us marrying a year after our meeting. Go ahead and facepalm, I know how it sounds, but it's hard to put the connection between us into words. Even I'm still shaking my head in disbelief.
Our families adored the two of us together. I was certain I had found my soulmate, if you believe in that, and I was certain she felt the same. We enjoyed each other's company, and our lives meshed perfectly. As with life, however, it finds those moments of bliss to take a giant s*** on you. In 2006, I began feeling ill; eating resulted in violent illness, which I initially thought was a virus. But after a week with no improvement, it was clear this was something else. I was admitted to the local hospital and underwent numerous tests. When I was first admitted, I weighed 222 pounds at a height of 6'2". Within a year, I had dropped to 146 pounds, and my condition dumbfounded the doctors. My health was deteriorating rapidly. Throughout the ordeal, she never left my side, her hand in mine, begging me not to leave her.
In late 2007, a last-ditch effort sent me to the Cleveland Clinic, where a young doctor rushed me into surgery. When I awoke three hours later, she was there, hand in mine, with a smile. It was a success; I was cured. While I'll spare you the details, it involved my colon. Finally, I could eat and move without agony. My life resumed, and we were happy again. The following year, she received a lucrative job offer in her field, earning more than I did. That didn't bother me at all; she worked hard, and she'd earned it.
After her miscarriage, my wife was unable to conceive. We had been trying since 2000 and eventually came to terms with the fact that it might not happen. In 2010, we got a call from the state of Minnesota about a two-year-old girl who had been taken from her mother due to drug-related charges. They asked if we would consider adopting her because the mother had requested she be placed with family members before her parental rights were terminated. My wife and I drove for 30 hours to meet her, and after a few months, we adopted her and welcomed her into our home.
Our daughter faced social challenges and had endured abuse, leading the two of us to decide one of us needed to be at home with her. As mentioned, my wife earned significantly more, so it made sense for me to be the one to step into the role. I dedicated each day to supporting our daughter's mental health. While I played a part, I can't claim all the credit for this; her preschool, kindergarten, and therapist were instrumental in her learning to socialize and trust again. Eventually, I took up freelance journalism, so I was home when our little one finished her school day.
Our evenings were family time, and we took small trips on weekends. It was in 2017 that my wife returned from work one evening, deeply shaken by what she told me was a workplace argument. Despite my attempts to console her, she remained incorrigible. She was declaring her intent to find a new job. She'd never had any issues before, so I was stunned. For days, she was a mess and withdrawn. When I pressed for details, she'd say, "It would only upset you. Let me deal with it."
True to her word, she left for a new company within a week, accepting a 15 percent reduction in pay. I should have questioned it then, but she never gave me cause for concern. Once she began her new role, life returned to normal, and our family happily moved forward. In 2022, I published my first novel with an independent publisher, fulfilling a lifelong dream. I could sense the pride emanating from both my wife and daughter. I had achieved this milestone before my fiftieth birthday, and I couldn't wait to start on my second one.
And now, ladies and gentlemen, this is where my world breaks. In 2023, as I was finishing up my new novel, my twenty-seven-year-old son from my first marriage died suddenly of a heart attack. He had an underlying condition that none of us knew about. I want everyone to understand that when you say, "I couldn't imagine my child dying," you truly can't. There is no pain quite like it. My wife and daughter, who also felt his loss deeply, did their best to support me. But there is no way to deal with such a tragedy. In the months following his death, I immersed myself in my work, striving to complete my second book for him.
On the day I finished it in January, my father passed away after a long battle. Dad had been ill for a long time. You think you can prepare yourself for that, but that's a lie you tell yourself. The loss was hard, and my daughter was instrumental in getting me back on my feet. My second book was released in February, and I tried to smile as I had my release party. At the beginning of April, I started feeling better, writing outlines for my third novel and doing the same things I'd always done with my wife and daughter.
My wife and I have a Wednesday tradition where she picks a random recipe she finds online, and we cook it together. On April 3rd, while making crockpot chicken tacos, I thanked her for everything. She asked why, and I thanked her for everything she'd done to get me through the tough times. I shared a lot of pent-up emotions, telling her I couldn't have managed without her. She started crying, then weeping, and soon she was sobbing uncontrollably. I tried to comfort her with a hug, but she pushed me away. I apologized, not realizing my words would stir such a reaction.
Suddenly, she confesses her infidelity. I laughed, mistaking it for a joke. She grabs my shoulders and then details how, back in 2017, a 28-year-old at her former job started flirting with her, and she reciprocated. She believed it was innocent, yet it persisted. My wife has always feared growing old. Her birthdays were days she dreaded every year. She admitted that the attention from a younger man was exhilarating. She told me that turning 40 had sent her into a tailspin and that she couldn't talk to me about it because I would have just shrugged it off.
He invited her to leave work early and come to his place one day. She couldn't understand why she chose to; maybe it was the thrill. She said she didn't know, but she went and ended up sleeping with him. Afterward, she felt terrible, glaring at her keychain in his driveway because it had a photo of me holding our daughter. She drove home, and that's when she lied about having a workplace argument. She never wanted to return there. It's why she suddenly went somewhere else. She then told me she wanted to tell me but didn't have the fortitude to do it.
I remained silent, just wide-eyed and open-mouthed. She apologized, saying she couldn't live with it any longer. I just shook my head, unable to speak a single word. She offered to leave if that's what I wanted, to attend counseling, or even to beg for my forgiveness. Instead, I picked up my AirPods and phone and walked out. I wandered from six in the evening until almost eleven that night. When I returned, she was on the loveseat, asking if I was ready to talk. I shook my head again, went to my office, where I had a couch, and slept there.
The next day, after our daughter left for school, she asked if I had anything to say. I said yes. I questioned why she brought this up after the worst year of my life. Why couldn't she have kept it to herself until I could somewhat deal with something of this magnitude? She just looked away. I scoffed and told her to go to work and to try not to f*** anyone during her lunch break. That would have been April 4th; those were the last words I said to her until last night.
She had attempted to talk to me several times, but I would just walk past her into my office, trying to focus on my upcoming science fiction comedy book. Writing something funny is challenging when the thought of your spouse rolling around with another man stuck in her consumes your thoughts. A week ago, my daughter asked in the car if everything was okay, and I lied to her, which made me feel sick. Then, last night, my wife came to the office door and asked, "Are we getting a divorce?" I looked at her and replied, "Looks like it." She started crying and closed the door.
I haven't consulted an attorney, and the thought of divorce hadn't crossed my mind until she mentioned it. That's why I wrote this essay. Where do I go from here? How do I start to untangle this mess? I have no desire for therapy. I don't even want to step outside. I'm broken at this moment. The burden of everything has been overwhelming. There's been so much to bear this past year. What do you say to someone who has been by your side through it all, only to tear your heart apart?
Thank you for reading to the end. And for those who are part of the TLDR crowd, my wife decided to go home with a younger man, felt guilty about it, and quit her job. She waited eight years to tell me about it.

Comments

Foreign_Flight4566
Jesus, man. I’m sorry for your loss(es). Timing of your wife’s confession is mind-boggling. Realistically, this is above Reddit’s pay grade. I’ll recommend therapy, but probably above a therapist’s pay grade too. I know you also state you don’t want therapy, but that sounds like the exact time you need it. They can offer grief support, which is what you’ll need as you tease out emotions from losing loved ones and a very nasty betrayal. I hope you find happiness in whatever you decide.

