Starting a blog in 2024 is an exciting venture and can be accomplished with a few key steps. Here's a comprehensive guide to get you started from scratch:

1. Choose Your Blog's Niche

• Identify Your Passion and Expertise: Write about something you love and know well.
• Research Market Demand: Use tools like Google Trends or Keyword Planner to find popular topics within your niche.
• Analyze Competition: Check out other blogs in your niche to understand the competition and find your unique angle.

2. Define Your Audience

• Create Reader Personas: Think about who your ideal readers are – their demographics, interests, and problems.
• Tailor Content to Your Audience: Plan your content around what your audience needs and wants.

3. Choose a Blogging Platform

• WordPress.org: Highly recommended for its flexibility and control. Requires a separate hosting service.
• Blogger: Good for beginners, but limited in customization.
• Medium: Great for reaching an audience quickly, but less control over design and monetization.
• Wix or Squarespace: Easy-to-use website builders with blogging capabilities.

4. Pick a Domain Name and Hosting Service

• Domain Name: Choose a name that is easy to remember, relevant to your niche, and preferably a .com.
• Hosting Service: Popular options include Bluehost, SiteGround, and HostGator. Ensure the service offers good uptime, customer support, and scalability.

5. Set Up Your Blog

• Install WordPress: If you choose WordPress, most hosting services offer a one-click installation.
• Select a Theme: Pick a clean, responsive theme. Free and premium options are available on sites like ThemeForest or the WordPress theme directory.
• Install Essential Plugins: Some must-have plugins include Yoast SEO, Akismet (for spam protection), and Jetpack (for site stats and security).

6. Design Your Blog

• Customize Your Theme: Adjust colors, fonts, and layout to match your brand.
• Create Key Pages: Essential pages include About, Contact, Privacy Policy, and any other pages specific to your niche (e.g., Portfolio, Services).
• Optimize for Mobile: Ensure your blog looks good and works well on mobile devices.

7. Create Quality Content

• Plan Your Content: Use an editorial calendar to schedule posts. Aim for a mix of evergreen and trending topics.
• Write Engaging Posts: Craft compelling headlines, use images and multimedia, and write in a conversational tone.
• SEO Best Practices: Use keywords naturally, optimize meta descriptions, use header tags, and include internal and external links.

8. Promote Your Blog

• Social Media: Share your posts on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
• Email Marketing: Start building an email list from day one. Use tools like Mailchimp or ConvertKit.
• Guest Posting: Write guest posts for other blogs in your niche to reach a wider audience.
• Engage with Your Audience: Respond to comments, participate in online communities, and network with other bloggers.

9. Monetize Your Blog

• Affiliate Marketing: Promote products related to your niche and earn a commission for every sale made through your referral links.
• Advertising: Use Google AdSense or work directly with brands for sponsored content.
• Sell Products/Services: Offer your own products or services, such as eBooks, courses, or consulting.
• Membership/Subscription: Provide premium content for subscribers or members.

10. Analyze and Improve

• Use Analytics Tools: Google Analytics and other tools can help you track your blog’s performance.
• Monitor Key Metrics: Focus on traffic, bounce rate, session duration, and conversion rates.
• Continuous Improvement: Regularly update old posts, optimize for SEO, and adjust your strategy based on performance data.

Conclusion

Starting a blog in 2024 involves careful planning, consistent effort, and a willingness to adapt and learn. By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to creating a successful blog that resonates with your audience and achieves your goals. Happy blogging!
4oStarting a blog in 2024 is an exciting venture and can be accomplished with a few key steps. Here's a comprehensive guide to get you started from scratch:

1. Choose Your Blog's Niche

• Identify Your Passion and Expertise: Write about something you love and know well.
• Research Market Demand: Use tools like Google Trends or Keyword Planner to find popular topics within your niche.
• Analyze Competition: Check out other blogs in your niche to understand the competition and find your unique angle.

2. Define Your Audience

• Create Reader Personas: Think about who your ideal readers are – their demographics, interests, and problems.
• Tailor Content to Your Audience: Plan your content around what your audience needs and wants.

3. Choose a Blogging Platform

• WordPress.org: Highly recommended for its flexibility and control. Requires a separate hosting service.
• Blogger: Good for beginners, but limited in customization.
• Medium: Great for reaching an audience quickly, but less control over design and monetization.
• Wix or Squarespace: Easy-to-use website builders with blogging capabilities.

4. Pick a Domain Name and Hosting Service

• Domain Name: Choose a name that is easy to remember, relevant to your niche, and preferably a .com.
• Hosting Service: Popular options include Bluehost, SiteGround, and HostGator. Ensure the service offers good uptime, customer support, and scalability.

5. Set Up Your Blog

• Install WordPress: If you choose WordPress, most hosting services offer a one-click installation.
• Select a Theme: Pick a clean, responsive theme. Free and premium options are available on sites like ThemeForest or the WordPress theme directory.
• Install Essential Plugins: Some must-have plugins include Yoast SEO, Akismet (for spam protection), and Jetpack (for site stats and security).

6. Design Your Blog

• Customize Your Theme: Adjust colors, fonts, and layout to match your brand.
• Create Key Pages: Essential pages include About, Contact, Privacy Policy, and any other pages specific to your niche (e.g., Portfolio, Services).
• Optimize for Mobile: Ensure your blog looks good and works well on mobile devices.

7. Create Quality Content

• Plan Your Content: Use an editorial calendar to schedule posts. Aim for a mix of evergreen and trending topics.
• Write Engaging Posts: Craft compelling headlines, use images and multimedia, and write in a conversational tone.
• SEO Best Practices: Use keywords naturally, optimize meta descriptions, use header tags, and include internal and external links.

8. Promote Your Blog

• Social Media: Share your posts on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
• Email Marketing: Start building an email list from day one. Use tools like Mailchimp or ConvertKit.
• Guest Posting: Write guest posts for other blogs in your niche to reach a wider audience.
• Engage with Your Audience: Respond to comments, participate in online communities, and network with other bloggers.

