I'm new to apple eco system and two months ago I got my first ever MacBook pro m3 max 64GB RAM. I'm using latest OS Version. I'm coming from Windows and Linux(Ubuntu and Manjaro) and normally a power user of OS.
Now it comes to MacOS, the UI looks good, no doubt in that but it has unlimited issues. I'm listing them below as they were mostly unheard of even in Ubuntu.
-Microphone stops working time to time and no it's not a hardware issue because it starts working when I run sudo ps auxc grep audio awk {'print $2'} xargs sudo kill
And to my surprise, this microphone issue started from non-M-series macbooks 6 years back, you can find countless posts on it on apple forums and they haven't fixed it yet.
-Safari doesn't play any videos most of the time, YouTube videos just don't play. On chrome , everything works normal.
-Swiping between desktops feels sluggish.
-Opening a new window of app on desktop 1,opens it randomly on desktop 3 or some random desktop.
-Chrome scrolling feels heavy like it's not using GPU.
-Command+s stopped working randomly while all other shortcuts work. I can't save files because cmd+s is not working. I have to go to the file menu and click save. It's just not working anywhere.
-Most of these issues go away when I restart the machine but they again comes back after sometime.
-Apple support is worst, they have a scripted response for every issue. For example, for the microphone issue, they wanted me to reboot the machine, then reboot in safe boot mode and test mic and finally just reinstall the OS. And they do that for every issue I throw at them. They have no idea how to fix stuff.
I sometimes wonder why can't apple fix these issues? They are making me frustrated. Do you also face similar issues? Any solution to these issues?

There is a company with their address set as my house (confirmed on companies house). No business at all actually operates from my house. Some of the letters to the company include named individuals with no current connection to the address or people living here. We have posted back loads of letters over the years with "not at this adddress on" but recently it has become quite concerning.
My housemate said some official recently dropped off a stack of papers addressed to the company despite being told that the company doesn't exist here. The papers are not in an envelope or anything. It details that the company is in debt to HMRC and it is a petition to wind up the company. There is also a hearing date.
My main concern is about them coming after the debt at my house. I was wondering what I can do to protect myself from this? or what I can do to stop this company using my address please?
Edit: I'm in England

I'm new to apple eco system and two months ago I got my first ever MacBook pro m3 max 64GB RAM. I'm using latest OS Version. I'm coming from Windows and Linux(Ubuntu and Manjaro) and normally a power user of OS.
Now it comes to MacOS, the UI looks good, no doubt in that but it has unlimited issues. I'm listing them below as they were mostly unheard of even in Ubuntu.
-Microphone stops working time to time and no it's not a hardware issue because it starts working when I run sudo ps auxc grep audio awk {'print $2'} xargs sudo kill
And to my surprise, this microphone issue started from non-M-series macbooks 6 years back, you can find countless posts on it on apple forums and they haven't fixed it yet.
-Safari doesn't play any videos most of the time, YouTube videos just don't play. On chrome , everything works normal.
-Swiping between desktops feels sluggish.
-Opening a new window of app on desktop 1,opens it randomly on desktop 3 or some random desktop.
-Chrome scrolling feels heavy like it's not using GPU.
-Command+s stopped working randomly while all other shortcuts work. I can't save files because cmd+s is not working. I have to go to the file menu and click save. It's just not working anywhere.
-Most of these issues go away when I restart the machine but they again comes back after sometime.
-Apple support is worst, they have a scripted response for every issue. For example, for the microphone issue, they wanted me to reboot the machine, then reboot in safe boot mode and test mic and finally just reinstall the OS. And they do that for every issue I throw at them. They have no idea how to fix stuff.
I sometimes wonder why can't apple fix these issues? They are making me frustrated. Do you also face similar issues? Any solution to these issues?