OOP: I contemplated several different subs and I have no idea why I chose this one. I should have clarified above that after my son died, local hospice house around here has grief counseling, which I used extensively. I don't want to do couple's counseling is what I should have said. My apologies. I posted this to try and get outside perspectives from people, and maybe give me a different angle to look at this.

cakivalue
Not couples counseling but individual therapy for you. You need the support right now after all you've been through and an unbiased third party to support you through the pain and demise of your marriage, next steps and co-parenting.
My unprofessional angle here is that this is most likely over. Had she come clean in 2017 you would have been able to make a choice regarding forgiveness, couples therapy etc. she held on to this secret for seven years and then dumped it on you at the worst time in order to ease her own guilty feelings. Especially knowing that you had both been hurt in this exact way in the past is especially jaw dropping that she did all of this.

Magnum_tv
Fuck man! This is...just fuck...
Firstly, I'm so sorry for your losses. I extend my sincere condolences.
You need grief counseling. This would help you put things in perspective. At least you'll be able to eventually make decisions based on logic than just pure emotion.
Secondly, your spouse. She not only betrayed you, she lied to you for eight years. EIGHT YEARS! That's fucking scary, because now you're gonna be wondering what else she can be hiding.
Now I'm an asshole, I'd be out of that marriage tomorrow. You however, have truly built a life with her. If, and I mean a big fucking IF, she's regretful, you should divorce, it would be less stress in your life having to be her warden. Because the trust is gone.
If, she's remorseful, you could try to work it out. But she needs to put in the work. Not you, HER. Because she's the one who fucked up.
Remember, regret and remorse are two completely different things.
I'd recommend you still talk to a lawyer before making a final decision. The more informed you are, the better choice you'll be able to make.
I'm truly sorry you're dealing with this, best of luck brother.

OOP: Thank you so much. This is another thing in the back of my mind what else has she been dishonest about?

Update - 3 days later

UPDATE - After spending Saturday morning formulating and reading the staggering number of comments, I've made my decision. Some said my issue was far beyond the Reddit pay grade – they were mistaken. I deliberately avoided turning to family and friends, seeking a view from an outside perspective, and I think it worked. My gratitude goes out to all who sent private messages and responded; your thoughts on the matter helped me come to my conclusion.
On Saturday evening, I approached my wife to apologize for the silent treatment, I told her I wasn't attempting to punish her and acknowledged that it was childish. I told her if I would have opened my mouth, I would have been overly harsh and ruined any opportunity of a civil conversation. I promised we'd discuss it the next day.
On Sunday evening, I let it all out; I didn't cry, or raise my voice. I asked the man's name, which she provided. I asked her if the man was married when she betrayed us, and she confirmed he was. That hit me hard, because she knew he was also with someone. I asked if he was still married. She told me she had no clue, she hadn't seen him since the day she left for her new job. I told her I hoped they were, because I was going to make sure she knew. If my life had to be ripped apart, so would his. I thought that would get a rise out of her, it didn't. She just nodded.
I expressed my doubts about the affair being an isolated event, echoing the comments of several others. She maintained it was a one-off and was the sole reason she left her job. I explained that after eight years of this lie, it's natural for me to question anything she said. I then made it clear that if there's more to the story than what she's admitted, now is the time to be as open and honest as possible.
Any further revelations would be a deal-breaker for me, and there would be no excuse that could rectify it. She pleaded it was a singular occurrence and that she's been wanting to confess since it happened. I asked if he had reached out after her departure, she denied any contact. I responded that it didn't surprise me, assuming he got what he wanted and moved on to another person at work. It was the only cheap shot I threw.
I requested that she leave the house for a few weeks, I wasn't telling her it was over, but I wanted to be away from her. I suggested she could stay with her sister, her mother, or even rent a place—anywhere but here. I also informed her of my intention to discuss the situation with our daughter, who is 16 by the way, some people have commented believing her to be quite younger. To my surprise, my wife revealed she had already told her about a week ago, which I was completely unaware of. She inquired about the tone of the house, and my anger, and my wife confessed to her. Before my daughter went to bed, I asked her, and indeed, my wife had admitted that she had been unfaithful. I wanted to know why she hadn't come to me about it, and she told me she didn't want to make me feel worse.
I've decided to keep her home from school tomorrow to have a heart-to-heart about everything. It's important for me to understand her feelings and to emphasize that harboring hatred towards her mother isn't the goal. Her mother has always been loving and supportive. It's natural for her to feel angry, and that's okay, but picking sides isn't beneficial – nobody wins in this situation. It's a tough reality I'm coming to terms with, everyone loses. Tomorrow, I plan to contact three local therapists and reach out to the grief counselor I met after my son's death. I'm not interested in couple's therapy; I believe individual therapy is what I need, and since it's highly recommended, I'm going to pursue it.
My daughter's school year is ending soon, and I'm looking forward to spending quality time with her. I prefer to keep our plans private from family and friends; it's our personal matter. Someone advised me about controlling the narrative, but the only thing that matters now is that my daughter knows the truth. I need some time to come to terms if this relationship is salvageable. I need this time for self-reflection and to assess the situation. When she asked if we were going the route of legal separation, I clarified that it wasn't the case. I told her that when I look at her it brings up feelings of anger, which isn't healthy.
To my astonishment, she consented to everything. She doesn't want our relationship to end, and I reminded her that her actions with him forfeited that choice to me. She mentioned my wedding ring as a sign that she still matters to me, and I assured her that she does. I proposed we conclude things there. As I walked by, I touched her shoulder; she nodded in agreement. Later, she phoned her sister and made plans to stay with her the following evening after work.
TLDR. I want to express my gratitude to everyone for their support and guidance, except to the asshole that just wanted to pick a fight. I apologize for the length of my initial post; I believed the full context was necessary to help you understand why I'm so conflicted. To those who reached out privately and know my identity, your discretion is deeply appreciated. I'm looking forward to spending the next month with my daughter and starting therapy. Your messages are welcome, and I'll do my best to respond to each one. I'll provide another update in the future when I've made a decision about our next steps or if it's time to move on. I am not rushing into this decision lightly.

Comments

Bolt_McHardsteel
Clearly you have given this a lot of thought, and come up with a way forward that is best for you. Good luck in therapy, get yourself mentally right, there is no rush to make a final decision on your marriage. Take good care of your daughter! She seems like an amazing kid. Hang in there.