9. Monetize Your Blog

• Affiliate Marketing: Promote products related to your niche and earn a commission for every sale made through your referral links.
• Advertising: Use Google AdSense or work directly with brands for sponsored content.
• Sell Products/Services: Offer your own products or services, such as eBooks, courses, or consulting.
• Membership/Subscription: Provide premium content for subscribers or members.

10. Analyze and Improve

• Use Analytics Tools: Google Analytics and other tools can help you track your blog’s performance.
• Monitor Key Metrics: Focus on traffic, bounce rate, session duration, and conversion rates.
• Continuous Improvement: Regularly update old posts, optimize for SEO, and adjust your strategy based on performance data.

Conclusion

Starting a blog in 2024 involves careful planning, consistent effort, and a willingness to adapt and learn. By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to creating a successful blog that resonates with your audience and achieves your goals. Happy blogging!

Hi everyone.
My transcript has special characters such as: & and :
The AAMC says not to use these characters when writing down the course name.
Do I replace “&”with “and” as well as omit the colon?
Or do I just omit all special characters when inputting the course name?
Thank you!

So I'm writing something and I need names, my favorites that I've used are: Dahlia Vivienne Aria Julie Claire Sadie Lucy Danielle Pls give me suggestions! I also need boy names but idk what kind I like cause I only rlly focus on girls :/ this story takes place in maryland btw

I am a political cartoonist, and one of the things I criticize is the religion of Islam. I currently use a pen name, but I was wondering if I should just use my regular name and stand by what I say. People who know me are aware of my opinions. However, I'm concerned not about getting canceled but rather being threatened. I have always wanted to visit the Middle East and see all these different countries besides Israel. How concerned should I be? I am also writing a book, so when it is published, I want to know if I should use the same name or a different one. How worried should I be?

I couldn’t help but feel that the finale of The Owl House was somewhat underwhelming, particularly with the origins of the Collector. This little fella had so much potential for a deep and exciting backstory, which looking back seemed to get oversimplified for the sake of time crunching. So I thought, how would I rewrite the Lore behind the formation of the Boiling Isles?
Well, from my days of roleplaying I decided to come up with my own backstory of its deep Origins.
The tale goes as follows;
In the age before the witches, before the dawn of the Titans, and before the reign of magic, there existed The Overlords.
These ancient celestial beings were known to rule over the world, whose name could not be remembered, as it still had yet to be formed.
So the Overlords created the Titans as cosmic craftsmen, gifted with the power of magic as engineers of the high heavens who crafted worlds, rising the mountains and lowering the seas.
But the Overlords were unsatisfied. And with each world the Titans created, another was destroyed to make room.
The Titans, angered by their works being destroyed, rebelled against their Overlords in a celestial war that destroyed all the known worlds. All but one; ours.
Few Titans remained, but the Overlords left behind the Five Children of the stars, each with a title.
The first is The Watcher, the most noble of the siblings. As his name implies he would watch over the mortals of the for their safety, and in spite of his shyness would intervene when necessary. He would look after his siblings, pertaining to the role of big brother. Tiresome as his responsibilities are, he still maintains a strong sense of compassion.
Then there was the Chronicler, who would observe the ongoings of the boiling isles and write them down from memory. He keeps a near infinite amount of records in his abode that would make even the most decorated librarian humbled. He loves to keep his collection of books in a neatly and orderly fashion, and becomes quite irksome when his other brothers tamper with it.
Then there’s the rapscallion; the Collector, who, being the youngest of the children, is more than not known for causing mischief among the mortals. As his name would imply, he has an odd curiosity of collecting just about anything for himself, and keeping it as a specimen. For what purpose is unknown.
Then there is the Dreamcatcher; the Boogeyman of the Boiling Isles. Taking the form of a shadow, this child is even more mischievous than the Collector, and as such, dangerous. Hiding within the crooks and crannies of peoples homes, he often loves to spook them at best, and at worst, torment them by turning their dreams into living nightmares.
Finally, there is the most terrifying child of the stars; The Puppetmaster. Often known as the cruel hand of fate, this child sees mortals as nothing more than pawns to manipulate, and takes it upon himself to pull the strings behind the unseen curtain. No one truly know what he looks like. But many accounts in the Boiling Isles have recalled that whenever something truly horrible happened, there was someone no one else than the victim could see.
As the Titans fade into legend, the Children of the Stars have faded into obscurity. Only one has shown his face in recent memory.

About two years ago I had my first real suicidal thoughts. I was on parental leave with my two kids for a long time. I had this feeling then that suicide was now “real” and that I would be visited by these thoughts again and again. Like they had transitioned from a concept to a real thing that might happen to me.
I have thought suicide since then, but today is the first time it has been as real as it was those days wheee my mind is spiraling around this concept and I’m posting on here. Something very small triggered this and that’s why it is so scary.
I had a small fight with my wife. We were swimming in the river in my favorite place with the kids. We were playing on a rock in the middle of the river and I pushed her in after we horses around a bit. When she came up out of the water she was really mad and I was so shocked by that. We had been laughing horsing around just seconds before. She has every right to get mad if she didn’t want to be pushed in. The point I guess is just that I wasn’t expecting it at all. I thought we were all on cloud 9.
As soon as she came up out of the water and I could see she was mad my heart started to plummet. After a few minutes of not being able to make it better I was already in a totally emotionless state, just getting ready to survive the rest of the day. Is this dissociating? I never really understood that term.
She was mad for about an hour and we stopped swimming and drove home. After an hour she was done being mad and wanted to go about the rest of our day and accepted my apology and acted like nothing was wrong. Probably nothing was wrong.
But for me, things just continued to plummet. On the car ride home during that hour internally I was just in complete free fall like a planet crashing. On the outside I was just hyper focusing on driving smoothly all the way home. My secret desire would be that she would fall asleep so I would feel more alone and safe to openly feel bad in the car.
We had to take our girls to a birthday party after this. I just continue to plummet internally. On the way home we stopped to buy a present while the girls slept in the car. My wife went in the store and I sat in the car and researched self harm and cutting.
At the party I talked nicely to the other parents at the party and even joked and played with the kids. Even made plans for more river swimming next weekend with some of the other parents. I had found a rubber hair tie in the car and I occasionally found a quiet corner at the party to snap my skin with it.
We watched a movie with the girls when we got home. We always watch a movie on Saturday night. My wife leaned against me, but I wanted to physically recoil.
I put the girls to bed and pretended to sleep to avoid my wife. I started researching suicide for the first time in two years.
I don’t understand why when I am in a very happy mood, like today when we were swimming in my favorite place and out in nature, that some small criticism or fight can completely ruin it. It’s not just like we were having fun swimming and that one bad thing happened. To me it is like the entire positive emotion of the situation is multiplied by negative 1. Instead of the happiest I have been in a long time, I am at the lowest I have been in a long time.
I also feel this feeling like, if I thought my wife would be happy from our play but was sad, do i really understand her at all? Maybe every time I have been having fun she has been suffering. Maybe I have been delusional and I am really completely alone in my own world with my imaginary concept of her. In reality there is a huge gap between us.
When I feel this way I get this feeling that I am 100% disconnected from her. I feel like a stranger in my own family or that I am living with a stranger. I want to avoid her and don’t want to show any emotion to her or look her in the eye. It can take days to recover from this feeling of absolute separation.
Anyway, I just needed to write this somewhere. If anybody has names for these feelings or patterns of behavior, it might help me to know them so I can research myself a bit.
Thanks