There are fundamental metaphysical and ontological superiority of the Advaita view over Buddhism. The debates undertaken by Acharya Shankara (Acharya) against Buddhists were on questions of logic, phenomology, ontology and metaphysics. Without superiority of logic and inference, it was not possible to defeat the nihilistic schools of thought like Buddhism. The arguments between Shankara and Buddhists were technical, complex and long-drawn. But I have attempted a simpler version for our understanding of the basic positions of Advaita versus Buddhism (All Schools) in a modern set-up.
[nb. Gautam Buddha (Gotama/Tathagata/Sakyamuni) is one of the greatest reformer of Vedic religion. Though he was a heretic who rejected and discarded the magnificent Vedas; yet his contribution to the Vedic Hindu system is immense. Like, Acharya Shankara, Tathagata Gotama is immensely revered.]
[The Acharya invites a learned Buddhist Monk to a cup of coffee and of course, debate over respective Schools of Thought!]
Acharya: How was your day?
Buddhist Monk: The question is immaterial and irrelevant.
Acharya: Oh! Will you kindly state why do you say so?
Buddhist Monk: The workaday life is just a passing illusion. The so-called “manifold world” of material and mental elements arises solely through the causal co-operation of the transitory factors of existence (Called Dharmas) those depend functionally upon each other. Since, the material and mental universe arises through the concurrence of forces that are not permanent, the so-called World is not permanent. Everything that we call “world” are illusory, momentary. [He lays down the Sarvastivada, or, Sautrantika view of Buddhism]
Acharya: Oh. Heavy fire! Let me rephrase you. So what you are basically saying is that the perceived World is momentary; just an illusion – ever changing, and that there is no permanent essence of anything anywhere of the empirical Universe, be it mental or material, cognitive or non-perceptive.
Buddhist Monk: Yes, that’s the statement. Everything in the empirical world is only a stream of passing Dharmas, which are mere processes - impersonal and evanescent processes. These Dharmas can be characterized as Anatta (Anatma - Bereft of Self), i.e., being without a persisting self, without independent existence. [The Dharma theory of Buddhism]
Acharya: Ok. I get your point of view about momentariness, impermanence and Anatta. May I ask you a very simple question? When you started the sentence “The Question is immaterial and irrelevant” – it was immaterial and irrelevant to whom? What or who is the Subject to whom those perceptions appeared?
Buddhist Monk: (Enraged) To no one in particular. There is nothing more to this alleged (sic) world’s existence than the co-ordinated flux of wide variety of elemental, co-dependent factors (Dharmas), which bring forth collective experience of world-consciousness in individual and universal aspects. So, the perception occurred to some non-existent entity.
Acharya: Ok! Hypothetically accepting your view, tell me Monk, who is the witness to these arising of dependent elements? Who/what is the witness to the flux? Against what the flux is not static? If you are moving in a train at the same speed with another train, you will see both trains as stationary. A perception of speed requires comparison with a stationary object. Likewise, perception of flux requires a changeless object for measure of standard. Who/What is that?
Buddhist Monk: I object! What is the necessity of a Witness? That too, eternal permanent witness?! No way such a thing exists. People die and their trace vanishes, things get broken, Worlds get destroyed – all without leaving trace. Where is permanence?
Acharya: Hold your breath, Holy Monk. A witness is necessary in order to have a cognition of any phenomenon – take the event of your momentariness or flux. A witness can only say something is transitory or momentary. If there is no Witness, who would perceive and who would make a statement?
(This is one of the greatest novel argument of Acharya, his own contribution to logic and metaphysics – “Who is it that who sees and says Everything is impermanent – That entity has to present, existent and permanent”)
Buddhist Monk: If you say there has to be a Witness, who will witness that witness? How would you establish that Witness exists? What you say is wrong because there will be infinite regress. You say a Witness is necessary to claim cognizance. Fine, then tell me, who will say that there is a Witness? Where will this infinite loop end? In your Theory, everything has to be present to make the Witness known. This is nothing but Dependent Origination.
Acharya: Dear Friend, there is no logical necessity (Akanksha) for something to grasp the grasper. The witness stands self-proved. (This is one of the greatest sources of Pramana – Arthapatti as used by the Acharya)
Buddhist Monk: Even if there is any Witness, that entity; material or intellectual will be momentary, ever-changing, always in flux. So, one can’t say there is any witness at all.
Acharya: You seem to insinuate that everything is momentary and transitional – the flux keeps on changing every nano-second, the reality changing every nanosecond just like waves of sea erase the previous impressions in sand made by the preceding wave. So, who is there who perceives and makes this claim that Nothing is permanent?
And, against what standard you measure permanence relative to impermanence? Everything is impermanent relative to what? If everything if temporary, then how would the concept of any sort of permanence even arise? What is the ground for you to stand on? What is the reference point? Against what measuring rod will you judge impermanence?
Monk, Even to say Nothing exists, there has to be a relative plane of Existence. Else against what would you say Nothing exists, if you don’t know what Existence is? And when you say non-being is there – so logically, non-being exists – impermanence is permanently there, you are putting yourself in serious logical snare. Don’t you think by negating everything you are caught in an absurd redux? The entire Theory of Impermanence is erroneous.
Agreed what one sees or perceived is fleeting, transitory. But then how do you create your own locus standi for the transitoriness to be perceived? Who is the witness, the spectator? There has to be One. The primordial ground, the eternal essence, which is at the basis of everything and from which the whole world has arisen (the Brahman of the Upanishads). There is no void, all that exists is Fullness, Brahman. The world is not non-existent (Asat), but it is illusory (Mithya) meaning, it exist, but appears to us other than what is really is because of Ajanan (Ignorance), Avidya (Nescience) and Maya (Illusions).
Buddhist Monk: (Causes digression because there is no reply to this argument) Come on, then where is the proof that there is something permanent, some ever-present continuum?
Acharya: Yes, I will. The answer is in anusmrteh cha [Brahm Sutra - II.ii.25:] meaning “In memory too”. All of us have memories of good experiences, bad ones, many-a-times shared memories. Now let me ask you something Monk. If you say everything is momentary, how do you explain memory? Memory falsifies your entire base. The [Buddhist] doctrine of momentariness must imply momentariness of the perceiver as well as of the perceived, an implication which the phenomenon of memory proves to be wrong and completely false. If both perceived object and the perceiver change, there would be no connect – and there would not be any case for memory! Because the entire scene changes – so every moment Man should rise and ask Who am I? Where am I? If the man who remembers is different from the man who apprehended we would never have such notions as "I saw it." – both ‘I’ (Subject) and ‘it’ (Object) would have changed over the moment. Phenomenon of memory shows that your basic tenets are wrong. The theoretical edifice has been created on a false foundation.(You notice how he brings in the Atman theory (first bolded sentence) indirectly. What does Shankara mean? He is attacking Buddhists who think of the ‘I’ sense in the following manner: I …. I…. I (where the ‘I’ sense does not exist during the dotted time period). What Sankara is arguing is that how do these Buddhists know that the series is not I1…I2…I3 etc where I1, I2, I3 are three different ego-consciousnesses? How can there be a stable personality which remembers a unique past or recognises old friends if the ego is unstable? In fact it is these Buddhists who need an unchanging principle (the Atman) that witnesses everything for all time (i.e. even during the gaps in ego-consciousness). Only if this Atman exists can Buddhists avoid problems regarding stability of personality. Otherwise a person who is Rama at one moment will consider himself Lakshmana in the next moment after the ego comes back. If these Buddhists now say that the ego-consciousness is stable and not momentary in order to save themselves from this conundrum then they have refuted themselves. Sankara then goes on to say that he can give a similar argument refuting Buddhist realists who regard the external world to exist momentarily. Even in this case of a momentary external world you will need an Atman (an unchanging witness for all time) to give stability to our perception. So in either case you need the Atman principle to make sense of our experience)
Buddhist Monk: Ok. Fair Point. I can’t argue against that. If I say there is perception, there has to be a perceiver. That’s exactly why I say there is neither an object of perception nor a perceiver. The World is unreal. Do you deny the unreality of the outer world?
Acharya: No. Here I am in full agreement with you. The so-called world is unreal to the extent of what we ordinarily see. The names and forms (Nama-Roopa) are fleeting.
[This is a unique and great similarity between Acharya’s Vedanta and the Buddhist ontological world view – Illusoriness of external World]
But it does not mean that there is no basis to this unreality. Not “Sarvam kshanikam kshanikam - Sarvam Shunyam Shunyam”!
[That is the fundamental difference between Acharya’s Advaita (Singularity of existence) Vedant and the Buddhist Nihilistic (Absence of existence) view]
You are wrong again Friend, because in Vijnanavada, you dwell on ‘only & mere’ perception to make the entire conscious Universe. If you have presumed perception, then whose perception? Perception of what? How can you presume and base your theory on the effect only, without looking at the causes? Such a theory is inadequate, inaccurate and false. The Great Gotama too fell into that trap of not inquiring deep enough. To formulate a simple theory, he ignored to delve into the true cause of suffering – the cause of suffering is not desire or attachment per se – but those are intermediate causes. Like a link in a chain. There is still another layer to the inquiry into desires, attachment, and bondage – that is Avidya and Ajnana. The nescience and ignorance cause desire and attachment. Gotama failed to see the true enemy.
Buddhist Monk: [Fuming) How can you question the Tathagata? He was omniscient (A Buddhist axiom).
Acharya: What proof is there that Tathagata Gotama was omniscient? I say No, he was not. And look at me, I am beyond suffering. So, how do you refute me? This Buddhist axiom is completely wrong.
Anyways, our coffee has arrived. Take this cup in your hand Shaman. What do you see?
Buddhist Monk: I see nothing actually. This apparent cup with apparent coffee in it, these, at the deepest layer are made up of discrete individual particles. The deepest level of both the material world and our consciousness is considered to be discrete, separate entities. Thus when we introspect into the deepest layer of our consciousness, we will find that it is composed not from a single homogenous whole but of discrete ‘particles’ – always in flux, always changing – never permanent.
Acharya: (Smiles) Oh, Dear Friend. I get your point. True there is no real cup – the cup is nothing but made up of clay – clay given another form and shape with heat. So, there is clay inside the cup. The cylindrical object (roopa) is the mere appearance which we have named a cup (Nama), there is no Cup as such, but clay in another form. I fully agree when you said You didn’t see a cup. But I disagree when you failed to see the clay in the cup. You can never assume clay out. No matter how deep will you go, there has to be a smaller and smaller entity which will exist. You can not extend the hair-splitting to non-existence. In the final split, something has to exist. And it does exist. Whatever it is, Quantum calls those particles, String people call those Strings, Relativists call those Energy – whatever name you may call, there has to be something that exists. It was there when the Universe started with Big Bang, it was there before it too (else how could the Big Bang singularity have started), it was always there, it is there in everything, it will always be there. We are all made up of Star dust. That star which existed in Big Bang, from which elements got created, from which Space came out. That is the Truth Dear Friend, you can’t assume that out only because you don’t see the subtlest level. You have stopped your quest before you reached the ultimate stage. Yes, particles may be there (Vaishesika friend tells me), particles may be in flux where you wont know what exactly is happening to them (Mister Schrödinger will tell you after 1300 years); but don’t get deluded – there is something that is still more subtle, and pervades everything. Everything can not come out of Nothing. The deepest Truth is Single, homogenous, a whole (Purnam).
Buddhist Monk: Oh. What is the proof, Acharya?
Acharya: Proof. I can offer you Shruti pramana (Scriptures as proof). But you and Tathagat are heretics, you don’t believe in the primacy of Shrutis.
To us, words of Shruti are unquestionable. Even the other day, Mandan Mishra (The great MImanshak) agreed to the same. The Vedas, the Shruti Shastra, the Puranas, Smriti, all teach an ens realissimum (an entity of highest reality) as the primordial cause of all existence, from which everything has arisen and with which it again merges, either temporarily or forever. And that sub-stratum always exists. Know my friend, that is the Only Truth, and Nothing but the Truth – the Sat-Chit-Ananda – the Brahman. “Sarvam khalvidam brahma' that is “All this is indeed Brahman” – and not Sarvam Shunyam Shunyam.
But for you My Friend, here is the argument. Everyone has the notion "I am"; no one can deny the self, because when you go to deny – there would be the self of the denier – who would scale up the denial.
[Both these arguments, that of the Witness and that of Identity, are at the very center of Acharya Shankara's system of Advaita Vedanta]
The Acharya Continued:
“Brahmaivedam amritam
Purastad brahma pascad brahma
Dakshinatas cottarena
Adhas cordhvam ca prasritam
Brahmaivedam visvam idam varishtham
Translation:
“That Brahman is Eternal.
Brahman in front and Brahman in back,
In the South, on the North,
Also Overhead and Below - expanded,
This Brahman is the Universe, this is the Greatest.”
-Mundaka Upanishad, Mundaka II.Khanda 2.Shloka 12
In other words, that supreme Brahman effulgence spreads throughout both the material and spiritual
That Brahman is known by multifarious names My Friend! People see it as Atma, as Ishwara, as Aum - the Pranav, as Prjnanam, there are many names. But there is nothing in those names. [Om Tat Sat]
I will add here my Friend, your Mahayana Buddhist scripture preaches the existence of the "Tathagata Garbha" (Buddha-Matrix/Essence) within all sentient creatures. This Mahasanghikas (Sect of Buddhism) notion of Tathagata Garbha is so close to Advaitic concept of Atman – the manifestation of Brahman in jeeva. This does not differ from a permanent Atman, though you never accept it!! You accept the Advaitic view by altering the nomenclature!
Buddhist Monk: (Started to leave the debate in fury. Acharya requests him to finish coffee). By Gotama! It’s so hot. My lips are burnt.
Acharya: Stop here. What did you say? Your lips are burnt? You are suffering, are not you? But at the same time you say there is no Soul. So, who is suffering? Buddhaghosa (Classical Theravada) has said that “there is only suffering, but nobody who suffers”, Mahayanist Śhantideva has interpreted Buddha that “the person who experiences suffering does not exist”. Is not that a ridiculous proposition? So why all these teachings? For whom? Who were Tathagata’s subjects?

Buddhist Monk: Come on Acharya! You too teach the unreality as cause of suffering and grief and pain. The world is nothing but an idea – a dream-like construct where nothing is real (Idealism in Buddhism/Vijnanavada). And now why do you criticize our unreality while professing yours?
Acharya: No. You have not understood the true essence of Advaita then. The unreality of external world that I teach is not based on nothing (It is not Nihilist). My unreality does not base on absence of reality – but on flawed perception of reality. Unlike you, I don’t say there is NO reality at all! I say there is reality and only ONE reality, but the way we perceive or take cognizance is erroneous because of Avidya, Ajnaan and Maya. Once the perception of snake goes away from the rope on the floor, there remain to Snake, only a rope! And there was never a Snake at all, it was rope all throughout. So, the unreal (Snake) was real till the true real (Rope) was realized. After realization, there was never a snake. Likewise, after you realize Brahman, you will experience that there was never a World of otherness. There was always Brahman, here there, inside outside. You are Brahman. It is an absolute identity and this is ultimately proved simply by psychological experience. Shruti has maintained "Tat tvam asi" (That art Thou); "Brahmasmi" (I am Brahman). This is no ‘similarity’ as if we should say, "I am something like Brahman", but full and complete identity, “I am the Brahman” and “Brahman is Me”.
The Great Tathagata saw suffering, but never endevoured to go deep into its causes. He saw the unrealness of the work-a-day, realized it fully, but he did not realize the true cause (Avidya) and the entity beyond the cause (Brahman). He did not see that strand of argument.
Buddhist Monk: Nah! Sakyamuni did not believe in philosophization or polemics. In Shoola Malunkyovada Sutta, the Tathagata has clarified that he won’t venture into questions of philosophy of suffering, but only the method as to end suffering - "The important thing is to get rid of the poisoned arrow (Suffering) that has pierced your heart, not to inquire where it came from (Source of suffering)”.
Acharya: I know. But then, what did the ilks of Nagarjuna, Vasubabdhu, Asanga, Dharmakirti, Aswaghosa, etc. do? Then why all of them attempted complex philosophisation? No wonder that they failed to bring out a holistic Theory of Being due to inherent contradictions and flaws in the basic tenets. Were they not Vipra Bhikshus (Buddhist Bhikshus at exterior, Brahmin Vedists by intellectual disposition) rather than Buddhists?