I am not the OOP. Please do not harass the OOP.
Please remember the No Brigading Rule and to be civil in the comments

submitted by SharkEva to BORUpdates [link] [comments]

2024.05.18 07:47 Top-Muffin-8016 Annoying grammar police

It’s been on a few occasions, not a lot, but like a handful of annoying occasions where people have been getting on me about grammar. It’s not anything with spelling or anything, but it’s three times I can think of that really annoyed me.
The first time was when I was upset because I wasn’t sure a B would count for a grade. I get three comments making fun of my grammar. I was ok with it because I was heated, and it’s not often it happens. We all make mistakes.
The second time I wrote a chunky essay, the grammar police were upset about my paragraph spacing. It’s similar to this, but it was another time I was heated about something and my writing wasn’t my best. But do you really have to take a personal jab at someone for how they type on a Reddit post? Most of us are on our phones, and the tiny buttons don’t help. I never felt like I had to use Grammarly on Reddit.
The third time was a while ago. Again, I was heated and made some mistakes; it wouldn’t be something I turned into a teacher. At that point, I was more heated at someone talking about my grammar, but I just ignored it. It honestly made me more upset and annoyed. It wasn’t worth the back and forth online; I never got that anyway, so I ignored it.
It’s just annoying when you’re in an angry,annoyed, or concerned mood, and they add fuel to the fire. By making you upset about a paragraph or a long story, you type because you were upset. At that point, be a teacher so you can grade people in person instead of an online Reddit post that is barely getting attention. I get graded enough in school. I’m a good writer when it counts. Reddit isn’t one of those places I feel like matters to me enough to actually show the effort I use in a writing assignment or an essay. I admit I put less effort into my post on Reddit, but honestly, it’s Reddit. I see it as an app. I might interact in a few chats, but it’s not something I see as important enough for me to go through and check for mistakes, especially if I type something out of anger or frustration. I might look back and cringe later anyway.
Honestly, I wonder where they were in the 2010s, policing the teens and kids in the YouTube comments. Honestly, I write or make essays better when it’s something for school or a story I’m making, so me making a post out of emotion wouldn’t be your best example of how I write. At least I’m human and not an unoriginal chat bot. We write and type better, yes, with our emotions, but in a well-thought-out manner, we put our emotions in a way that is easier for people to understand. I’ve never been good or written anything that made sense out of anger. I can literally type out an angry rant for a story while I was upset, and it turned out horrible. What would you expect from an angry post on Reddit?

submitted by Top-Muffin-8016 to Rants [link] [comments]

2024.05.18 07:43 jearnold My retired fighter pilot dad passed away this week.

This week I and my family got a shock when my father suddenly passed away on Thursday afternoon. He was a retired Air Force and Air National Guard pilot with over 26,000 hours and flew the T-37/T-38, F-4E at RTU at MacDill AFB, F-4D on Active Duty at RAF Bentwaters and then flew the O-2 with the 163rd TASS at Ontario.
Then he flew the F-4C/E/RF with the 163rd TFG out of March until the conversion to the KC-135 which he flew until his retirement in 1997.
I grew up flying with him as a young kid and he encouraged me to get into aviation and take a discovery flight which prompted me to take lessons and obtain my PPL then onto IFR, CPL and CMEL. I got to experience cross country flights with him in our Piper Aztec.
The above picture is from one of his last flights in the RF-4C. On the ground he is third from left.
He was such a great father and mentor to me and husband to my mother and he will be greatly missed.

submitted by jearnold to flying [link] [comments]

2024.05.18 07:42 Forgetfull44 Lessons for Self Taught Intermediates?

Hey all, I’ve been playing guitar since 4th grade. I took a few lessons but at some point ventured off on my own.
I’d consider myself intermediate if others are playing to me but if I’m playing to others I’m rather lost.
Idk what anything means, I know the notes on the fretboard (gotta kinda count em in my head), I know the basic chords but idk what makes a D chord a D chord.
I can make the guitar sound pretty but idk why it sounds pretty. Is there any scales or exercises I can do that will teach me some of this stuff? I don’t think I need full on theory but every lesson on YouTube is giving me terms I’ve never heard. I’m just trying to play ole Willie Nelson songs and such!

submitted by Forgetfull44 to guitarlessons [link] [comments]

2024.05.18 06:58 Top-Muffin-8016 My mom isn’t letting me grow up and I hate it

I 21f I am a college student but honestly it feels all of the problems with my mom started at 18 and just continued I did a rant on a while back because of my situation. But anyway I want to go to Florida this summer because I’m in a LDR rn and we’re making it work he’s traveling to visit me so I thought to make it make sense I should visit him because (and she knows this) I’m moving to Florida after college to be with him I also know job opportunity for my degree so I already got afew internships set up for next summer before I graduate and this year during my third year. I’ve tried twice to go to Florida both times she’s made a big fuss about it and I didn’t end up going. The first time was around Christmas I was asked to go to spend Christmas and new years with him. This resulted in a huge agrument that resulted in what I feel to be a strain in our relationship the agrument went like this: I was willing to compromise about my trip instead of going for two weeks I cut the trip down for ten days so I can be home by new years. She then got upset about me even asking to go ( I was 20 years old) she then ask why not just wait till next year and I said we would just have this whole agrument again(and I was right). She then gets upset because to her me using my winter break to go on a 10 day vacation ment i wasn’t focused enough on my schooling. When I work hard so I can get out early and she knows that I get all my assignments done on Monday unless it’s a big project and then the rest of my week is free. When that didn’t work she wanted to say I would end up pregnant and his family would except that the baby was his because I live miles away when I tell her I’m a virgin and what makes her think i can’t control myself she brought up a time when me and him kissed on the couch when we were both 17. When that didn’t work she was like Why didn’t you study at a more expensive university in France if you want to travel so badly? (She knew we couldn’t afford it; she told me we couldn't, so I went to community college.) I tell her you would rather I be in another country than go for a few days in the United States. She goes quiet, then pulls out the “you must not care about your family anymore if you want to leave us so bad.” Unfortunately, her guilt trip worked not in changing my mind about the trip but in getting me to react. My friend has told me I should’ve just said, If that's what you think, then yeah, I’ll go, but I didn't, so that was last year. This year I plan to go on my summer vacation. The plan was to go with her for four days. She agreed to it, but the problem came when he asked if I could stay an extra two days, and we traveled back together because he’s coming back for his birthday to spend with our friend group. The flight would be cheaper because we would be traveling there from close by, and I was even paying for the tickets; she would just pay for the hotel. But no surprise to me, she has decided to stall and is getting closer and closer to time for vacation, but she’s still giving the idk now than yes, she gave me in April. I think the reason why is because of a stupid situation she freaked out about. Long story short, I thought I left my phone in a restaurant. I don’t usually talk to people, but this time I decided since the place was closing I would ask one of the workers to please open the restaurant to find my phone. We go home, and she flipped off and me for talking to a stranger when they were waiters at the restaurant, and I was safe about it. But now she's been stalling. The kicker is that it’s like a damned if I do damned if I don't, if I didn’t do anything, she would get upset at me for not talking to people, so Idek. Today my aunt once again brought up the trip to her because we are inching closer and closer to the date of going on our family vacation. She still gave me the ticket. I even said yes and decided to pay for everything: the hotel, the plain tickets, everything, but when I told my friends, they told my boyfriend that he wouldn’t allow me to do that, so he has offered to pay for my ticket and the hotel. I tell my mom that she still doesn’t know. So I’ve decided that because she is so scared of me being out in public, I’m not going on this vacation if she doesn’t let me go. It’s honestly the path of least resistance for me, as I do not have another big argument. Plus, it will give me more time to get a job and get out of here. Honestly, I don’t want to just cut her out of my life after college, but everyone I’ve told my story to literally says it’s the best option because of how possessive and controlling she’s gotten over me. Everyone I’m friends with is one year younger than me and does so much more, and I’ve been getting sick of it. I’ve shown I’m responsible; I saved up money; I had a job but left due to a conflict with school; I get good grades and scholarships; I can pump air into my tires; I don’t know what to do to show her I’m responsible and that I’m responsible enough. But I keep hearing from my aunt that she is not ready, and I’m reaching the end of my college years, so if she isn’t ready now, then because she knows I’m moving, I’ve told her that’s the plan, but I’m never sure when she is ready, and it changes every year. I also don’t want to look like an unreliable partner because she had me ask him many questions about booking fights and hotel and to ask all those questions just to get end up not going doesn’t seem right to me.