HUGtto Precure is the season that marks the fifteenth anniversary of Precure. It's main theme was the past, present and future. Was it a good season of Precure? ...Yeah I'd say so. Did it have flaws? Sadly a lot. So let's look at both of them:
THE CURES
While they're not the best as a group compared to other teams, like sometimes Macherie and Amour feel like their own thing, I can at least think of some pretty good dynamics between each character this season, obviously Macherie and Amour are one, but then you have Yell + Ange, Yell + Amour, Ange + Etoile, etc, overall they're all pretty solid dynamics.
Cure Yell/Hana Nono - I LOVE HANA NONO, like I may be biased because she's my favorite pink lead in all of Precure, but putting that aside, she had really amiable traits, an endearing personality (she's such a clutz), and had flaws that made her pretty relatable. Now, do I think her backstory was kind of random and she was tad bit too much of a genki girl towards the second half? ...As much as I want to deny that, yes. But she was still done right. Bonus points for having one of the healthiest families in all of Precure (this could go for other cures but I just really love the Nono's).
Cure Ange/Saaya Yakushiji - I really loved Saaya... and then by the end she was kind of decent. Her episodes started out really well and by the end they were kinda a chore to get through, it also doesn't help that her development was in the background at a point in time. Still, I like that she's a bit more of a geek for a blue, and I kind of wish her arc of being an actress to a doctor made a bit more sense because realistically... what is that job transition.
Cure Etoile/Homare Kagayaki - ALL OF HOMARE'S EPISODES WERE ANIMATED SO WELL, like I rewatch Episode 4 and Episode 16 specifically because... well duh. Homare had one of my favourite introduction arcs to a Precure and was really cool... but by the second half... her arc became a tad bit... missing when Harry and Bicine got involved and I think her episodes, from a writing perspective, became a bit of a chore though not as much as Saaya's. Still, I like her and she's pretty solid
Cure Macherie - Macherie was silly, I initially thought she was a tad annoying, but then Amour appeared and she became pretty enjoyable. Like imo she's genuinely pretty entertaining and, while she isn't the most... deep Cure ever, she at least had a pretty good presence throughout the show even if she was overused. I thought she was pretty good.
Cure Amour - I WISH SHE WAS STILL MONOTONE, like she peaked really well at the first half of the season because she was monotone as freak and then by the second half she became... creepily like a human pretty fast. Still, I really love Amour and I do think she's really great, though I do think she was misused a lot.
THE FAIRIES
Hugtan - Hugtan is Elle-chan one right, I love Hugtan and the connection between her and Hana. Hugtan really endeared me as a fairy. Hugtan was cute, fun, never really spoke any lines. I wish more baby fairies were like this.
Harry - Harry is really competent, he's like Tarte 2.0 for me. While the stuff involving Homare was a tad... I actually don't remember if it brought down his character at all or if it brought him up, he was still very fun and I always enjoyed his onscreen presence.
THE SIDE-CHARACTERS
These are some really good side characters in Precure... though sometimes they can get overused, some notable standouts I can remember are... the dude from the first episode who was the first monster of the week, the band dude who had a crush on Hana, Hana's grandma, Hana's whole family, those two characters in Episode 16 who were besties, Emiru's older brother... these people I actually take note of (despite not remembering their names but I do know their personalities so shhh) so props to that HUGtto
Henri - I have positive opinions on him and I do think he is one of the best side characters in Precure. He may have been overused like seriously a side character shouldn't be used THIS much, he was still pretty good.
THE VILLAINS
Charaleet - He was fun and pretty intimidating at times but that's really it for his character. I did like him enough but he never necessarily left that much of an impact on me. I did like the stuff they did with him in the second half but maybe that's because I treat villains as an afterthought compared to side-characters.
Papple - I like Papple a little less then Charaleet, I do think she had a bit more interesting stuff going on involving Gelos or Kurai, and I will say she was fun when redeemed but she was kinda there at the second half for the most part
Diagan - Diagan was so... he was a bit forgettable... sometimes he was unintentionally hilarious but other then that... he was meh
Gelos (+ those butlers) - Gelos was honestly pretty fine until... she got dragged down by HUGtto's second half... and then she was kind of... forgettable by the end but she was at least somewhat decent... her butlers were not good though
Bicine - BICINE HAD SO MUCH GOING FOR THEM. Like the yandere they had, their rivalry with Homare, the backstory with Listol... and then they became an afterthought in the finale which really hurt because I enjoyed them... and then they became a bit... meh me personally.
Dr. Traum - Ok... hot take... while I do like Dr. Traum and how he plays into Amour's arc. I'd honestly remove him from the show if I potentially got to rewrite it. HEAR ME OUT. While I think Dr. Traum was entertaining, he was also kind of misused a LOT in the show, like how his final battle was overshadowed with a crossover. Like, I think Amour finding her own identity (and thus adding to how she'll get over her monotone tendencies later in the show) would make for a good arc on her own
Listol - He was intimidating... and he still kind of is... I don't know. Most of his stuff was kind of related to Bicine... and Listol had some good moments but he's the one I kind of forget the most out of the villains.
George Kurai - Kurai was pretty great, he was mysterious at first and was kinda creepy but as the show went on I did feel empathetic towards him... even if his backstory, to me, was just a tad bit vague. Dude might be one of my picks for a top 10's list of best Precure final villains ever.
MISCELLANEOUS (Fights, Music, Character Design, etc)