I also know the Great Buddha avoided philosophical and metaphysical questions. He did not look deep enough. He just sensed the symptoms of the ailment of suffering and not the true cause. Desire, bondage and attachment etc. are symptoms, not causes. But the Vedas and the Shruti inquired deeper – into the Source of suffering, and the method of Vedant interprets Shruti correctly by pointing out the real causes being ‘Avidya’ (Nescience), and false imputation (Adhyasa) due to Maya.
Buddhist Monk: Acharya!
Acharya: No, don’t say Nothing ever again! The Great Buddhist teachers did ‘exist’ and so did Tathagata. If you firmly believe in Tathagata; then you believe in his existence too! Their mortal embodiments were temporal, but teachings eternal, their thought eternal. That Jnana is eternal. That’s where Brahman shines. It is the light by which everything is seen, the light of which the sun and moon are pale reflections. It is not only real but so egregiously real that the work-a-day world fades into mist beside it.
Buddhist Monk: Starts to leave muttering No, No, No…..
[This is a very simple exposition. Mostly consisting of the Advaitic critique of Buddhism gleaned from various sources. A detailed account would require a thesis.]

I am still using my phone for komoot due to various limitations I hear from dedicated devices. But with a phone, the main problem is the battery of the phone not necessarily lasting that long and the display being harder to read.
My summary from looking at it 1-2 years ago was as follows:

• Wahoo devices work well with komoot, automatic re-routing does too, it can be annoying to change something on the device itself due to limited button controls
• Garmin typically imports komoot tours with too many waypoints, and like that re-routing typically doesn't work well.

Any other hardware devices? Did something change in the last years?
Another idea of mine is to specifically get an android smartphone with the best battery runtime and only run komoot on it + use my normal phone as a hotspot whenever I need it (however that affects battery again...)

As a college student, academic success is a top priority. College can be both exhilarating and challenging, with juggling coursework, social activities, and perhaps a part-time job feeling overwhelming at times. However, achieving high grades is attainable with the right strategies and mindset. Here are some effective ways to excel academically.

1. Time Management is Key

One of the most critical aspects of succeeding in college is managing your time efficiently. Here are a few tips to help you stay on top of your schedule:

• Create a Study Schedule: Allocate specific times for studying each subject. Consistency helps in retaining information better and reduces last-minute cramming.
• Use a Planner or Digital Calendar: Mark important dates for assignments, exams, and projects. This helps you prioritize tasks and avoid forgetting crucial deadlines.
• Break Tasks into Smaller Steps: Large assignments can be daunting. Breaking them down into smaller, manageable tasks can make them less intimidating and easier to complete.
• Avoid Procrastination: Break tasks into smaller chunks and start early to avoid last-minute stress.

2. Active Participation in Classes

Attending classes regularly and actively participating can significantly impact your understanding and retention of the material. Here’s how you can make the most out of your classes:

• Engage with the Material: Ask questions if you don’t understand something. Engaging with the content helps reinforce your learning and shows your professors that you’re interested.
• Take Detailed Notes: Good notes are essential for effective studying. Develop a system that works for you, whether it’s using bullet points, mind maps, or digital note-taking apps.
• Join Study Groups: Collaborating with peers can provide different perspectives on the material and fill in gaps in your understanding.

3. Effective Study Techniques

Studying smarter, not harder, is crucial. Here are some study techniques that can enhance your learning:

• Active Learning: Engage with the material actively by summarizing information in your own words, teaching it to someone else, or creating flashcards.
• Pomodoro Technique: This time management method involves studying for 25 minutes, then taking a 5-minute break. After four cycles, take a longer break. This helps maintain focus and prevents burnout.
• Spaced Repetition: Spread out your study sessions over time rather than cramming. This technique improves long-term retention and understanding of the material.
• Take Notes: Summarize key points during lectures.
• Use Flashcards: Create flashcards for important concepts.
• Teach Someone Else: Explaining a topic to a friend reinforces your understanding.

4. Utilize Campus Resources

Many colleges offer resources that can aid your academic performance. Make sure to take advantage of them:

• Academic Advising: Advisors can help you plan your course schedule and offer guidance on meeting your academic goals.
• Tutoring Services: If you’re struggling with a particular subject, don’t hesitate to seek help from tutors. They can provide personalized assistance and clarify difficult concepts.
• Libraries and Study Spaces: Find a quiet place that’s conducive to studying. Libraries often have designated quiet zones and study rooms that can help you focus.

5. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

Your physical and mental well-being directly impact your academic performance. Here are some tips to stay healthy:

• Balanced Diet: Eating nutritious meals fuels your brain and body, enhancing your concentration and energy levels.
• Regular Exercise: Physical activity reduces stress and boosts cognitive function. Even short walks can make a difference.
• Adequate Sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Proper rest is essential for memory consolidation and overall cognitive performance.
• Mindfulness and Stress Management: Practices such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises can help manage stress and keep you focused.

6. Stay Motivated and Set Goals

Setting clear, achievable goals can keep you motivated throughout the semester. Here’s how to stay on track:

• Set Specific, Measurable Goals: Rather than vague goals like “do well in classes,” aim for specific targets such as “study for two hours daily” or “achieve an A in biology.”
• Reward Yourself: Celebrate your achievements, big or small. Rewards can be as simple as a favorite treat, a break to watch your favorite show, or a day out with friends.
• Stay Positive: Keep a positive attitude towards your studies. Believe in your ability to succeed and don’t let setbacks discourage you.

7. Test Preparation Strategies

Ace those exams with effective preparation:

• Practice Past Papers: Familiarize yourself with the format.
• Review Regularly: Don’t cram—review consistently.
• Stay Calm: Manage test anxiety with deep breathing techniques.

8. Collaborate with Peers

Study groups can be beneficial:

• Discuss Concepts: Explaining ideas to others reinforces learning.
• Peer Accountability: Set study goals together.
• Share Resources: Exchange notes and study materials.

Conclusion

By incorporating these strategies into your college routine, you can improve your academic performance and ensure your grades soar. Remember, success in college is not just about intelligence but also about adopting effective habits and maintaining a balanced lifestyle. In addition, you can also join our community at 911papers_homworkhelp for more tips or need help, and also to connect with other students who share similar academic experiences.
911papers.com