I just don’t know how to convince her or have a conversation that doesn’t end in us arguing.

submitted by Top-Muffin-8016 to Advice [link] [comments]

2024.05.18 06:56 EsotericaBaphy Dragonball Rework Ideas

To preface: This is mainly a bunch of mental notes and what I recall from conversations I've had with people concerning an AU project I may work on... I consider myself a fan of DB, but over the years I have drifted away from the modern stuff, may catch the newest movie but that's about it. Despite this, I just let loose on the topic of a rework, sending walls of text to people randomly when I get an idea. To supplement myself I have started to read DB from the beginning, refreshing myself on details and whatnot, and keeping track of stuff like characters, locations, items, techniques, etc just for personal reference. With that out of the way I should probably get to the actual ideas...
I'll start off with ki and related systems: Taking inspiration from stuff like chakra points and mind field theories. Basically, all living things have ki points throughout their body; lying on/within vital organs and the primary joints. Connected via ki channels, and assisted in regulation by the "Threads of Preservation", which are mapped onto the lymph system. The ki points spread throughout the body generate an aura that can indicate one's physical health, but can also be utilized to enhance one's presence and the impact of melee attacks. Situated on the brain, is a ki point that generates the mind aura that can indicate mental health/state and is the center of psychic abilities; being more "malleable" than the bodily aura, it can be cast out like fishing rod or net to grab things and link one's mind to another. When these auras are used in tandem, one is able to fly. It can be pictured as the bodily aura being used to suspend yourself, manipulating the air around you, while the mind aura pulls/pushes you away from things. To use ki directly, your own life energy, it is emperative to have a moderate ability to visualize things; as using ki relies on moving it through your system. In the case of a beam attack, it is being energy from ki points, through the interconnecting, channels, to the ends of your extremities and out at a frequency/intensity that is destructive. Healing is done by a similar process but at a much more game output, with the intent of transferring it to another person's system. Stuff like ki balls and discs are released from the body, and then guided by the mental aura; unless released and just let to fly on its own. To strengthen one's abilities with ki, mental exercises can help, plus general physical training to build mind-muscle connections/control and flexibility. Strenuous physical activity also widens the channels between ki points, allowing for easier flow. Ki points can be expanded, but some people are unfortunately born with smaller ki points, limiting their potential storage and output. These people often fall back on different methods of combat, or if they retain a sizeable brain ki point, focus on psychic abilities and training. The art of shapeshifting, demonstrated by characters like Oolong and Puar, is a rare affinity. Wherein a person can manipulate the structure of their ki system, altering their appearance as their body conforms to the new configuration. This process is not permanent, lest the shapeshifter has great force of will, since the structure of one's ki system will always want to return to it's natural/stable state. As forcing the channels to lengthen or shorten, does not come without strain. I think that's all I really have regarding ki, so I'm gonna move on to some world details...
World: I'm not quite a fan of planet busters and universe shakers, at a certain point it gets boring and tedious. To majorly pull back the scale, the world I envision is a singular vast plane of ocean, with great continents and islands scattered about them (the whole world shaking would only really occur if multiple Supreme Kais and Gods of Destruction were fighting at once). Split into quadrants, monitored by the kais who help council "Kami", the medium between Heaven and the Earthly realm, as well as the appointed authority of said realm. Probably selected/voted on by the kais, who judge for a mortals moral character, wisdom, and connection to the realm; the operating Kami can take on desciples who will be strongly considered as a candidate for the next Kami. Below Kami then are the angels, heaven-born beings who are born when positive energy rises up from the Earthly realm and clumps together. Solidifying into humanoid forms that have an innate sense of justice, and will unflinchingly carry out actions in the name of that justice. Perfect to be linked to Gods of Destructions, who are mortals, the strongest of their respective regions, that are appointed to keep the "destructive balance" in check; possessing an aura that can influence the occurrence of natural disasters and the like. As well tasked with cutting down threats to their region as a whole. The one who is in charge with coordinating and pairing Gods of Destructions with Angels is the Grand Minister. Making sure each of them having personalities that go well together. The Angels and Gods of Destruction are not weak by any measure, but simply appointed to a role with different qualifications, that put them below other beings in this universal hierarchy. With that said, Gods of Destructions take on desciples too, which will be candidates for their master's positions. Ultimately relying on the choice of Kami and the decision of the Kais. Above Kami, is another medium of Heaven and Earth, King Yemma who is of the Oni. A race created by the Kais and Supreme Kais to keep souls in check and operate the systems of heaven. King Yemma himself is both the strongest of the Oni, as well as the most wise, assuring him the role of "Judge of Souls" and "the guardian of the gate". Above Yemma are the Kais, led by Grand Kai who is the mediator between the lesser and Supreme Kais, the tiebreaker for decisions involving Earth, and the host of heavenly events/contests. Above him are the Supreme Kais who rule over the quadrants of Heaven, and answer to the absolute authority of this world— Grand Supreme Kai... I'm not personally a fan of Zeno, so opted to omit him, I can see his appeal but he just doesn't feel right to me as the top of the ladder. Bringing things down— way way down, below the Earthly Realm is the realm of Demons. Formerly a dark abyss before the demon Kais, born from the rotten fruit of the Kaiju trees that birth the core people, the first people that devised the Earth and the Heavens, were cast down there; because of their malicious tendencies. With their vast power they gave the abyss form and like their counterparts, created life, utilizing the negative energy which sinks down into their realm. They wait until their demonic legions are great enough to wage war on Earth and Heaven. Until then, they council the "Emperor" of the realm, the strongest of all demons who has a majority of the clans under his dominion. All beings except angels can convert into demons, via a ritual of renouncing the good within them to take on a more monstrous form. This action having great affects even on ones progeny (like the majority of Demon King/Chief Piccolo's offspring)... I think that's all the major stuff regarding the world and it's Hierarchy. Guess I'll clarify some things here, such as I previously mentioned the Earthly Realm is a singular plane. Meaning such things as Planet Namek and Planet Vegeta, are now islands/archipelagos far out from their mainlands (but still greatly far from other major land masses). To the point that their existence has become legend, such as talk of the might warrior race that bear resemblance to humans but with the tails of monkeys~ that sort of thing.