• I want to live in the city HUGtto takes place in like it's so casual
• THESE ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITE PRECURE DESIGNS EVER
• ok so maybe this is a mild take but the music was a bit forgettable... though that second ending theme and LOVE & LOVE is so good
• The transformations were lowkey forgettable but Macherie + Amour carried
• I loved the fights sometimes, LIKE THERE IS SOME REALLY GOOD ANIMATION IN SOME EPISODES ...but most of the time they were kind of forgettable
• The all stars movie with all the cures was carried by the villain and Hana, everything else was mostly good, I definitely recommend it.

OVERALL
HUGtto Precure could've been good... and it kind of was? It just had many flaws holding it back from being one of the best of all time. Still, for what it's worth, I will take HUGtto any day over some other seasons, and points for HUGtto for always being consistent with it's main theme of time, some of the characters, and somewhat keeping up the spirit of old and new Precure.
I'm giving this season a really high B+ (7/10)

First off want to start that this is not a shit post. I’m not looking to piss people off by making a post that isn’t remotely close to being highly strange however I do and would very much appreciate some insight into what has been going on in my life.
First, I want to add this has been happening to me since I was a child.
Second, perhaps this is a form of deja vu but it truly doesn’t feel like it.
Third, here’s the story:
A few months ago I had a dream that I would start work at a new place. My dream included the name of the place, where it was located, and how it looked. Whenever I have oddly specific dreams I write them down. I understand that this seems completely normal. However 2 weeks ago I applied to my company’s internal job posting application. You don’t necessarily get a say on which location you are assigned to as it’s based on where they need you. Whatever, no big deal, nothing to think twice about. 1 week ago, I get an email and you guessed it I got offered a job at the same place I dreamt about.
I have never EVER been to this location before. Never seen it, never even went near it. You could imagine how I felt when I crossed reference with my journal. Anyway, I’ve been there now a few days and every minute I’m there I’m constantly feeling like I’m in a haze like state, like I can’t think straight, I’m really dizzy, feel nauseous and have a headache. The building is on the older side but doesn’t have asbestos because no joke I thought I was experiencing symptoms and I even spoke to the health inspector of the property (they looked at me like I was crazy).
Like I mentioned, things like this have happened to me many times since childhood. It’s nothing MAJOR though like I know the winning lottery numbers. I’m shaken up about it because it’s starting to mess with me when I’m trying to sleep. I become worried that I’m going to have one of these dreams and maybe it’ll be a bad one. I don’t see apparitions and I can’t communicate with anything other worldly but I do experience things like this and lately always feel like somethings staring at me. EVERYWHERE I GO.
Does anyone have or care to share some insight? Do you REALLY think it’s Deja vu? Like I said I’ve never ever been to this location, truthfully didn’t know this building existed, don’t know anyone who went, is, or has ever been here and am not even extremely familiar with its geographical location aside from a few main roads in the town. Again, I know you may not deem this post highly strange but this is a very real thing that is happening to me. I have seen mental health professionals and have been evaluated in my life and do not have a diagnosis either. If you are about to leave a nasty comment about this being a shit post please don’t. I’m truly looking for guidance or advice.
Thank you.

Something weird happened after I moved my homelab from bare metal TrueNAS to Proxmox. One of the disks in my Raidz1 pool is not added by ID, instead it was added by device name. Well, I added an SSD into my server tonight, and it seems to have shifted my device names down by 1 which instantly set the pool to "degraded" status and that drive set as missing.
I tried to replace the drive with the /dev/disk/by-id path, but I kept getting "This drive is part of the mainpool pool" error.
I also tried to export the pool and import by ID, but the drive still showed up as missing after the import.

 zpool import -d /dev/disk/by-id/ mainpool 

After importing with the above command I tried to resilver, and the drive now shows up as online but with a weird ID.

root@odin:~# zpool status pool: mainpool state: ONLINE scan: resilvered 672K in 00:00:00 with 0 errors on Sat Jun 1 23:50:53 2024 config: NAME STATE READ WRITE CKSUM mainpool ONLINE 0 0 0 raidz1-0 ONLINE 0 0 0 ata-ST12000VN0008-2YS101_ZRT0KPQV ONLINE 0 0 0 wwn-0x5000c500e67fd251 ONLINE 0 0 0 ata-ST12000VN0008-2YS101_ZRT0LRR9 ONLINE 0 0 0 

I have no idea where that "wwn-0x5000c500e67fd251" came from. But that's where the missing drive was.
This is what my disk ID's are.

lsblk -o name,model,serial NAME MODEL SERIAL sda ST12000VN0008-2YS101 ZRT0KPQV ├─sda1 └─sda9 sdb Samsung SSD 870 EVO 1TB S6PTNM0RA00220N sdc Samsung SSD 860 EVO 500GB S598NE0MA21473L sdd ST12000VN0008-2YS101 ZRT0LWZ0 ├─sdd1 └─sdd9 sde ST12000VN0008-2YS101 ZRT0LRR9 ├─sde1 └─sde9 

The pool no longer shows as degraded, but I'm concerned about the drive showing up like that. The resilvering also seems to be stuck (hasn't moved from 672k in about an hour).
Anyone have any ideas? Is this a bad thing? Should I just leave it? I started a scrub just in case and it seems to be progressing.