This is a really long story but I’ve been so desperate to just tell it from start to finish so thank you in advance if you make it all the way through.
To provide context to the rest of the story, I (22f) was in a very bad, very controlling relationship for three years. Near to the start of this relationship, I worked at an escape room where I met an awesome group of people and we started to play DND together – DM’d by the guy who ended up becoming my best friend, we'll call him Brad (23m). My ex got worse over time in various ways, but one of which was his jealousy which seemed to focus on Brad. Every time that I would go to DND I would have to remind my ex that Brad was already in a relationship with his long-time partner, Bella, and therefore he did not have feelings for me. This came up constantly and was always a fight.
It was incredibly difficult to escape, but with the support of my three closest friends, Jenna (23f), Millie (26f), and Brad, eventually I got out. I moved back in with my mum, but I was in a very bad mental state at the time and would do everything in my power not to be alone. For this reason, I would have sleepovers at all my close friends’ houses as often as I could – sleeping in Brad and Bella’s closet when I would stay at theirs. I did become closer with all of the other members of my DND group too (there were 7 of us in total) but for the purposes of keeping things simple I will focus on these four. I leaned on these friendships hard. All my friendships had been so monitored and controlled for years before this and I was so excited to be a normal adult finally. For about six months, life was amazing.
It was some time around October that I met my now partner (22m) and we started to form a relationship. He was kind and funny and I was so excited to share it with all my friends. Brad always seemed apprehensive about it, but I figured that was just because of my previous relationship. It was also around this time that Brad started struggling with something but wouldn’t share what. Jenna and I genuinely theorised that he was terminally ill with the way that he was acting. One night, I had driven Brad home from work, and I used the opportunity to ask about it because everyone was really worried. After a bit of coaxing, he told me that he thought that he was polyamorous. He had been with Bella for about five years at this point and he was worried by revealing this to her that he would destroy their relationship. He said that aside from his therapist, I was the first person that he had told and asked me not to tell anyone, which I obviously agreed to. Eventually he told her, and they told the group together, and said that they were going to make it work.
It was about December now, and I moved jobs and fell into a depressive episode. I stopped seeing my friends very much at all, and at the worse of it I had made an attempt at my life. My partner was amazing through this considering how little time we had been together, and not long after I started to get help and rebuild. When I tried to rejoin DND, everything felt different. Brad was suddenly talking over me when my character would try to speak up, wouldn’t have NPCs speak to my character, and really he would hardly look at me. I had tried to meet up with Jenna, Millie, and Brad, to tell them about what had happened with me during my episode, but Brad blew me off every time. I was so stressed that I had done something wrong, but I couldn’t figure out what since I had been away for the past couple of months.
Finally, shit really hit the fan in May at Millie’s wedding. I was standing with Bella while she told the story about her and Brad working out polyamory, and in telling the story she said that she had been the first person that he had told. This threw me for a loop, since I knew that he had told me first, and it massively irked me that he had hid that from her. I left the conversation to find Jenna to tell her, to which she took me aside and told me that Brad had been in love with me for a while now, and I had caused a lot of issues in his and Bella’s relationship. I felt awful for the rest of the wedding and sat on the cold street to vent this all to my partner.
I went to a few DND sessions after that, but I felt so self-conscious about the arguments that I had apparently caused between two friends, and since Brad was basically ignoring me in the sessions anyway, I decided one day to send a short and sweet message to the group thanking them for the years of fun, but that I would be dropping out for now.
My first regret was, when Brad pressed about why I had left, softening the blow as much as possible. I did tell him that I knew about his feelings, but I said that I was mainly leaving for my mental health, which was not true as I was in a much better spot at this point. He was very angry at Jenna for telling me, but otherwise the conversation was fairly civil. He apologised, gave me more context, explained that that was why he had been distant, confirmed that I had been a big issue in his and Bella’s relationship, and explained that I was the reason that he had figured out that he was polyamorous – I expect from me staying over at their house so often. Finally, he told me that I would be welcome back to DND at any time. I said that I was frustrated that he hadn’t spoken to me like an adult because I just thought that he had hated me, and he said that I was just a complicated situation. He also told me not to tell anyone about any of it, but especially Bella that we had had that conversation as he wanted to be the one to do it. Fine. I was upset, but I still figured that I would be able to return to the group at that point.
Months pass, and I haven’t been to any group events for a combination of reasons. I feel too uncomfortable to face Brad and Bella, I figure that removing myself from the situation is the kindest thing to do to give them space, and since I can’t tell anyone else about what happened, I feel socially a bit isolated. No worries, I can rejoin the group again when I feel comfortable, right? I have Millie over one day and she asks why I left. After a bit of back and forth, I think that she knows some level of what happened, but more than that I am just desperate to get this off my chest, so I give a brief, sympathetic overview of the situation. She is an amazing listening ear, which was exactly what I needed because this had been eating me away, and she is very mature when I ask this to not affect her relationship with him. Little did I know that I had just thrown a match into a powder keg.
I’m not totally clear on what happened, but basically Brad hadn’t told Bella that we had had a conversation. Millie accidentally revealed that I had told her, and Bella (rightfully so honestly) was furious with Brad, who then was furious at me for telling Millie. In this second conversation with him, I explained that I had thought that Millie had known to a degree anyway. He kept going on about how much of an impact this had made to his and Bella’s relationship, and I got frustrated and explained that they were actually the sole reason that I had left the group when I did, and it had had a massive impact on me too. He got apologetic, but in retrospect I think it was just trying to tide me over. He told me that Bella was uncomfortable when he and I were in a room together, which put the final nail in the coffin for my hopes to ever return to the group. He still swung the conversation back around to how hard it had all been for them and ended the conversation with a long list of Bella’s insecurities. In retrospect, this was a bit random and I’m not sure why he did that. In any case, I responded with a big paragraph refuting each of her insecurities one by one and talking about how great she is. I wish that I had just sent this message straight to her, as honestly, I doubt, she would have ever seen it.
So now we’ve had two conversations, and I don’t see any way that I can return to the group. Months later again, and I see them for the first time at a Halloween party. I had made a great new group of friends at this party, and given the history, I thought that it was fairly reasonable not to go up and have a chat with them. At one point, I am talking with someone when Brad walks up, without Bella, and says hi to me. Maybe I was petty, but considering Bella wasn’t even there and one of the last things that he had told me was that Bella was uncomfortable when he and I were in a room together, I wasn’t particularly excited to chat. I just said a cordial hi, stayed in the conversation for a minute longer, and then migrated away.
Honestly, I hadn’t even thought twice about this. By this point, I hadn’t seen Jenna for maybe six months, and the rest of the DND group for even longer. The only one who I’ve stayed in contact with is Millie. One day, I ask Millie out for coffee, and about halfway through she has this look of realisation pass her face. She tells me that “she thought I knew” and that was why I had asked her out for coffee. Knew what? Well apparently, Brad and Bella had organised basically a formal meeting with the whole friend group to tell them what had happened with me on that night. Obviously, they had not told me. Millie is amazing and relays to me what happens at the meeting which thankfully is fairly true, but there are two points that irk me. One is that it is entirely “woe is them” focussed, as if I didn’t lose all of my friends, and two is that Brad makes a remark that he thinks that I knew the whole time that he had feeling for me and that I wasn’t just innocent and naive. This is infuriating for me for reasons that I will get to. What actually breaks my heart is that apparently Jenna got up at the meeting and apologised to everyone for telling me in the first place. After that, I had two more people from the group reach out and reconnect, but not everyone and not Jenna.
This all started in July of 2022, and it’s now May of 2024, so I’m largely over it, but here are some of my feelings on the matter. One, I know that I am non-confrontational, and as much as it was initially supposed to be a kindness, I do think there was an element of running away from my problems. Two, my family and close friends kept telling me that I should send screenshots of everything to group chats or tell everyone my perspective. I think that more than anything, I had already lost everyone, and I really didn’t want to turn the group against each other. I think that would have been vindictive and petty and not me. Three, maybe I should have seen the signs that he had feelings for me earlier on, and I feel a lot of guilt about that. However, I had the exact same relationship with him as I did with Millie and Jenna, and I’ve always been of the belief that males and females can absolutely be friends. Maybe my relationships with Millie and Jenna were too close too, but after having been socially isolated for three years I suppose I was and still am hazy about where the boundaries lie. To be so clear, though, nothing ever actually happened. The best clue that I can recall was when he would say I love you man, but that’s the kind of thing that we all said to each other. Otherwise, as far as I was aware, we were just really close friends. Furthermore, I had also just come out of a long-term relationship, where I was frequently convincing my ex that Brad did not have feelings for me. I never told anyone that part because I didn’t want Brad to blame himself, but now that I’ve found out I was wrong, I’ve been going down a spiral about what else my ex may have been right about and what other behaviours he had that may have been justified. I digress. I’ve mourned the loss of my friends and support network more times than I can count, and I am aware that I could have fought to stay in the group and Brad isn’t entirely to blame for that, but it does really frustrate me that, as was clear in the board meeting he and Bella held about me, what I have been through does not seem to even cross their minds. Brad was supposed to have been my best friend. Although, now I can’t help but feel like he, intentionally or not, saw me at a vulnerable point and took advantage of it to get inappropriately close to me, and we were never really “best friends”. If I could erase our entire friendship, I would in a heartbeat. At least then I would still have the rest of my friends. I am open to hearing what people have to say, but as far as I am aware my only crime was being naïve. There are honestly so many more details but this post is already obscenely long. My final note is that my partner is the real MVP as he probably heard me vent and cry about this two dozen times and supported me through all of it. Thank you so much for reading if you made it this far.

Me ( 14F ) , I jsut lost my dog which has been with me my whole entire childhood, every memory I have she’s in.. I lost her this morning and I have no idea how to leave anymore.. I’m giving up on please how do I cope. She was my main attachment figure and seeing her on her death bed tore my heart to misses and now I feel empty, my heart feels so empty. I also have had some su!c!dal th0uvhrs.

I (24M) plan to propose to my girlfriend soon (specifically on our anniversary), but she and I have discussed wedding plans throughout our relationship. However, one thing that I've always kind of gone back and forth on is whether or not I wanted to invite my father to my wedding.
To summarize, he was physically and emotionally abusive to me and my brother growing up, and verbally abusive to my mom. She thankfully recognized that was heading nowhere good fast, and got us out of there pretty early on into their marriage, so we were spared the worst of what could have been. But he remained an alcoholic asshole for the majority of our lives.
He remarried quite a few years ago, and I now have two more siblings between him and my step mother. He changed a couple of years ago when it became clear that he was about to fuck up this family too. He sobered up, became less of an asshole, actually acted like a father.
I won't act like he was terrible all the time. There were good days, sometimes even good weeks. As kids, he was our dad, and we craved his attention. When I moved out of my mom's and had nowhere to go, he let me stay with him and his new family for a few months until I got back on my feet. All of this has led me not to hate him anymore. And I'm sure somewhere in me, there's still love there. It's just kind of hard to see, and even harder to reach.
The crux of the matter is, I don't really want him at my wedding, with the one person I love most in this world who really helped me out of a dark place in my life. But I do want my siblings there, they're too young to attend on their own (6 and 9), and I know my step-mother won't go without my father.
My girlfriend has said that she'd support whatever I decided, but has encouraged me to invite him, if only so that my younger siblings can still be there. She's pointed out that he's changed. I just don't know if my dislike of the idea of him being there outweighs the benefit of my siblings being there.

I dont know if anyone here likes roleplaying Batim but I have a really good idea based on this bendy and the ink machine au I rediscovered a while back.
As much as I love Audrey as a main character in Bendy and the dark revival I stan Henry Stein so I will most likely be playing as a genderbent version of him (art will be provided upon request if I can find it. Because I'm certain someone genderbended him)(Update: Ref art has been found)
And we honestly could fuse elements from Batim and Batdr if you wanna talk about this.
Because I had an idea for a breakout.
I mean Alice brokeout on her own why can't all of them? And Allison somehow stayed away from Wilson although now that I'm thinking about it, it was probably Tom who kept her away from Wilson.
I'm looking for someone at least over 18 to roleplay this with. Because it will have some lovey dovey moments between Henry/Henrietta and her husband. Because I love the idea of Hen's love for her husband be the reason that the golden ink actually develops.
I can roleplay on discord and on Reddit. You just gotta tell me your preference between the two.
But I do play in third person and would rather you be in third person as well.
For those who don't know.
This is how I write:
Henry opened her eyes groggily as a bright golden light hit her eyes. It was rare that light even got to the cycle breaker room so she assumed it was probably Wilson or one of his creations coming to make sure the rest of the cycle breakers didn't escape.
Although when she finally opened her eyes completely she realized that the window outside her room was still dark. It took her a few moments before she looked down realizing that their was a golden spiral on her hand.