Other tangents: Speaking of the Saiyans, I want them of course to be strong though, but more in the sense that they recover quickly and have heightened instincts in regards to battle, learning new techniques relatively quickly. I actually want them to be somewhat stunted in the art of ki, primarily relying on their raw strength. As well as following very harsh and strict practices of training and diet. To the point, in this universe, if you put an alternate Goku and Vegeta next to each other, due to Goku's more relaxed and carefree approach he'd appear more filled out though still with a solid physique of course. Vegeta on the other hand would be cut/shredded to an extreme point, but as the story would go... As Vegeta gets accustomed to life on the mainland and starts to question his culture, initially sickened by Goku's indulgence, eventually gains an appreciation for the food provided by Bulma. Allowing Vegeta to fill out his frame a bit more and gain an appreciation for mainland cuisine. To touch on Oozaru and Super Saiyan, the transformations associated with the Saiyans— I'd like them to have different utilizations. Oozaru being a symbol of the old culture, raw power and killer instinct being greatly valued. While Super Saiyan would be the symbol of a new way, one with a better balance between the body and mind. The Oozaru outclassing Super Saiyan in pure strength, but being less mobile (making it very difficult to fly and move without destroying things), limiting ki usage, and affecting the mind of the Saiyan. While the Super Saiyan promotes developing one's mind along side their body. It's origin lying in ancient Saiyan mystic practices, relating to the harnessing of one's power. One group created the fake moon technique, that would allow them to turn Oozaru at any time and help them train to control it. While the other, less prominent group were able to achieve the state of Super Saiyan. Due to the extensive work that would be required to inspire ki use among the Saiyans, it never caught on, remaining as a legend for years ti come. The moon technique winning out while Super Saiyan faded, kept alive in some circles because of the mystique but unaware of what one would need to acquire that kind of form. Which leads into the irony of doing the exact opposite of what the traditional Saiyans do. Focusing just on their bodies and fighting, instead of the simple pleasures of life and growing one's connection to the world. Encapsulated in Goku, a Saiyan raised by a human and trained by others to seek strength but also enjoy the life he is living. A side note related to that - I'm picturing a semi-funny sequence where Vegeta is trying to ask around Goku's friends and family about what his life was like. Trying to figure out the key to Super Saiyan but just getting more frustrated. On the form itself, I've devised a branching scheme to it. With the base super Saiyan being a balanced refinement of the body. While the graded forms would be strength specialization with the working named "Buffed" and "Maxed". Super Saiyan 2 being the speed specialization, with the working named Charged. Super Saiyan 3 being the ki specialization, with the working name "Flow" (get it, because ki flow and his flowing hair). All of them would have different uses instead of being a linear progression of power, and with all their own drawbacks. The obvious being the graded forms losing mobility, but making them very dangerous once they get their hands on you. Vegeta would be drawn to these forms, falling back on his own Saiyan sensibilities; Trunks supporting his dad as he would be open to the possibility, unaware of the limits of Super Saiyan. While Goku and Gohan would be focused on the speed specialization. I think it would be cool if these specializatiknd could work together instead of one outright outclassing the other. For example one person could lead Cell with speed into an ambush, where he can be overpowered physically. Moving into Flow, going with the fact it's easier to use when dead, that's because the dead don't have a physically body to keep running with ki. In the afterlife, that is all you are, a battery of ki. But with a body, the form majorly improves output, opening one's channels to their limit, but if one is not careful they can easily extend too much ki... The sorta odd one out in this case is Super Saiyan 4, which relies on the Oozaru form of course. Diverting the transformation so that they remain in a more compact form. However, this form kinda acts like a cross between strength and speed specialization, with the drawback that it messes with the mind. Making it easy for a Saiyan to forget exactly what they are doing, lashing out any chance they get (even at allied), and forgetting about mercy. Goku and Vegeta seeing potential in this form, but wary. Best case scenario they are facing an opponent one on one, away from a crowd, that they have no qualms with killing.
To touch on Super Saiyan God, I have to touch on Beerus, who instead of coming to Earth somewhat randomly from what I recall. He is instead visiting the Saiyans and other Z Fighters, with the intention of recruiting desciples. Pretending to go rogue, in order to make it feel like they are in a dire situation and will fight with all they have. After evaluating all their strengths, he relents and invites those he seems with great potential/likelihood of succeeding him to his temple to perform a ritual of transferring divine ki... As I'm not a fan of the original Super Saiyan God ritual and it's legend. Just feels weird to have two coinciding legends, but one has more obvious relevance. So instead, Beerus would remark that he has heard of Saiyans being candidates in the last but is curious what these "new age Saiyans" are capable of. Training them to achieve their godly state (red), that can act as an alternate to their base form, which they would eventually be able to incorporate with Super Saiyan. Thus becoming Super Saiyan Gods in that sense. The recruitment narrative would also reframe the tournament between Beerus and Champa, as teachers testing their desciples against one another.
I'm not quite sure what I'm gonna do with Ultra Instinct & Ego + Beast yet, and I'm not caught up on Super as I indicated at the beginning. But I do have some closing additions... On time Travel, their a couple instances such as in the early series, later in the Android + Cell Saga, and that one weird Bardock special. But to tie them together I have devised the presence of general time distorting items. Which in the case of the early series and Bardock, those would be handled with the items as they naturally occur. You touch them and they bring you to a certain time, usually related to the location it is found (though in the case of Bardock, it wouldn't be him sent back, and the village would be destroyed regardless the item would just give someone the chance to make a timeline in which it was saved), but your actions would just create a new timeline. While you would be returned to your own as if nothing happened, even if you "die" while in contact with the item, it's more akin to a simulation where you would wake up afterward near the item. Bulma however would acquire one of these items and make it the core of the time machine used by Trunks, directing it's effect to specified times. On Frieza and his golden form, I imagined if he attained it while in the afterlife instead of after his revival. The reason he runs into the stamina issue is because he only used it without a physical body, similar to how their is less of an issue of ki in the afterlife, there is no stamina/ki going toward the maintenance of your body. I'm also sort of scratching out his black form because I find it boring— replacing it with the idea that his golden form is a cocoon for a subsequent form. Which he would realize is a way to conduct the demon conversion ritual. Going through with it, he would emerge in a new demonic form. Not fully confident in that idea but it's there. But I am a bit more confident in restructuring Frieza's forms, making his impish form his original form. To remove the redundancy of making so many forms to restrict llert and just have his race be very adaptive. His second form would then be strength focused, his third would be speed, his fourth would be balanced, while his full power form would act in a similar way to the grade 2. Broly he's a Saiyan mutant. Which causes him behavioral issues and enhanced power progression. Paragus would put the device on him to make him more passive and restrict him. The device developed by Paragus and a technology advanced race (Cheelai's in my verse, which would lead to her and Broly meeting), would help Paragus establish his own regime, attracting wayward Saiyans to conquer in his name now that Island Vegeta was destroyed and the prince is nowhere to be found. His super Saiyan form, due to his mutation, is triggered by desperation (to not displease his father) and anger instead of greater aspiration/need. The years of being controlled by his father, essentially splitting his personality. All of his passive traits remaining in his base form, while all the violent and sadustic tendencies welled up in his super Saiyan form. Fusion, I don't think that needs to be altered much. Off the top of my head it would probably require two people matching their auras instead of power levels for the dance; synchronizing them long enough so their bodies and minds can merge temporarily.
Feel free to ask questions, I didn't cover absolutely everything ofc, so any questions, thoughts, and questions would be appreciated.