My son is incarcerated and has done a considerable chunk of time. Now he got caught up with a higher level write up, and was told if he provided information he could get out of the write up and transferred to a lower level prison. He went and provided the information (all recorded audio & video) and the write up still hasn't been dropped. But, the officer he provided information on was arrested and just recently got their "discovery". Within it was his name and the date and brief description of him providing Information. Obviously his safety is in jeopardy now, but I'm wanting to know what we can do legally from this point now. I feel terrible as a parent because l'm the one who convinced him to go ahead and provide the info, stressing how important it is for him to come home soon and to stop honoring the code of silence in there. He was going to just take the write up and deal with the consequences that came with it. He was assured during his interview that the information would not come out, that his safety would never be at risk. I asked about protective custody and he said absolutely not, which I understand why he feels that way. Monday morning I'll be ready to start making some calls so I would appreciate any advice. Thank you.

My son is incarcerated and has done a considerable chunk of time. Now he got caught up with a higher level write up, and was told if he provided information he could get out of the write up and transferred to a lower level prison. He went and provided the information (all recorded audio & video) and the write up still hasn't been dropped. But, the officer he provided information on was arrested and just recently got their "discovery". Within it was his name and the date and brief description of him providing Information. Obviously his safety is in jeopardy now, but I'm wanting to know what we can do legally from this point now. I feel terrible as a parent because l'm the one who convinced him to go ahead and provide the info, stressing how important it is for him to come home soon and to stop honoring the code of silence in there. He was going to just take the write up and deal with the consequences that came with it. He was assured during his interview that the information would not come out, that his safety would never be at risk. Monday morning I'll be ready to start making some calls so I would appreciate any advice. Thank you.

I LOVE Nora Robert's trilogies. The characters, the world building, the fantasy/ paranormal elements. I've read/ listened to all of them 4+ times. They're my safe place. Whenever something in my life isn't going according to the plan, I turn to them. But I want to not read/ listen too often coz I'm scared I won't feel like reading them when I need my safe place. If you've read these trilogies, and you've read something similar(ish) by another author, PLEASE HELP! Please drop a name (or more) of a book or a series or an author who you feel has a similar writing style.
Sorry for the ramble.
Thank you.
P.s. I really like Maagie Shayne's Eternity, but sadly they're not made into audiobooks, and audiobooks are all I can do at the moment.

I have my own Lawn care LLC I am getting up and running. If anyone can give me some insight to my questions, I’d great appreciate it.

1. I’ve been doing many jobs with a push mower and other equipment (string trimmer, other similar equipment), push mower is tough on the body and not as efficient as a zero turn. I’d like to get a zero turn, but I’d need to tow it so I’d need a trailer, and perhaps a truck. I could get a zero turn & trailer for, maybe $7k? A beaten up truck for another few grand. Like most, I don’t have ~$14k lying around. Is there anything I can do (business write offs or tax write offs, financing, or anything else.) Should I speak to my family’s accountant for that kind of thing? Zero turn would be important, to do jobs quicker and easier, and open up commercial opportunities. I’m saving for this stuff, but of course it will take a long while.
   
2. Invoices. I am keeping track of all sales with invoices. Is this important for tax purposes only?
   
3. I am getting a better grip on the admin side, what are the things recommended to keep track of for my business? (Expenses like fuel, equipment, electrical cost, mileage tracking? How about customer spreadsheet? Sale history?)
   

I’m sure these questions may seem silly, but as a newer business owner getting my name out there, the ball is rolling, and I want to be sure my business is well oiled and operating at high efficiency. Thanks so much