Scans: https://imgur.com/gallery/iEP7b6A
https://imgur.com/gallery/S7Tp47K
https://imgur.com/gallery/03dJboo
https://imgur.com/gallery/jOWbmHU
https://imgur.com/gallery/A7yv2Bu
https://imgur.com/gallery/acLsdSM
Let’s jump right into it:
The Universe is infinite in size, with uncountably infinite spaces in uncountably infinite dimensions within infinite dimensional layers, it has infinite iterations/timelines across arbitrary “Canonical Bundles”, each quark contains infinitely nested universes with infinite vectors across infinite dimensions and extended modal realism, there are arbitrary “para-dimensions” made from human potentiality, each universe is tegmark type-IV including transcendental mathematics and the “mathematical equation” that makes up the Macrocosm, a fractal hierarchy of conceptual spacetime and mass-energy, theory of everything applies, and platonic ideas exist in infinity-dimensional reality and contains every concept including Absolute Infinity and negative/anti-dimensional concepts, furthermore it has infinite spiritual, physical, mental and conceptual planes. All these hierarchies are within “Existential Plane 1” which is surpassed by Existential Plane 2 and more than Aleph Null planes, with axes worlds stretched alongside them with higher hyper-concepts further on and on; this and countless alternate realms connected to it make up the True Universe; things in this universe can have varying levels of “reality” which is formed by metaphysical bones and collective ideas.
There are infinite True Universes in the Meta-universe, and infinite Meta-universes in the Multiverse which has all possible universes (described as infinite layers of spirals upon spirals), every potentiality in the multiverse generates another multiverse, every potentiality in this multiverse (including their interactions) generates another multiverse, ad infinitum; these still share essential laws of existence (local multiverse) which separates them from the Greater Multiverse with worlds beyond relation or logic or physics, yet with infinite foreign concepts and all still stacked on top of each other forming a dot, a line, and all sorts of shapes, described as fractals within fractals beyond imagination. This Greater Multiverse is one in an infinite line of multiverses, each of these has a civilization that is destined to create the next to be physically and conceptually more complex and axiomatically superior (using all the available knowledge in their multiverse, it stands to reason this would include Absolute Infinity), ad infinitum, and then there is another completely infinite line of them, and another, and so on to infinity (surpassing any infinity conceived by any civilization), and the resulting structure stretches to infinity as well, and this process is repeated infinitely infinite times and more, this process “Transfinite Recursion'' goes as deep as mathematically possible, even a single line is incomprehensible in scale to a future more advanced multiverse. This is the Metaverse. It is surpassed by one more layer by Omega (God).
There are many Metaverses in the Omniverse, which is formed by 13 intertwined baseline realities and in the center of them there is THE NOT, an incomprehensible void of all things that Neverwere and outscales by infinity all things that Are. This is still in just one of the infinite layers of existence, countless layers of non-existence and numberless layers of transcendent reality beyond the conceptual duality of existence/non-existence.
the whole cosmology is an N-dimensional set of narrative planes connecting at conceptual points, all within a branch of the Yggdrasil, one in an endless garden of ever growing World Trees that multiply from every decision in every work of fiction ever made, this is a narrative layer, which is seen as fiction by a higher narrative layer, which is seen as fiction by a higher narrative layer (these also hold transduality and higher conceptual complexity over the lower layers, every idea had by an entity is created by an author, necessitating that every conceivable idea is reality since an author already had it, this extends to all our concepts as well, including ours), and so on to infinity in a structure called a Narrative Ladder, a narrative layer can also contain a narrative ladder in it (making a fractal narrative multiverse so to speak) and at the peak of it resides Universe Prime/Universe Sephiroth which is an infinitely real Universe with infinite narrative energy which is distributed downwards narratively, there are countless narrative ladders in The Hyperstructure, which is surpassed by even higher narrative layers recursively, the totality of this system can also be seen as an Inverted Narrative Tree where endlessly splitting narrative lines stretch downwards (including the buffer layer, alpha⁰ “void” layer and ALPHA layer which can create more layers below), there is a forest full of narrative trees which also has as an undercurrent the Infosphere (made up of 256.713 conceptual tiers, each axiomatically superior to the last, the 3rd tier has all nöospheric concepts including the whole Omniverse per narrative (nöosphere is itself inside the Semiosphere which contains the very logic behind mathematics and reality outside perception), the 4th has all anti-nöospheric concepts whose size is measured in alephs up until the inaccessible cardinal and other nöospheres, the 5th is the Patasphere which is a set of all stories concievable by humans and can contain whole narrative layers), above it is the first layer of the afterlife which has countless hallways with infinite doors each with its own afterlife, all concepts are a shadow of this first layer of the afterlife (platonic>material transcendence from Infosphere concepts), which is a shadow of the second layer that also has the same existences we have seen until now inside, which is also a shadow of the third and so on ad infinitum until Absolute Perfection, which is the realm of the gods, this is at the roots of the Tree of Knowledge. The Tree of Knowledge is the archetype of all narrative trees and anchors mathematical laws and logic, around its lower parts are the Low Elder Gods, in the middle are the Death Brothers, near its peak are the High Elder Gods (who could destroy the tree by accident), and at the top is the Almighty. At the core of the Tree of Knowledge is the Wanderer’s Library, an infinite library that exists across every plane and dimension and reality, and contains every SCP article as a mere book, alongside everything ever and never written, the Black Vaults of Alagadda are a “dark mirror” of the Wanderer’s Library and Alagadda itself is a realm of pure pataphysics and the domain of the authors.
The Tree of Knowledge is inside the Garden of Eden alongside the Tree of Life, below it is The Abyss and above it is The Dome, together they form the Omnidirectional Narrative which is the second of the Twelve Monuments (all stacked on top of one another), these are at the root of the Imaginary Tree, at the top of this is the narrative ladder, the Imaginary Tree is supported by the Mirror Mountain, a mere rock within the Prologue Sea, starting at the Mirror Mountain are countless gates upwards, behind each is an Outer God and endless other gods (each superior and more indescribable than the lower gates’), at the Final Gate is the Nameless Realm, both the Nameless Realm and Prologue Sea are projections of the Outer Layer of Origin, which is in the dream of the Original Chaos, the Flying Spaghetti Monster is even higher and resides within the Final Frontier, this is a narrative domain created by the Meow Cat God (all of these are R>F and conceptual transcendences) which is a Super-Narrative Existence, above it is where SCP-3812 reached. These are all still inside Haotian “Dao” which makes up the eternal cycle of absolutely everything beyond even narratives and multiverses. Yet all of this is still one Narrative Domain, a circle of events that cannot be exited and contains all lower narrative structures, the Great Narrative Echelon “Jianmu” is a bigger narrative structure that makes objects in it project lower versions of themselves in lower narrative layers/domains, it is contained in the “Liaokuo” a super-narrative place beyond narratives, “Daluotian” contains Liaokuo, the Hollow is the area outside Daluotian but still inside a Phantom Bubble.
Every canon/headcanon of the SCP Foundation is simultaneously canon, each in its own Phantom Bubble which is the maximum stretch of all potentialities within a canon/headcanon and the sum of the worldview “omnipotent universe” of each authoauthor group, more of them can be created from other Phantom Bubbles and they can reflect each other to be altered and grow into more Phantom Bubbles, they overlap, contain each other recursively, and blend eternally, they are completely undefinable. These are all contained in the Delusional Domain, which contains all narrative domains and even further away are those of other franchises in all of fiction, outside the Phantom Bubbles are elements that bubbles can cluster close to such as “antagonism” represented by The Scarlet Demon, it was created by Void Emperor Xuhuang, who is inferior to Koitern, who is an avatar of Metanormalcy “Supreme Author”, this is the supreme being of the verse, everything is but an infinitesimal fraction of it, all dualities and existences were created by it. “True Reality” the Real Real World which projects downwards to the Delusional Domain, the only reason anything can affect anything is due to the people of the True Reality.
Top 10 Strongest Characters:

1. True Authors: Obviously.
   
2. Metanormalcy “Supreme Author”: Above Delusional Domain, originated all narrative domains and is described as “omnipotent”.
   
3. The Koitern: Avatar of Metanormalcy, stated to upscale from the Database, the Almighty and Void Emperor.
   
4. Void Emperor Xuhuang: Created the infinite Phantom Bubbles, created SCP-2165 and uses the Supreme Gods as puppets.
   
5. True Upper Narrators: Those who created the Tappered Spear and gave it to Robert Bumaro, which he used to one-shot the Scarlet Demon.
   
6. Scarlet Demon: Turned uncountable Phantom Bubbles into ashes and grew in power when challenged, held the Spear of Aeglios and is redder than Adabas.
   
7. Jester In Yellow: Pretends to be the True Authors in lower narratives, sees the Supreme Gods as puppets.
   
8. SCP-2165 “Irredeemable/Impermanence”: Deleted every Supreme God and an entire Phantom Bubble.
   
9. Adabas and Holos: Tied, the highest Supreme Gods that control chaos and order respectively, Adabas’ avatars are SCP-2747 and Yaldabaoth, Holos’ are Mekhane and WAN.
   
10. Yog-Sothoth: Created the Tin Staff of Dreams that pierced the infinite narratives downwards, it works as a key for the Final Gate, and could kill SCP-3812 and Original Evil Two Eyes.
    
11. Mary Nakayama: Secretary of the Supreme Author, stated as superior to Sam Howell and is above every narrative.
    

That’s all folks, see ya in the comments, ask whatever you want and engage and upvote.

Last September, I started AirMedia with the goal of streamlining social media marketing for companies. Didn't have any money to invest so had to learn most of the things by myself.
Fast forward until today, we finished the platform and sold a few lifetime deals before the product is even out. Here's what happened:

• Learned how to design (still not at the professional level tho)
  
• Learned how to develop a no-code MVP on bubble to test out our idea on the market. This is a continuous process where, once the basics were covered, I basically had to google each problem as I was trying to solve them.
  