submitted by EsotericaBaphy to dbz [link] [comments]

2024.05.18 06:23 TimeTeaCa 7 of the world's best black teas for breakfast

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Black tea is the most popular tea in the world. Unlike green tea, which is light and herbaceous, black tea has a richer and sweeter taste. As with fine wines, many variables combine to give each black tea its own unique flavor profile. These factors include the climate and altitude at which the Camellia sinensis plant was grown, how it was fertilized, the degree of oxidation that may have occurred during heat treatment, and how the leaves were cut and packaged.
Black tea flavors include smoky, earthy, spicy, nutty, citrus, caramel, fruity, and honey.
1. English Breakfast Tea
Drinking a mixture of strong black teas for breakfast is a British custom. The tradition began sometime in the mid-19th century. The exact selection of black teas used in breakfast tea blends can vary greatly, but popular options include Assam, Ceylon, and Kenya black teas. More expensive varieties use Keemun black tea from China, which has a slight taste of wine, fruit and pine.
English breakfast tea requires strong brewing, as is customary in England, and goes well with milk and sweeteners.
2. Earl Gray
Another world famous tea that first became popular in England. It is said that in the 1830s, British Prime Minister Charles Gray received a gift of black tea flavored with bergamot oil from the Chinese envoy.
Orange bergamot (Citrus bergamia) is a small citrus tree with winter flowers that grows primarily in Calabria, Italy. Bergamot oil imparts a bright, delicate, citrusy flavor with floral undertones that complements the bold and assertive character of black tea. Many commercial varieties today use artificial flavors instead of real bergamot. If you want to taste real Earl Grey, stick to high-quality organic blends that use only natural flavors.
Another good reason to drink Earl Gray tea is that, unlike most black teas, it contains antioxidants thanks to the addition of bergamot oil. The antioxidant (catechin) content is the main reason why green teas have received much more positive press than black teas over the years.
Antioxidants help get rid of free radicals in the body, which also helps support your immune system. With this tea, you may get the best of both the antioxidant properties of bergamot and the prebiotic properties of black tea. It’s a win-win combination!
Flavored with delicate notes of bergamot oil, Earl Gray is also the ideal base for delicious iced teas and lattes.
3. Assam Black Tea
Assam black tea is named after the Indian region. This tea is relatively new. Tea production in India began only about 200 years ago. In the 1830s, British business interests saw an opportunity to compete with Chinese tea producers, so they moved British tea production to India. Since then, Assam has become the world’s largest tea producing region.
Assam black tea grows primarily at or near sea level. The tropical climate and high rainfall, unique terroir, and processing methods give this variety of black tea a unique chocolate aftertaste. The taste can range from fresh, smoky, earthy, musky and strong to lighter with chocolate, cocoa or even sweet and spicy notes.
Assam tea is a common ingredient in tea blends, used to provide a stronger base and depth.
A cup of Assam tea can help strengthen the immune system. Black tea contains antioxidants that are beneficial for overall health. It also contains the highest levels of calcium, iron, magnesium and copper.
You can simply drink Assamese black tea or add honey and some nut milk.
4. Darjeeling Black Tea
Darjeeling tea can only be found in the highland town of Darjeeling in India, West Bengal. Some call Darjeeling black tea the “champagne of tea” for its delicate, fruity and floral notes.
Tea is unique in that the leaves can be processed in different ways, resulting in black, green, white or oolong tea.
However, the character of this black tea can vary depending on when it was picked.
Teas are sorted according to the size and quality of the tea leaves. Four categories of tea leaves are sorted: whole tea leaves, broken leaves, fan leaves and dust. Whole leaves are the highest grade, and dust is the lowest. Fannings are small particles of leaves that are used in tea bags, and tea dust is essentially the waste left behind by tea leaves. Tea Darjeeling first harvest: Harvested in the spring after the winter break. The color of the tea is light and pure. The tea leaves have a bright and distinct floral aroma. Due to their freshness and color, first flush teas are usually more expensive than others.
Second flush Darjeeling tea: has a dark amber color and a strong aroma, unlike first flush tea. The tea leaves have a purple tinge and may have a fruity flavor. Many tea testers around the world compare the taste of the second harvest with muscat grapes. The distinct aroma is due to a combination of unique weather, topography and plant types. Some tea connoisseurs prefer the second flush because of this unique aroma.
Third Flush Darjeeling Tea: After brewing, the resulting tea is dark or copper in color. Darjeeling’s autumn leaves are larger than other seasons. This type of tea usually costs slightly less than first and second flush teas.
Intermediate tea: Typically has characteristics similar to those of the first flush, but is often slightly lower in quality.
Darjeeling black tea is best served as is, without adding milk or sugar, and drunk in the morning. If you have a sensitive stomach, do not drink Darjeeling tea on an empty stomach.
5. Keemun Black Tea
Keemun is a special variety of black tea grown in Anhui Province in eastern China. He is also known as Qi Men Hong Cha. Compared to other black teas, it dries and oxidizes over a longer period of time.
This black tea is quite new, having been produced since 1875. An unfortunate civil servant from the Qimen region named Yu Ganchen decided to travel to Fujian Province, which is one of the most famous tea growing areas in China, to learn all about black tea production.
He used this knowledge to start producing black tea in his home region, where previously only green tea was produced. His new tea was a huge success in China and soon became famous in England. Even today it is a key ingredient in many English breakfast tea blends.
This organic loose leaf tea is made from medium sized rolled leaves. When brewed, it acquires a transparent bright red color. It has a soft, slightly roasted taste and a sweet, juicy aftertaste. Because of these qualities, kimuns are often compared to Burgundy wines.
The production of this tea requires a rather complex process, which is perhaps one of the reasons why this tea is so highly prized.
The leaves are collected only in spring and summer, and only the buds with the top two or three leaves are used. Even after harvesting, the leaves are sorted by hand and only the best are selected for further processing.
Keemun connoisseurs love it for its soft, complex aroma and taste, which includes notes of fruit, flowers, pine, tobacco and unsweetened cocoa.
You can enjoy it plain or with limited amounts of nut milk and honey
6. Yunnan (Yunnan Black Tea)
Yunnan black tea comes from the Yunnan province of China. Also known as “Dian Hong” (Dian is the short name for Yunnan province, “hong” means red, and when brewed it produces a coppery orange drink instead of the brown or black you might be used to). Fully oxidized tea grown high in the mountainous region of Linkang at an altitude of 1680-1900 m above sea level. Due to the highlands and mild climate, the growing season in the province is long, with harvesting occurring from March to November.
The Yunnan has a light smoky aroma and has layers of caramel and cocoa with a hint of pepper on the finish.
One thing that sets it apart from most other black teas is the high concentration of tender leaf buds known as “golden tips.”
It is recommended to use 3.5 g of tea per 200 ml of water and leave to infuse for 3 minutes. At this point, the drink will turn a deep dark red color and the room will be filled with a sweet, smoky aroma. It can also be drunk with milk.
7. Nilgiri
Nilgiri tea is grown in the southern Western Ghats, in the hills of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The word “Nilgiri” comes from Sanskrit, which means “blue hill”. Here, once every 7-12 years, the unique purple-blue flowers of Kurinji bloom and cover the landscape with bright colors.
Tea is grown at an altitude of 1000 to 2500 meters above sea level. Altitude, combined with cool air and moderate sun, slows the growth of tea plants, allowing the aromas in the leaves to intensify. This is why Nilgiri tea is known throughout the world as one of the most aromatic teas, slightly sweet, medium in body and containing hints of fruit.
These teas have a golden yellow color and a well-balanced taste. You may find them slightly spicy with a nutty aftertaste. This makes them ideal for making tea blends, so they can be drunk with sugar and cream.
There is Nilgiri frost tea, the leaves of which are collected in winter. This special tea has a pink and sweet taste, and many compare it to ice wine.
How to store tea
Tea is a food product and is subject to spoilage, like other products. The main enemies of tea are sunlight, oxygen, moisture and foreign odors. You won’t be poisoned by old tea, it will just be tasteless. During long-term storage, tea loses primarily its aroma. To preserve tea longer, it is stored in an airtight, opaque container, in a dry, dark room, away from any pungent substances.
In China, it is common to store tea packaged in sealed portion bags using a vacuum in the refrigerator at a temperature of +4°. This way you can preserve tea for up to 3 years.