I am NOT OOP, OOP is u/Capable_Goal_6116
Originally posted to TrueOffMyChest
My husband got a vasectomy and didn’t tell me
Trigger Warnings: accusations of infidelity, emotional abuse and manipulation, betrayal
Original Post: May 18, 2024
Throwaway bc my husband knows my main. I don’t know what to do. My (31F) husband (32M) - fake name Chris, and I have been married for four years, together for six. When we first got together we had several long talks about how we both wanted a big family. I wanted to be very upfront that child free is not an option, and I said I wanted to have at least four kids. I’m an only child and know how lonely it is, I also said I wanted to have them about a yeayear and a half apart so they could grow up close.
He always wholeheartedly agreed to this and often made jokes like “whether we have 4 or 6, have as many as we want, it’s your call since you pretty much have to do all the work” and on our wedding day before we left the reception for our honeymoon he whispered “can we get outta here and get started on baby #1?” I loved how excited he seemed. To be clear I didn’t go off my BC until about two months after we were married and I got pregnant soon after with our first daughter Joy.
Joy was a happy pregnancy, long birth, but she was a beautiful, healthy baby. She went through colic which was trying, but other than that she was a happy first addition according to me. I noticed Chris became distant during my first pregnancy, but when I asked him about it he just said he had a lot in his mind being a new father. He said he was still excited, but something changed. For reference, we both work full time, I make about 20K more a year than him, and the five bedroom house that we live in was a gift from my mom who was very excited to be a grandma to many. My job is fully remote, but still offers maternity leave, and I have a nest egg savings for emergencies, and feel it’s important to mention this because I know finances can be a major stress factor when it comes to having kids, but not for me and Chris.
Then Joy came out perfectly, Chris had three months of paternity leave and was home with us for majority of that time. My mom visited a lot, and paid to have cleaners come. There were still a lot of long nights and it was tough for me to breastfeed, but overall nothing unexpected. Chris still seemed distant, but always helped with Joy. We have an agreed open phone policy, so I did check his phone quite often but didn’t find any sign of cheating. He goes through my phone whenever he wants too. I asked if he found me unattractive while pregnant and he assured me no, he loves me and he’s excited for our family.
Fast forward a year after, we’re sleeping through the night and I am back to work, saw my doctor and was cleared to try for bundle of joy #2, and Chris seemed very enthusiastic at this point. He even downloaded an app to track my fertility cycle so we could make the most of my ovulation times.
We had a lot of fun and he was always very passionate, but six months of trying with no pregnancy I started to worry. I’d voice my concerns and Chris would brush them off, so I tried to be patient, but then almost two years passed and Joy is growing up by herself.
I broke down to my mother crying and she agreed to come with me to the doctor to get checked out. I was very emotional and scared, but the doctor assured me everything is fine and that I should be able to conceive without any issues.
I went to Chris with this knowledge and he was very upset I went to a fertility specialist. I explained I thought something might have gone wrong during my last pregnancy, concerned that I was maybe blocked or infertile somehow. He said why not wait and “just let nature take its course” and I said “our little girl is almost three, and growing up by herself.” I reminded him of our plans and he just nodded and said all we can do is try. I asked if he would see a fertility specialist and he got angry, saying there’s nothing wrong with him and we don’t have the money for fertility treatments anyway. This confused me since we do have money, we have my savings and are doing pretty well.
When he went to sleep I decided to go through his phone again and went back through his calendar and call logs. I noticed about eight months after Joy was born there was a blocked day indicating he’d taken off from work, but it was in the middle of the week and I don’t remember any sort of special occasions behind why he’d take this random day off. I went through the call logs and found an office number about a week before and when I googled the number a local business where you could get a vasectomy appeared! I couldn’t believe what I was looking at. I instantly felt cold all over then started to panic.
I woke him up and confronted him. He just stared at me while I went off and admitted babies were harder than he thought and he felt like my first pregnancy took forever.
I couldn’t believe it. I packed my things, Joy and her things and drove to my mom’s house. She is in distress with my sudden appearance and my inability to stop crying. I finally told her yesterday morning what happened and she’s just beside herself. I don’t know what to do, but every time I think about how during sex Chris would talk to me about giving me a baby and he’d had the vasectomy the entire time. I feel so disgusted and stupid. I can’t believe my little girl is going to grow up alone. Chris has been blowing up my phone, but I just keep letting it ring and haven’t read any of his texts.
Edit: to those saying I “coerced” my “poor husband” into agreeing to a big family, nope. I was always open and honest about my dreams, told him it’s okay if he wanted different things, and he not only repetitively agreed and accepted, he also helped me plan, nest, put together the nursery and enthusiastically participated in conversations regarding having multiple children around friends and family, and always said we’d have at least 4. That was our number. Him getting a vasectomy behind my back was a complete shock.
Also, we’ve both always agreed to the open phone policy. I never “betrayed his trust” by going through his phone since I always had his consent to do so and he has mine. We even have the same phone pass code. I never wanted to be in a relationship where we kept secrets from each other. I know other couples feel different, but this is another thing he always 100% claimed he agreed with me on.
I vaguely remember one week where he actually turned me down for sex claiming he had a “head cold” and he didn’t join me in the shower like usual during that time, but I didn’t think anything about it. And no, men never need a wife’s signature to get vasectomy.
Comments
FantasticAnus: There's nothing wrong with child number one changing his mind, but he should have been open and honest about that and said that he wouldn't be having any more children, and then it would have been up to you as to whether you could live with that, or move on from him.
What he did, however, was duplicitous and manipulative. I don't think I could stay with a man who was so willing to keep such an enormous lie from me, one which impacts me, my daughter and my future enormously.
MyUsernameIsMehh: He has every right to not want more kids, you have every right to want more.
What he did not have the right to do was fool you for years. Men who have had vasectomies but hide it and "try for a baby" are beyond disgusting. Their wives think something is wrong with them, they go to specialists and sometimes spend a LOT of money on fertility treatments.
He's a spineless little shit (pardon my words, but it's true) who pushed you to have breakdowns over this.
He had every right to get a vasectomy, he didn't need your permission, but he had NO RIGHT to hide it and pretend you two were trying for another child.
 
Update: May 24, 2024
Some of you made some comments about my mom gifting my husband and I a house, paying for occasional cleaning services implying that Chris feels somehow emasculated by this, also implying I am “too financially dependent on my mom.” I make very good money, I have a sizable savings and don’t need any help, my mom was excited to buy this house for us as a wedding present. My dad passed away when I was young, he was wealthy and left my mom everything, so she shares his love since I’m her only kid. I make more money than Chris and always have. Yes his name is on the house, so yeah I’m gonna get screwed over in the divorce.
Some of you complained I “broke his trust” by going through his phone. He goes through my phone too. We have the same passcode. Some comments called this agreement between us unhinged, which to me is bizarre. Chris, I thought, was my soulmate, my husband and best friend. We don’t have secrets. I thought. Isn’t that the whole point of marriage? To finally have one person in the whole world you can tell everything to? To always be on the same team? Obviously I was wrong, and as many of you pointed out, that kind of love, trust and openness doesn’t really exist, and none of that matters now.
Chris and Joy seemed fine to me, but in hindsight there’s always been a hesitation on his part. I always thought it was just typical since the short while my dad was alive in my life I don’t really remember him being affectionate or warm. He was nice and played with me sometimes, but I don’t remember being held by him very much. I asked Chris many times if everything was okay when I noticed he was distant. He always said things were great, and give an excuse; just tired, work is draining, no big deal.
We’re in the US, and here a man can go get a vasectomy at any time. I don’t know what Chris told his doctor. For all I know he took his wedding ring off and gave a sob story, or probably just walked in and asked for the procedure. It doesn’t matter.
I’m really thankful for my mother. She’s heartbroken for me, and like many of you, she already knows my marriage is over. There’s been a lot of long nights of me crying that she’s endured.
I’m numb when I’m not crying, and keep getting this creepy feeling that nothing matters. We’re getting a divorce. I finally called Chris and he sobbed he was sorry, said he might be able to get it reversed. I’ve read a lot about vasectomies since my last post, and sometimes it can’t be reversed. It’s always a risk.
Again, it doesn’t matter. It’s not actually about the vasectomy. It’s that the person who I thought was the one person in the world that I could trust, that I was on the same page as, literally writing the book together, made this decision without me and kept it from me and the lied for years. I really thought what we had was true love. Now I’m pretty certain that doesn’t even exist.
Chris has not offered any explanation. He cried, begged my forgiveness and said again that he could get it reversed. Even if he can, the rest is irreversible. He never once answered my question. It’s really painful to talk to him, so after three times of asking and him each time dodging answering, and begging forgiveness, I finally just said to please leave the house and told him he’d hear from my lawyer.
He texted that he’s packed and left, and I haven’t heard from him since. He never once asked about Joy.
My lawyer says I might wind up paying alimony, but I might be able to get the house since it was a gift from my mother and Chris has never made any financial contribution. He also says Chris committed a kind of infidelity since he went behind my back to have this life altering procedure and admitted it, so that might help me.
To everyone telling me it’s gonna be okay, and I can still have more children…all of that seems impossible right now. My heart is broken. I’ve never experienced such sadness and the only relief is when I’m playing with my daughter. Her happiness is infectious. She is blissfully unaware, having the time of her life at grandma’s, but unlike her father she actually asks where’s da da?
I called work and took a medical leave of absence. I found a therapist.
My mom has offered to stay with me for a while, as well as hire a nanny.
Comments
BrightAd306: I agree with you. It’s not the vasectomy. It’s lying about it and defrauding you. Wanting your money, but not being a true partner.
Listen to your lawyer. Do what he says, and you’ll come out the other side. Even if you pay alimony, it won’t be forever
DangerNoodleDandy: I agree. The vasectomy and the fact that he hid it are a symptom of a greater issue.
 