• Started getting the first designs
  
• Developed a first draft of our platform on Bubble
  
• Saw OpenAI devday in November and how I could make the platform dynamic (you create your content, analyse your posts and schedule them directly from the chat) - Dynamic UI
  
• Back to design
  
• Realised bubble was not performant enough for our specific use-case (still would vouch for it for the majority of other projects)
  
• Hired a co-founder to have the main app custom-code while keeping all the other pages on bubble for now
  
• Started working on marketing and grew the waitlist to several 100s users
  
• Implemented upsells and sold a few lifetime deals
  

Now we're on the brink of launching to our waitlist, we will then explore marketplaces & directories and more traditional product launches websites such as PH. In parallel, we'll keep focussing on social media marketing using our platform which allows us to put out there a huge volume of (good) content.
However, I realise although all this will allow us to get more and more users as well as the virality that is built-in within our pricings (we have a free plan where AirMedia's social accounts are tagged when our users create posts); a decent marketing budget would be helpful to add some speed.
So now I'm looking to sell my skills as I've walked the path of developing on bubble and got a good grasp of it over the last 9 months. Looking to grow our marketing budget by doing so to have more impact at Launch Day.
I'm motivated and would probably finish your MVP in less than two weeks for a fraction of what you could pay other developpers.
Link to our platform for those that wanna check out the work; any feedback or criticism is welcomed :
https://airmedia.uk

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I studied water treatment in school, but we mainly focused on municipal water and waste water. At my work now, my collegues are asking me to trouble shoot and desing the bio treatment portions of industrial waste water. For water I use Water Quality Engineering by Benjamin & Lawler, for waste water I use Biological Wastewater Treatment by C.P. Leslie. But both of these only breifly cover industrial streams. Do you have any recomendations for a detailed book/design manual?

I'll try to keep the information shared on this post to a minimum.
I'm homeless, and I have to busk with my harmonica so I can make some money for food.
I play the diatonic harmonica without any sort of amplification or cardboard signs. Just me, the instrument and a hat.
Normally I don't make that much money when playing on the streets (most of the times it's not even enough for cookies and a cup of coffee). However, I have found an underground tunnel where the harmonica sound resonates beautifully. That tunnel also happens to be packed with money rich tourists. When I get the opportunity to play down there, I make bank. Really good money.
At some point, an guy that plays the accordion with a tiny dog shows up saying he's been there for years and that it's his spot to play in. I first met him like 4 or 5 months ago.
Being the kind and respectful person that I am, I obliged and left so he could play. That was when I first met him.
Now, in the middle of May, whenever I find the tunnel empty and start playing, he later shows up and starts playing over me. There's nothing I can do. It's even come to the point of him physically threatening me.
Now here's the deal: given the fact that this individual is of a certain minority, anything I do would most likely end up in me being accused of some sort of hate crime. I don't want to resort to violence, really don't. I've tried talking to him on several occasions, but it results in nothing.
Even though I could call the cops on him, seing as him using his dog to earn money would technically be considered animal abuse where I live, the fact that he's a drug user and uses in front of his underaged kid, who he sometimes brings along with him, and even the fact that he receives a type of financial support from my country's social services, when earning more than most people earn by working a full time job, I'm afraid of calling the cops.
The police hate the homeless way more than they hate criminals and douchebags - speaking from personal experience - so I need creative ideas in dealing with this situation.
What would you do if you were in this scenario?
P.S. This is not in the USA, it's in a really small european country.

Hi everyone, I hope you can help me
I am 30 years female, I studied and get graduated as an Lawyer in 2015. Since I have been working on my career, specializing myself into corporative Right, including elaboration and analysis of contracts, creation and analysis of companies from the beginning, etc. Outside of my career I have been always interesting and learning about first and second world wars and I have a lot of knowledge about history, also Spanish is my mother language, in addition I am very good with the computer typing, reading, checking documents. And when I was in the University I used to give unofficial tuitions. So we could say that those are my principal skills
Right now in my country the situation is very complicated because we are under a dictatorship system so being a lawyer is everyday more complicated and we have less jobs because everyone is leaving the country, and also the government is creating and creating new laws everyday to control every single institution and movement that the population can do so it's more complicated get the job done the people cannot pay or is not available to pay the amount of money that the institution ask and the money that the services require, but live in the country is not an option for me.
I would be grateful if you can help me with some places in the network or ideas of any kind of remote jobs that I could applied and be hired to get more work, cuz actually I am leaving only with my youngest brother and he cannot work yet, it's only the two of us and I cannot cover all the expenses of maintaining the bills of the house and our pets, buy food by the supplements that are required for maintaining the house and pay for the expenses of my brother high School, 😔 I am very desperate to find out options for get news incomes, that's why I am asking you for help to get a trustful page or company that pay for work do it remotely.
Thanks for the support in advance and please let me know if you could help me.

There will definitely be a lot more posts of mine here, simply because I just finished the show today and have SO much on my mind.
I was actually in first grade when the show aired (oh WOW I'm old), watched it for the very first time in 5th grade. I watched the show throughout my teenage years, finished it once. I decided to rewatch it at 19 due to a mix of nostalgia and, my main focus, to rewatch the show in the perspective of a (more or less) adult with the experience of watching the show as a 12/14/17 year old. Adding to that: I'm not from the US & watched the show with the German Dub. There might be translation errors or cultural differences which could lead to a few misunderstandings/ me just not knowing about American culture lol.
I have done multiple interesting.. enhancements, you could say - including Speed. Rewatching the show made me SOO mad when it comes to that aspect.
Let's get my personal elephant out of the room - wtf was going on with Maya's storyline? From all I have seen Mayas parents are supposed to be these "chill, laid back, not married when getting kids, tattood" California typa parents, yet as soon as a whiff of a joint crosses their nose, they send her to some CAMP? Like, out of ALL reactions you could have head - chill parents or not - why on earth would you send your daughter SO far away?
Now, let's go to the general elephant in the room - Spencers pill popping
I do understand the motivation and reasoning behind Spencer's usage of the drug - ESPECIALLYYY coming from a household with such immense pressure. Out of the perspective from someone who's taken it before, her taking it in order to keep up with studying/ hunting A is actually the "lesser evil" or "less bad" option out of ALL out there.
What bugged me especially was everyone's reaction after finding out that Spencer was abusing speed.
Just as a reminder: You should NEVER approach a person who's drug abusing (and perhaps on drugs while they talk lmao) in a group of four, hassle around with the "evidence" (iirc they had a bottle of pills which they threw on the ground?), scream at the addict about what bad of a human being they are BECAUSE of their abuse etc.
The way the girls just did a 3v1 against Spencer is just.. disgusting.
Now let me get one thing straight: you CAN get away from drugs. You can get away from the people around you which influence you to take them. You can throw everything related to it away & act like it never happen. You can get into rehab, you can seek therapy and help from your loved ones.
That is however.. easier said than done. You can make the jump over to rehabilitation, but you need to make the jump first. That's usually the hardest step - to realize you have a problem.
During the ENTIRE plotline of Spencer being addicted, there is no one who really wanted to sit down with her and see.. her "side" of the perspective.
They could've written it so far better, implement actual aspects of being addicted. The liArs sitting down with her, hugging her and telling her that everything will be alright. Her parents thinking that they might have pressured her a little bit too much or Melissa realizing that her little sister is an addict. Toby trying to save the love of his life during hardship.
Spencer experiencing the symptoms of withdrawal, fighting against the addiction & slowly gaining more and more control of her addiction. Perhaps her doing a lot of shady stuff for drugs.
Don't get me wrong, there are scenes and important moments of Spencer doing exactly these things, like her digging through arias trash in order to find the pills.
They threw away SOO much potential. If they had taken the aspect of her addiction / Drugs in general more serious, more sympathy/empathy could've been around when it comes to drugs or addiction. It's just so.. weird and toxic the way they approached her on the drugs. Instead of giving her support, a shoulder to cry on or just.. any kind of help they just.. attack her.
Now to top ALLLL of that - the Actress of Paige, Lindsay Shaw, was on cocaine the entire time of her shooting. Later she switched to Adderall because it was easiemore accessible, Emily / Shay Mitchell tried to help her too. Apparently the producers knew about it but never talked about it.
I'm sorry, this is such a long rant but honestly... this has made me so mad lol

Thank you for this universe!
And many thanks to for being a full co-writer on this project!
Kaeden and Vichee belongs to and I thank them so much for working with us! It was an honor!
Sven belongs to Bjorn the Copper Paladin from Discord. I hope to do more with them in the future, and have tons of fun!
And don’t you worry about that final in the title! We have some news at the end!
[First]- [Prev]- {Next Story!!}

{Is the reason that everything happened to Tarlim in the first place?}

{Only up to the ramps, mostly. Trying to impress upon people the importance of accessibility for those with extenuating circumstances. At least according to the records I have access to.}

{The average person knows as much about his friends as they do about Mike Collins.}
<...Who?>
{Exactly. 20th century human spaceman, was there for their first lunar landing. Didn’t get to put boots on the ground, and nobody remembers his name now.}

{Hell, I didn’t even know about him until I put in a search query of niche historical figures just to give you an example. Yeesh…}

(Program Selected.)
(Resume Selected Media? [Y])
(Playing…)
Archived Closed Circuit Security Video - Establishment: Exterminator’s Office - Dawn Creek Division - Subbasement - Date Recorded (ST): OCT 31, 2136 - Timeframe (ST): 11:42 - 11:45
The parking bay is silent. Vans are parked neatly in their spots which frame the hallway to the armory and fuel storage for the camera. A ding is heard and something moves in the hallway. Five fully suited Venlil and a Zurulian step out of an elevator and run towards a van. The sound of a door slamming open comes from the hall roughly 6 seconds later. A stream of Exterminators pour out into the hall from the stairwell.
Their voices are indecipherable as they speak over each other. A Sulian runs into the armory and reappears with a huge flamer tank on their back. Another Zurulian can be seen with an extinguisher tank, but a Venlil bleats at them and tosses it aside. They drag the quadrupedal alien quickly into the parking garage before physically throwing them into the back of a van.
From the back of the hallway, a fluid can be seen spreading across the ground. A trio of Venlil back out of a room while holding their flamers up. They are unlit, instead spewing fuel out of their nozzles. The trio twirl around in an overly animated manner as they walk down the hall to the parking garage. A van pulls out of its spot with windows down so the passengers could let out a cheer.
A black-suited Venlil runs up to the spraying trio while waving their arms to get them out into the garage. The microphone just barely manages to catch him saying, “We need to save some for the predators!” One of the other Venlil replies, “Yes sir, Mafchi!” A short flurry of curses is heard as the gathered exterminators pile into the three other visible vans. Two of the vans speed out of the garage, forcing some other Venlil exterminators to dive out of the way in the process.
The black-suited Mafchi picks up a fuel canister that had been dropped and twists off its cap. He slings it under his shoulder and pours a line of fuel. He marches straight to the final van and hops up into the open rear. The van backs itself up to turn out of the garage. The fuel canister clatters to the ground as it pulls away. Before it clears the view of the camera, the Black-suited Venlil is seen standing in its open back. He is holding what appears to be a flare gun.
The flare sails through the air shortly after the van leaves the frame and impacts the ground. It bounces and rolls until it touches the fuel and ignites it in an instant. A small wall of fire proceeds down the provided trail into the hallway, igniting more fuel as time passes. The hallway is quickly engulfed in vividly red fire. Thick black smoke begins to pour out into the garage as the fire inches closer to the primary fuel tank.
Movement can be seen in the hallway between the flickering flames. The silver form of a Venlil Exterminator is seen rushing out of the stairwell and fighting to head towards the fuel storage room. Before they reach, a white flash fills the screen. The feed goes dead, the error code consistent with electrical interruption.
(Specified Media Concluded.)