submitted by TimeTeaCa to u/TimeTeaCa [link] [comments]

2024.05.18 05:18 snekety Riku Tamaki , God of Mischief

Overview

Name : Riku Tamaki
Age: 23
Gender : Male
Height : 6'0 (182 cm)
Weight : 198 lb (89 kg)
Hair Color : Black
Eye Color : Black
Face Claim Reference : Yoichi Nagumi from Sakamoto Days

Combat

Physicality - Riku has a well built body to fight against other sorcerers and take them down with ease, even without his cursed energy. While he isn't at Heavenly Restriction levels, he definitely is capable enough. Riku's strength and durability are notable, but his speed is his signature skill. He's been known to walk in and out of a mission in less than a minute without a single sweat dropped. He can blitz most without cursed energy, but with it empowering him? He's practically a bolt of lightning.
Weaponry Skill - His family are known to be the assassins of the jujutsu world, so despite not acting as one, Riku is exceptionally skilled with just about any weapon he comes across, guns, swords, spears, etc.
Curses Energy Reserves : As a Special Grade sorcerer, Riku holds immense reserves of cursed energy, which is seen as he can constantly toss out cards and all of the other abilities of his Innate Technique without even coming close to draining his cursed energy.
Cursed Energy Manipulation : Riku lacks in manipulating his cursed energy efficiently compared to others at his rank, though he still is skilled enough to beat down about any cursed spirit without his cursed technique.
Hollow Wicker Basket : Despite not being from the old era of Jujutsu, he is capable of using HWB, the predecessor to simple domain. Nobody truly knows how he is capable of such a feat, though many speculate he learned it from his reincarnated connection with his ancestor, the first member of the Tamaki Clan. This is kind of true, though he doesn't know that his connection to his ancestor is why, in fact, he believes he created the technique himself. This was due to his constant dreams of the past, since he saw visions of a domain technique like this, he grasped ahold of it and learned it during his third year.
Domain Amplification : While he rarely uses it, Riku is capable of using DA in combat to negate his opponents cursed technique from damaging him. If it gets to the point he needs to use this, then whoever he's fighting has to be strong.

Cursed Technique : Jester's Gambit

https://www.reddit.com/CTsandbox/s/pRDFlOomsW

Backstory

Riku was born within the Tamaki clan, as what appeared to be a future prodigy, one who may surpass all of his elders and even those in his family from the past, to be the strongest head in Tamaki history. His cursed energy swelled to great heights even as an infant. Due to this, he was tossed into rough training sessions. The Head at that time only saw him as a future weapon, and to be one of the strongest in all history. The Tamaki clan was very tough on him, so tough that even at dinner with his family, his attempts at lighting the mood with jokes proved futile. Despite this, he never changed himself, no matter all the rough training or tough care from his parents, he always remained the same. The strict rules laid out by his family caused him to grow more mischievous, learning how to sneak around and do his own things without anyone knowing. By this point in his life, he was 8 and had yet to realize an Innate Technique, which many shamed him for, but since he has so much cursed energy, they couldn't just abandon him, so they continued training him.
One fateful night, while he was out exploring, he was caught by an adult, and was chased through the village. Riku unfortunately wasn't as fast as a grown sorcerer, and was caught, though in a surprising fashion, he lifted his hand up and vanished from thin air, like a magician would make himself vanish with his cape. He appeared in the middle of the bustling city of Tokyo, which was much farther than he had just been. He tried using it again, and appeared back at the village, where he was then caught by the Sorcerer and restrained. He was returned back to his home, where he was scolded by his parents, then sent to bed. Waking up the next morning, he saw that sorcerer speaking with his parents in their home, mainly about his now revealed Innate Technique. Now with it revealed, his training grew even more vigorous, and more abilities began to show as he went on. It didn't take long to realize his Cursed Technique was like that of a clowns, when he pulled out a deck of cards and got a power up from picking a King of Diamonds. He was 12 by the time he had mostly mastered his abilities, making his life as a trickster even greater than before.
He was enrolled in Kyoto Jujutsu Tech at 15, and was considered one of, if not the strongest at his school, despite never showing his true power. He was able to rank up to grade 1 by the end of his first year. His cursed technique gave him so much versatility in fights that cursed spirits and cursed users both found him difficult to defeat, especially with his tricking nature in combat. Despite his lineage, others found him very easy to talk to, so easy that he was friends with almost everyone. Everything about his existence seemed to defy his clan and how they acted, but once again, his strength was too great to let go, and the clan simply had to accept who was set to become head in due time. Mission after mission, he slayed and killed every opponent in his way with ease. It wasn't until he came across a special grade cursed spirit that he finally faced some trouble. It's cursed technique was frail in comparison to Riku’s, but its overall power was comparable to his own. The battle lasted a decent amount of time, until Riku eventually defeated it, proving himself to be of Special Grade Cursed Spirit territory.
Word spread that he was able to defeat a Special Grade by himself, and the head of the Tamaki clan figured it was time they battled to the death in order to figure out who was worthy of the title. The clan head was considerably powerful, being ranked as one of the Special Grade sorcerers, and the strongest member of the class's history by that point. Riku was conflicted, though he knew if he refused to battle, he'd be shamed even more than he already was, afterall, he just wanted recognition from his family for being strong and not some clown. The battle was set to take place the next day, giving neither any time to prepare , a common ritual for their clan to show a true warrior should be strong enough to defeat their enemy with little preparation. As the day came, he had prayed to the gods above that he'd have the strength to defeat his opponent, or also known as, his own Grandfather.
The battle began, and the head already started off fairly aggressive, Riku being able to swiftly block his attack with the use of his cards. Shattering it, he'd send the glass-like shards blasting towards him, catching him off guard and appearing to have slicing him to bits, though he used the common ability of the clan to make his body durable enough to take no damage. Riku had never learned the technique, and was another thing he felt ashamed of, though he didn't stress it too much. The Head would seem to vanish, landing a punch on Riku from behind, but he hadnt taken enough damage to fret, as he quickly counters with one of his cards slicing straight through the Head's wrist, his hand now severed. Using the moment of surprise, he'd lunge towards him and pull out a blade from one of his Tattoos, slicing a gash straight into his chest. He thought he had won , though the head was capable of Reverse Cursed Technique, and healed as quickly as the injuries came. Their battle raged on, the dojo they fought in beginning to crumble apart before their strength. Riku began to grow confident in his win about midway through, only to get hit by a black flash, blood spewing from his mouth. He had taken a great amount of damage by this point, and due to never learning the Reverse Cursed Technique, he couldn't recover from it like the head did. With his opponent now in the zone, he was susceptible to another flash of black, and from the damage he had already taken, Riku calculated that another black flash would surely be the end of him.
At that point, he began relying on his extreme luck to survive, and lucky for him, he was exceptionally lucky. He saw another black flash coming, and in that moment his brain clicked. He had heard of how Reverse Cursed Technique works, and that Reverse Cursed Energy was created by multiplying the negative energy with itself. He wasn't a math man, but he felt lucky, and succeeded in the equation. His energy grew positive as his injuries quickly healed, and also in that moment, he'd manifested his clans ability, and amped his durability immensely. The black flash hit, and he took minimal damage. Riku grins, realizing he had the upper hand now. He'd become much more aggressive now, putting the Head on the defensive. His true power began to realize, one from the first member of his Bloodline. It was now obvious he was truly the strongest to be born within the Deva. His fist would collide with his Grandfather's skull, as black sparks shot outwards, and immediately following up, he'd send a card spinning straight for his neck, and before anyone could even react, blood began to drip, and the entire side of the dojo behind his Grandfather would fall apart. The entire clan watched in shock as the crown passed down to Riku, the Gambit of the Deva.
Starting his third year, he was much different than before. Not only was he ranked up to Special Grade, but he was the current head of his clan. Many were inferior, and much less were equal. His Innate Technique, despite being the opposite ideals of his blood, proved to be the most powerful Tamaki there was, and due to that, respect was necessary. Few tried to take his place as head, and he humbly let them live after trying. Despite all of this fame, power, and wealth he gained, Riku still hadn't thought himself to be better than his friends in any way except strength, and hung out with them the same he had before. He graduated a year earlier than everyone else due to have already being deemed great enough, and from then he began to do his own thing. The clan often had to make their own decisions in his absence due to him constantly being away on trips, having parties, etc. He takes his job less seriously than most, but he still does what he needs to do when he needs to, and finds no trouble in doing so.