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My son is incarcerated and has done a considerable chunk of time. Now he got caught up with a higher level write up, and was told if he provided information he could get out of the write up and transferred to a lower level prison. He went and provided the information (all recorded audio & video) and the write up still hasn’t been dropped. But, the officer he provided information on was arrested and just recently got their “discovery”. Within it was his name and the date and brief description of him providing Information. Obviously his safety is in jeopardy now, but I’m wanting to know what we can do legally from this point now. I feel terrible as a parent because I’m the one who convinced him to go ahead and provide the info, stressing how important it is for him to come home soon and to stop honoring the code of silence in there. He was going to just take the write up and deal with the consequences that came with it. He was assured during his interview that the information would not come out, that his safety would never be at risk. Monday morning I’ll be ready to start making some calls so I would appreciate any advice. Thank you.

This post will repeat weekly through the month of December. Please repost or cross post as a way to promote this subreddit. Or ignore this one and check out our others! I apologize if it's cramping your style, but when I work hard on certain posts I want to be sure they are useful! I also am working on making these shorter so they don't get lost in the madness....
Scroll down for the Character Questions and create a thoughtful and empathetic profile of your main characters for your projects!
As always please use these as sparks to create and feel free to post your responses and ideas in comments or separate post! This is YOUR subreddit so go ahead and post away!
Prompt: Imagine a dystopian world where an oppressive government has successfully erased all forms of personal identity and history. In this society, individuals are assigned generic roles and are forbidden from expressing their unique thoughts, emotions, or experiences. Write a short story or reflective essay exploring the life of a character who discovers a hidden underground community that encourages self-expression and reignites the importance of personal narratives.
In your response, consider the following:

1. Character and World Building:
   • Describe the protagonist's background, their assigned role, and their initial perception of the oppressive world they inhabit.
   • Develop the hidden underground community, including its purpose, structure, and the means through which it safeguards personal stories.
   • Create a contrast between the protagonist's initial world and the underground community, highlighting the impact of personal narratives on shaping identity and resisting oppression.
2. Plot Analysis:
   • Outline the protagonist's journey of discovery, including their initial skepticism, the influential encounters they have within the underground community, and the personal sacrifices they make to preserve their identity.
   • Explore the challenges and conflicts faced by the protagonist, both externally (e.g., encounters with government authorities) and internally (e.g., the struggle to confront their identity).
3. Deep Introspection:
   • Prompt the protagonist to reflect deeply on the uncomfortable subjects that the government's erasure of personal narratives seeks to suppress. These could include topics such as individuality, memory, trauma, and the power of storytelling as a tool for empathy and resistance.
   • Encourage the protagonist to evolve their thoughts and perceptions throughout the narrative, considering the consequences of silence and the potential for personal growth through self-expression and sharing.
4. Requirements for Responses:
   • Conduct research to explore real-world examples of societies that suppress personal narratives or attempt to erase collective memory.
5. Prompt: In a post-apocalyptic world, a devastating pandemic has wiped out most of humanity. The survivors are forced to live in isolated communities, each with its own set of strict rules and customs. Write a short story or reflective essay exploring the life of a character who questions the existing order and embarks on a journey to unite these fragmented communities. Consider the role of unity, diversity, and collaboration in rebuilding a shattered world.
6. Prompt: Set in a future where advanced AI technology has permeated every aspect of society, write a story or reflective essay following a protagonist who begins to question the boundaries between human and machine. Delve into the ethical implications of human-AI relationships, the erosion of human emotions, and the potential consequences of blurring the line between artificial and genuine experiences.
7. Prompt: Imagine a world where climate change and environmental degradation have irreversibly altered the planet. Write a story or reflective essay from the perspective of a character who is part of a group striving to restore balance and heal the damaged Earth. Explore the connections between personal responsibility, collective action, and the intersections of social and environmental justice.
8. Prompt: Transport yourself to a society where strict social hierarchies are based on a person's genetic makeup. Write a short story or reflective essay following a character who challenges this system and advocates for equality and inclusivity. Examine the role of genetic determinism, discrimination, and the power of individual agency in reshaping social structures.
9. Prompt: Imagine a world where art and creativity are considered illegal, seen as tools of subversion and chaos. Write a story or reflective essay from the perspective of an artist who risks everything to defy this oppressive regime and reclaim the power of artistic expression. Analyze the significance of art as a form of resistance, its ability to inspire change, and its impact on personal and societal transformation.

Remember to consider the following for each of the prompts to insure a well rounded and thought out premise that will engage the audience and allow room for growth in the plot.
Prompt 1 - Post-Apocalyptic Community Building:

• Consider the unique customs, rules, and societal structures of each isolated community.
• Explore the protagonist's motivation for questioning the existing order and their vision for uniting the communities.
• Analyze the challenges and conflicts faced in the journey of uniting fragmented communities and the potential benefits and drawbacks of unity.