{Who was what? Mafchi?}

{Hmmm, there aren’t any tags embedded for them. The suits do a rather good job at making the officers anonymous. Let me see…oh.}

{The, uh… the employment records for that Office were…terminated.}

{It looks like…yes, here. Record wipe in 2497. Media with less than 1 bistandannual visit were removed to save space on the university’s central server. It’s…they’re gone, gone gone.}

{Maybe, but that’ll do us no good if we don’t know their name. And because of the chaos of that incident, nobody has been able to accurately reconstruct where every individual was in that office. We’d have to already know who they were to find them.}
<...I guess that’s another person I’ll have to remember then, huh?>
{...Guess so. Speaking of remembering, perhaps you should check out Tarlim’s view again? Seeing how we were just talking about him.}
<...Sure. At least people remember his name, right?>
(Command: [exitprogram])
(Are you sure? [Y])
…
{-Program Selected-}
{-Restart From Last Playback Point? Y/(N)-}
{-[USERID-11229KMD]: procViewHist -}
{-Retrieving Transcription Viewing History…-}
{-List Retrieved - Select Desired Subject: (Tarlim)-}
{-Restart From Last Playback Point? (Y)/N-}
{-Playing…-}
Memory Transcription Subject: Tarlim, the Venbig. Date [Standardized Human Time] October 31st, 2136
No matter how much Sven and Anso griped about it, having them leave and return with the trailer was a great idea. The humans who had gone with them the first time were, to my dismay, excited to try and ride in the back. I had at least been able to impress on those four that I couldn’t let anyone else ride like that, and that they were to help with rigging a trailer with some seats.
I had to admit; they did a good job!
Several couches sat bolted to the floor of the covered trailer and even had some ropes that could be hooked across the armrests as impromptu belts. It wasn’t perfect by any means, but it would work as well as any bus or short train ride! Certainly superior to jumping in the bed of a truck.
I strode out into the parking road and swayed my ears to greet Anso. Sven had stayed behind here to meet with the humans and entertain the kids, a job which he was slightly less unenthusiastic about compared to last time. “Greetings, Anso! Have you made the necessary preparations for the humans to leave with you?”
The Yotul hopped out of the truck bed and bounced to me. “We have! I have to say those humans were great workers to have helped get this whipped up so quickly! I hope Sven has been behaving himself?”
I let my tail wag behind me remembering my last glimpse of him. He should really secure his sheath straps! “He has! Been entertaining the refugees while I made sure they all had their belongings ready to go. Come on inside, let’s go gather them.”
I guided him with a wave of my arm as we turned back to the door. To be truthful, I hadn’t expected Sven to win the humans over as quickly as he did. Needless to say, his primitive attire seemed to spark joy within them, a joy sorely needed amidst the sadness of recency.
As we entered the building I noticed something, or rather, the lack of something. When I had exited only a few [minutes] prior, the building had been full of life and noise. Now, it was almost dead quiet, save for the sounds of a holovision coming from the lobby. Rather heated sounds, at that.
“I didn’t think it was already main rest claw,” Anso mused as he, too, recognized the aggravated voices coming from the lobby. “And what are they watching in there? Sounds…angry.”
“Yeah…” I trailed off as I followed the noises. As I approached the lobby, the sound of what I assumed was a Gojid yelling. “You know nothing about my family. TALK, JUST FUCKING TALK, NOW!” My ears pinned back at the foul language at play, hoping that Sven and the children were somewhere else.
As I entered the room, I saw that I was only half right. The children were thankfully nowhere to be found, but Sven was obviously present, as was most of the facility staff. I was about to ask what was going on before another voice drew my attention to the holovision, the same as everyone else. The voice of none other than Chief Nikonus.
“There were three of us who laid out the groundwork for the Federation. When Kolshian explorers came in contact with the Farsul, more than a thousand years ago, the galaxy was young. We were the first in this sector to escape our gravity well. You know about the founding of this institution, but I reiterate it just in case.”
“The Krakotl were the third,” another voice piped up from behind the camera. I thought it might’ve been another Gojid, but the voice was far too breathy. Harchen, maybe? I wasn’t given a chance to consider it further as Nikonus continued. “Yes, they were a problem from the start; aggressive, disagreeable. We tried to identify the problem, and why they were so ill-equipped for spacefaring.”
“We learned they were scavengers, who would occasionally go for fish as well.”
His next line was rendered inaudible by the shocked gasps of both the refugees and residents in the room. I was no different, drawing in a sharp breath at the abrupt admission. I remembered that Arvi had said some aliens were revealed to have eaten meat in the past, but was this the way it was decided to be revealed? With such abject callousness?
Nikonus continued to speak, looking not just proud, but smug with his words. He went on about how the Federation had saved these aliens with their manipulations, but the entirety of his body language seemed to indicate he reveled in how devastating this information would be to the people he was speaking to. How they manipulated an entire culture, a RELIGION!
What if they did the same to ours?
That horrifying thought struck through my mind like a derailing train. I had relied upon the Tenets in some of my darkest moments. Found comfort in them when there was none elsewhere to be found. To have such a comfort revealed as a lie in its entirety, used only for some other group to control you…
The voice of Nikonus hit my ears again. “Oh Sovlin, I already told you. For the small minority of species who don’t find herbivory alone, we teach them the right way. Doesn’t the religion against predators sound familiar?”
The Kolshian was insufferably proud of those words. There was no doubt in my mind now; this was mocking. Mocking a Gojid for following The Protector. For being a predator. For being different, but expecting to still be treated as a person. The Gojid were predators, they couldn’t help it, and they were already being mocked for it.
What might happen to all the other species?
I shifted my focus away from the screen to the crowd, searching for one in particular. Vichee, a Krakotl already so different from everyone else, and now my concerns for them were multiplied with every word that fell from Nikonus’ mouth. Were they okay? They had come in here to see Sven, I had seen them. Where are-
I spotted Kaeden in the corner of the room. Next to him, slumped against the wall, was Vichee. The dual colored Krakotl’s eyes were glazed over as they stared at nothing. I strode over quickly, my instincts wanting to comfort them. Kaeden was simply standing there, it was confusing that he didn’t seem to be comforting Vichee at all. As I got closer, their head tilted up to me, regarding me with an unfocused eye.
“He was right.” They said quietly. My implant almost didn’t pick it up over the sounds of the lobby. “Kaeden had asked me soon after our first meeting if Krakotl had once been meat eaters. Said it was the shape of our beaks. ‘More suited to capturing small wriggling prey than filtering algae’. He told me. I nearly flew away right then… If I had, I would have been alone with this news.”I listened, kneeling down to be closer to their level. “You’re not alone, your herd is here. Right Kaeden?”
He looked over at me and nodded. “Vichee was there with me when Earth was attacked. I’m here for them now. Kaabra and Venik are… together, elsewhere at the moment. But they will be here too.”
I flicked my ears in understanding. “Then I hope they may help in hugging Vichee until their tears are dry.” I turned an eye to Vichee. “Please, I just want you to know that you are still you. What your body does has no effect on your personhood.”
Vichee still sat, their mind still likely whirling with the new information. They lifted their differently colored wings. “I’m well aware. This lesson I already learned. But thank you, I understand what you mean.” Kaeden nodded slowly and Vichee returned to their thoughts.
“There’s going to be trouble soon, Tarlim,” Kaeden stated gravely. “News like this? Nothing good will come of it. I can already tell this won’t go over well. Keep your eyes open.”
As if in response to his words, the sound of clanking metal hits my ears. They shoot up, pivoting to locate its source. There, dashing towards the door, was the armored figure of Sven. I didn’t know him enough to know how this broadcast would affect him, but running was never the best sign. I flicked my ears goodbye to my friends and rose, following after the metal man. In my periphery, I saw the television screen had shifted to show Rolem moving onto the stage. I would have to miss whatever it was he had to say, so ducked through the doors and continued to follow the sound of metal.
As I exited, I saw that I wasn’t the only one to see Sven’s actions. Anso was bounding behind him, shouting something I couldn’t hear. Sven didn’t seem to either as he kept running, but his gait wasn’t one of fear. He looked purposeful, sprinting in a straight line. A line pointed right towards-
Towards the observing Exterminator Van.
The metal Venlil didn’t even hesitate at the presence of the fence. He leapt up in a display of strength and agility, vaulting over the barrier and continuing his beeline into the van. It was like phased through the doors with how fast he moved. There were sounds of commotion that followed his entry, and soon two Exterminators fell out of the van. One Venlil…and one Krakotl. I wonder how Kalek is taking things.
I, too, cleared the fence with only a high step and reached the van, peering in to see Sven at the controls. “Sven! What are you doing?” I asked, the Krakotl officer shivering on the ground in my periphery.
“They got my girl!” He huffed, “She’s a Gojid, they got her, I can’t let them do anything worse to her!” He tried to activate the vehicle to no avail, but his words brought up something that I hadn’t thought much over. I remember hearing about temporary emplacements that were being set up. Paly had texted me about exterminators bringing people there. Her too. And that would mean-
-THOOOOOOOMMMMM-
The wind hit me like a truck and rocked the van I was standing next to. Sven even stopped trying to fiddle with the controls to see what had just happened. In the distance, near the center of town, an enormous black cloud rose into the air, the vestiges of fire still burning in the suspended embers. I couldn’t look away from it as my mind raced with horrible possibilities as my mind tripped over itself trying to concoct a plan of action.
I wasn’t given long to think before the radio in the van crackled to life, startling both Sven and myself. “Attention all True Exterminators! The truth has come out about the taint in our midst! For too long we have lived with its danger in our presence! If any of you still hold the safety of The Herd in your hearts, come join us so we may burn ALL the predator taint from this District! Rendezvous at Vulen’s apartment complex, we shall start our cleansing there!”