submitted by snekety to CTsandbox [link] [comments]

2024.05.18 04:52 _Take-A-Bite_ Unpacking DYWTYLM

This song has become a well loved track for me. DYWTYLM is a track that sounds the most poppie compared to the rest of their catalog. One of the reasons that I love this song is because it really gives that main character euphoria. I live in a major US City and rely on public transit. That means I walk A LOT. The walk-ability of this song is top tier. The way the beat goes is always right in time with my foot meeting the pavement as I walk through the big city. Aside from the feel of the song the lyrics, as per usual, are a treat to dissect.
Within the Lore of Sleep Token I choose rest my head on an acquired understanding that Sleep is just a personification of Mental/Emotional states of being/the Self and Death. Thus is the framework of which I consume this musical offerings. The songs structure (from out understanding) as encounters with Vessel and Sleep, making the lyrics very conversational even if only one sided at times. In this song ,however, it seems almost more to be breaking that third wall in addition to its tie to the sleep lore. The more I listen to this track the more I feel like I am getting a little peak into a more pointed aspect of the mental continuum of the man behind the mask; a insecurity perhaps? Behold my theory fellow worshipers...

Energy is shared and never ending. Everything that makes up the stars in the sky also makes up us. Many spiritualists adopt the understanding that we are simply the universe experiencing itself over and over in different incarnations. We are each other. I am it and it is me, a philosophy I think it is safe to say that Sleep Token shares. In 2017 the band even released a single line response on social media in res posting to an article that within its headline asked (possibly paraphrasing) "What and Who the Hell are Sleep Token?" To which the band responded "We are YOU" All this to say that any relationship or battle or communication with sleep is, to me, often just directed towards the darker facets of the artist himself. Additionally it is about creating a community that can dine in darkness together.
So why would I suspect that a fourth wall is broken? The perspective that I am viewing this song in lends itself to that suspension though the song still works regardless of POV. Either this song is reference towards a specific person or conversation or its directed at fans or both. DYWTYLM has come off of the most recent album Take Me Back To Eden. At this point the band has gained some following though it seems it didn't really explode until around the time of the albums release when the summoning blew up on social media. Regardless, when you have the talent that Sleep Token has, a large fan base is inevitable. I can imagine going from being relatively unknown to having strangers shout that they love you can be a heavy experience especially if one already struggles with self Image. To me, this song comes from the headspace of someone being interested in you in some way and wanting to build some sort of relationship with you, wanting to invest themselves in you. Despite this person saying how much they want you in their life, you feel like you should come with a warning label. I feel that's whats happening here. the question DYWTYLM is a interesting one because the inflection of that question is what can easily change the perspective. I view that question with a tone of disbelief and sense of "..but why?"

"Do you roll with the waves? or do you duck into deep blue safety? Is is always the same? DYWTYLM? Do you pull out the chains? or Do you push into constant aching each and every day? DYWTYLM?"
To me its as if someone has told him that they love him and that they want him to have a bigger role in their life in whatever regards the relationship is to. Friend, Lover whomever. He is trying to deter this person from getting to close. essentially it is say "My responses to negative stimulus is either on one side of the spectrum or the complete other side of the spectrum." Perhaps he is saying "I may be a bueden to you." As if to warn "I am too broken for you." If you look at the entirety of this song like this, you can see it easily. All of the questions seem posed as if/then, this or that. When he says DYWTYLM, is he really saying"You may wish that you loved me but behold, here is all the lists of the reasons we wont work out cause I am too complicated and mentaly ill. So, after all that, do you still want me? Do You Wish That You Loved me?"
Another reason I suspect that this song could be directed at fans is because of the in between parts toward the end of the song. During a interview style version of one of vessels messages he had said (again, paraphrasing)"I only see them smiling...I want them to smile" and during the end of the song you hear him sing "smile back.....at me..."
The band has always wanted it to be about the music. These are smart lads though, I am sure they expected and bit of a following from ....Hungry Eyes...if you will.... Perhaps this song gently address "hey, you think im desirable? If you really knew me..if you knew the man behind the mask..,maybe you would change your mind."
During the course of the song he also addresses "my reflecion wont smile back at me like I know it should and I would turn into a stranger in a minute if I could. There is something eating me alive I dont know what it is...."
He doesnt seem to like himself very much in the first place. Introspectively, The artist understands that sometimes there is a blind spot to see greatness within ones self. When he says he wished he could be a stranger it could be that he wishes he were able to look at himself more objectivly and not be weighed down by any preconceived notions or lies he has told himself. To say he doesn't know what is eating him alive it sounds like he is struggling with depression or some other mental/emotional health concern.
He goes on to say "I cannot hope to give you what I cannot give myself" This is powerful because its like he has been offered a way out of his lonleyness, out of some of the darkness but has refused it because he wont do it at the expense of anyone else. He is compassionate.
In summary I feel that the track DYWTYLM is about questioning what someone sees in you, and/or wanting to protect somone from yourself. I get a sense that this narrative is something that is perhaps a less metaphorical aspect and more a confession of something real that the lead singer has dealth with before.
So what do you think? Have you had similar thoughts? How do you feel it relates to the Sleep lore? There are probably as many variations of interpretation as there are Sleep Token Worshipers. Aside from whatever is truley cannon in Vessles mind, there is no right or wrong answers or interpretations. If something resonated with you then you explore that path and if it didnt thats okay too.
-Byte

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2024.05.18 04:11 One_Slice_8103 What to do from here?

I have been fired for the third time and am now extremely apprehensive of working for someone else in a conventional job. I have: -A truck, car, motorcycle, firebird -$16000 in a 4.25 savings account, $4000 invested in VOO -very low expenses as I live with my very supportive parents, less than 100 a month -a fair amount of automotive tools, a fair amount of which are professional grade. I enjoy: -playing xbox -cars -guns.
I had a few ideas already: -make a performance auto shop with a youtube channel to hopefully supplement income -make a variety gaming youtube channel, may or may not include cars and guns -doing one contract in military to pay for schooling in buisiness or finance or something like that.
I do not feel hopeless, I just feel like there are so many different things to do. With just the ideas listed above you can mesh them together in many different ways. I am just tired of not having a life. I want enough money to have a house, support a significant other, and reasonable disposable income.

submitted by One_Slice_8103 to findapath [link] [comments]

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