The name of one of my landlords sparked familiarity in my mind. They had been working to build a series of new apartments to add to his old, and if I remembered, had agreed to house the Gojid refugees. The Gojid! Paly was housed with them!!
In an instant, I reached into the van and grabbed Sven by the arm. He tried to pull away, but my grip was too strong. “Sven! They’re gonna kill the Gojid! They’re gonna burn Paly!”
He finally managed to shake himself free as my paws became jittery from stress. “I gotta save my girlfriend! She’s in a facility! I gotta save her!”
“But they’re gonna burn people here!” I protested, “we have to do something! We need- We need People who can fight them! Kaeden! I need to get Kaeden! We can save them!”
I pulled myself away from the van and spotted Anso nearby. He must have had to go through the gate, but this was good timing. I pointed a claw at him. “Do Not Let Him drive off before I get back!”
I didn’t give him, nor the Exterminators who had recovered from their shock, time to ask questions. Paly was in danger, as were who knew how many others. I faintly heard my data pad chime from within my shoulder bag, the signal my heart was beating too fast, but I couldn’t deal with it right now. I could get the heart rate under control during the drive. Right now I needed Kaeden, he knew how to fight! How to save people when others were trying to kill them!
My paws guided me and I was back in the cafeteria before I knew it. Some of the crowd had dissipated, but Kaeden and Vichee were still in the same corner I had left them in, but with their Venlil friends now joined. Without leaving time for protest, I grabbed Kaeden’s arm and pulled him away. I heard Vichee squawk behind me, but I was in too much of a hurry. I can’t let her get hurt. I Won’t.
Kaeden started to slap my arm as I dragged the soldier across the lobby. “Tarlim! What the fuck are you doing?? What’s going on?”
“No time, they’re going to burn everyone,” I breathlessly said as I burst the facility doors open to get him to the van.
“What? Who?” Kaeden questioned, still resisting my pull. I could hear a tinge of worry in his voice, and I knew he would understand. Anso looked back from his position as he heard my approach, and upon seeing me dragging Kaeden along, he grew visibly concerned.
“On the radio, something about True Exterminators,” I attempted to explain to him as we neared the gate doors. This time, I simply spread them apart with my free paw, metal screeching against itself as the gate was forced open. “They’re going to burn every cured species they can find, and That Means Paly. I Won’t Let Them.”
Kaeden had stopped struggling as I explained the bare essentials to him, and once we approached the van, he finally had enough sense to ask the right questions. “So what exactly is the plan to stop them? We’re strong, sure, I could probably take most of them. But just two of us against a wall of those flamers?”
“Not two,” I corrected, letting go of his arm and throwing open the back doors of the van. Still seated in the drivers side was Sven, who looked back once he heard me permit entrance into the back. “We have him too.”
“Wh- the LARPer??” Kaeden asked incredulously. I wasn’t familiar with the term he used, but his tone told us all we needed to know. Sven’s eyes narrowed at the perceived insult, but Kaeden continued. “Do either of you have any formal military training?? Rushing down there is only going to get you both killed along with the others! For fucks sake, slow down! We need a plan!”
“T-There won’t be t-time f-for one,” a voice peeped in from behind us. We all turned to face the source, and we found it was the Venlil Exterminator. They recoiled under the sudden gaze of our entire party, but they managed to continue. “I-I recognized the v-voice. It w-was one of the n-new recruits. They m-might as well be Y-Yulpa. If you w-want to stop them, it’s now or n-never.”
We all stared at them for a moment in disbelief that they’d willingly hand over that information to us. They were Exterminators, weren’t they? They should be allied with the voice on the radio! Kaeden, after considering the information, gave voice to my confusion. “And why are you telling us this? You’re an exterminator, shouldn’t you be trying to help them?”
“M-My husband is the Krakotl that was in the van with me!” They yelled back, stamping their footpaw on the ground in agitation. “I-I don’t care what his ancestors did a t-thousand years ago, I will not stand for those zealots burning who knows how many people! We’re not all the same, h-human!”
I was taken aback by their words. I had given up hope that there were any redeemable souls amongst the ranks of those silver-suited brahkasses, but living proof of the contrary stood before us. Their breathing was only matched by mine as my pad continued to chime in my pack. Maybe there’s hope after all.
Kaeden started frantically looking all around, his focused gaze falling on the facility, the exterminator in front of us, and the rising smoke in the distance. After a moment's hesitation, he growled to himself and shook his head. “Fine! Fucking- if you want to prove you’re different, you and your partner stand guard at the gate! They’ll probably try to send a division here, so keep on guard! And for the love of God, go ask for help if that happens!”
My tail wagged behind me as I interpreted what that meant. “So you’ll help us, Kaeden?”
He paused for a second, an agonizing second as he fully took in the situation in his mind. But ultimately, he nodded. “Let’s go, we can figure things out along the way.”
Seizing the moment, Anso quickly jumped into the van and pushed Sven out of the driver's seat, much to their visible frustration. Kaeden quickly hopped into the passenger seat, leaving me with the problem of finding a space that would fit me. I stepped over to the back of the van and threw the doors open.
The flamers and their fuel tanks were useless to us, easy to toss all three sets out onto the ground behind me. I made sure that the flamers were disabled first, of course. Just had to snap the pilot lighters and slice a hose with my claw. Even if these two said they weren’t like these “True Exterminators” I didn’t trust them one bit. I crawled inside the cramped vehicle and wiggled myself to close the doors behind me.
As I got myself settled, I watched as the Venlil Exterminator started to inspect the destroyed remains of their weapons. I squinted a glare at them and positioned myself so they couldn’t enter with me. “You two aren’t coming,” I hissed. “You know why you’re not. Try anything with the humans, and they will stop you.”
I slammed the doors shut as their expressions fell, just in time for Anso to get the van into gear. I curled myself up against the wall of the van, watching out the back window as we sped down the road. We were on our way now. On our way to save Paly and all the people gathered because their ancestors ate meat. My heart hammered in my chest, but I would need to control it for what we were about to do. I needed to focus. I needed to breathe. I needed to be calm.
Focus. Breathe. Calm
Focus.
Breathe.
Calm…
{-ALERT: Automatic Annotation Detected - Switching Transcription Subject-}
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Memory Transcription Subject: Sol-Vah, Fleeing Predator. Date [Standardized Human Time] October 31st, 2136
My legs couldn’t carry me anymore. I had to keep going, but I didn’t have the strength. My pants became wheezes as my body struggled to keep up with the physical exertion of running almost halfway through town. I hadn’t even looked up before now, at least with eyes not blinded by tears. The pain of Mute’s rejection still stung in my soul, a pain so visceral it threatened to rip me apart worse than any Arxur. Protector, what did I do to deserve this? Is there even a Protector, or did the Federation just- just make that up?
I didn’t have time to think about that now, I needed to get to the office. From what little I caught of the broadcast, Nikonus had said they saved us before. I knew what it likely was, but…I was desperate. I just wanted to go back home and have him embrace me like he did before. The safety and love I had felt from him was still fresh in my mind, and if there was any chance I had to get it back?
I’ll happily take it.
As I approached the office, however, something seemed off. I could smell soot in the air, but not the kind of soot that came from our flamers. This was- was…dirtier smelling, as if the fuel had been impure. Upon looking up, however, I saw something that made my stomach drop. A huge plume of smoke, billowing up into the sky. It shadowed the sun itself with its immensity and hate. Did the Exterminators burn more drugs? Or…or…
I felt a renewed vigor as I started to run towards the plume, hoping against hope that I was wrong. As soon as I turned the corner, though, my worst fears were realized. Where the office once stood now sat a burning stack of glorified rubble, every single window in sight shattered and multiple holes in the outer walls. The building was split, it was as if a giant knife had come down and sloppily sliced off its front half to spill flaming debris everywhere.
I stood in front of the building I had once called my home, surrounded by screams and the awful sound of flames roaring. I knew now there was no hope of salvation, no way this could ever be undone. I would never be able to go back to the way things were, never feel the happiness I had for that brief time. I was doomed to this life, abandoned by my love, and forced to live as an abomination devoid of a home.
I suppose that’s all a predator like me deserves.
[First]- [Prev]- {Next Story!!}
You read it right: This is going to be the final chapter of "Of Giants and Journalists." With the conclusion of Sharnet and Vekna's adventure, we will now take the time to show how this announcement has affected our characters and the galaxy at large. We're excited to announce our new series, Nature of a Giant: Aftermath! This series will not be quite as in-depth temporally as Of Giants and Journalists was, mainly because not as much will be happening in as short of a time. Rest assured, though, there will still be plenty of action across the board! You just won't have to deal with over half the story only covering a week of time!
In that vein, we are also excited to announce we are working on another bonus series, one that was teased a long time ago, Venric Lawven: Legal Legend! It will be filling the gap for content while we work on the first few chapters of Aftermath to make sure the scenes are as quality as they deserve, but will have a reduced upload schedule to once a week to accommodate for writing two series at once. On behalf of both of myself and , we'd like to thank all of our readers for sticking with us on this journey. It's hard to believe this series has been going on for over a year in one form or another, but I wouldn't have it any other way! Thank you all again for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you again with Legal Legends! And then...
The Aftermath!!