Prompt 2 - Ethical Implications of AI Technology:

• Reflect on the protagonist's personal experiences and interactions with AI, including the blurring of boundaries between human and machine.
• Explore the ethical dilemmas and consequences of advancing AI technology.
• Analyze the impact of human emotions, genuine experiences, and the potential loss or transformation of human qualities in a society heavily influenced by AI.

Prompt 3 - Environmental Restoration and Social Justice:

• Consider the protagonist's role in the restoration of the damaged Earth and their motivations for taking action.
• Explore the intersections of social justice and the environment, including the disproportionate impacts of climate change on marginalized communities.
• Analyze the challenges of collective action, personal responsibility, and the potential for transformative change in healing the planet and addressing social inequalities.

Prompt 4 - Genetic Hierarchy and Social Change:

• Reflect on the protagonist's experience within the rigid social hierarchy based on genetics.
• Analyze the implications of genetic determinism and discrimination in shaping social structures.
• Explore the role of individual agency, activism, and the potential strategies for challenging and reshaping the genetic-based hierarchy.

Prompt 5 - Artistic Expression as Resistance:

• Consider the protagonist's personal experiences as an artist within an oppressive regime.
• Reflect on the significance of artistic expression as a form of resistance and its power to inspire change and challenge societal norms.
• Analyze the risks, sacrifices, and potential outcomes associated with defying an oppressive regime through art.

1. Chick Lit: Write a chick lit novel or short story following a relatable protagonist navigating the challenges of love, career, and self-discovery. Explore themes of friendship, personal growth, and finding balance in a fast-paced, modern world.
2. Young Readers' Adventure: Imagine a group of young friends who stumble upon a hidden portal to another realm. Write an adventure novel or short story as they embark on a quest to save a magical world from darkness. Delve into themes of friendship, bravery, and the power of imagination.
3. Historical Fiction: Set in a time of significant historical events, write a novel or short story highlighting a lesser-known figure or group of people. Research the historical context meticulously and emphasize the character's resilience, struggles, and contributions during that tumultuous period.
4. Fantasy: Create a fantastical world filled with mythical creatures, magic, and ancient prophecies. Write a novel or short story following a young protagonist who discovers their extraordinary abilities and must navigate a treacherous journey to fulfill their destiny. Explore themes of self-discovery, heroism, and the blurred lines between good and evil.
5. Mystery/Thriller: Write a gripping mystery or thriller novel following a seasoned detective or amateur sleuth investigating a perplexing crime. Develop complex characters, suspenseful plot twists, and an intricate web of clues and red herrings that keep readers guessing until the very end.
6. Science Fiction: Set in a future where technological advancements have transformed society, write a novel or short story exploring the ethical and societal implications of groundbreaking inventions. Examine themes such as artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, or virtual reality and their impact on humanity's future.
7. Romance: Craft a heartwarming romance novel or short story centered around two individuals from different backgrounds or opposing sides. Explore themes of love, forgiveness, and the triumph of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
8. Coming-of-Age: Write a coming-of-age novel or short story following a young protagonist's journey of self-discovery, identity formation, and navigating the complexities of adolescence. Explore themes of friendship, personal growth, and the challenges of transitioning into adulthood.
9. Psychological Thriller: Create a psychological thriller novel or short story that delves into the intricacies of the human mind. Focus on a protagonist who becomes entangled in a web of deception, manipulation, and paranoia. Explore themes of trust, perception, and the blurred lines between reality and illusion.
10. Family Drama: Write a novel or short story exploring the dynamics and complexities within a multi-generational family. Include themes of love, secrets, and conflicts that arise as family members navigate their relationships, face past traumas, and strive for reconciliation.

Considerations for each prompt:

• Genre-specific elements: Ensure your story incorporates the defining characteristics and tropes of the chosen genre, such as the tone, pacing, and narrative conventions.
• Character development: Develop dynamic and relatable characters who undergo significant growth or transformation throughout the story.
• Plot structure: Create a compelling plot that introduces conflict, builds tension, and resolves in a satisfying manner, adhering to the common structure of the chosen genre.
• Themes and messages: Select themes that resonate with the genre and explore them through the characters' experiences and narrative development.
• Reader engagement: Craft a story that captivates the intended audience, keeping them invested in the characters and eager to uncover what happens next.

1. Historical Romance: Write a one-page historical romance set in a lavish ballroom during the Victorian era. Focus on the forbidden love between a spirited debutante and a mysterious gentleman from a different social class.
2. Science Fiction Comedy: Craft a one-page comedic story set in a futuristic space station. Follow the misadventures of a clumsy maintenance technician who unwittingly saves the day against all odds.
3. Paranormal Mystery: Pen a one-page mystery story set in a haunted mansion. Introduce a skeptical paranormal investigator who must solve the mystery of a ghostly apparition that has been terrorizing the inhabitants.
4. Literary Fiction: Write a one-page literary fiction piece centered around a character's contemplation of the fleeting nature of life and the importance of cherishing the present moment.
5. Action Adventure: Craft a one-page action-packed adventure story set in the jungles of an unexplored island. Follow a daring archaeologist's quest for a hidden treasure while battling against treacherous obstacles and rival adventurers.
6. Psychological Drama: Create a one-page psychological drama following the internal struggles of a troubled artist as they grapple with their inner demons and seek redemption.
7. Magical Realism: Write a one-page magical realism story set in a sleepy coastal town. Explore the extraordinary occurrences that happen when an enigmatic mermaid washes ashore and disrupts the mundane lives of the townsfolk.
8. Thriller: Craft a one-page thriller story involving a race against time. Follow a determined protagonist as they try to decipher cryptic clues and prevent a citywide disaster.
9. Fantasy Adventure: Pen a one-page fantasy adventure story set in a whimsical realm. Follow a young hero's quest to retrieve a stolen artifact and restore balance to the land, encountering fantastical creatures and overcoming obstacles along the way.
10. Historical Fiction Mystery: Write a one-page historical fiction mystery set during the Roaring Twenties. Follow a quick-witted detective as they unravel a web of deceit and intrigue surrounding a glamorous underground speakeasy in the heart of the city.

Considerations for each prompt:

• Engaging Beginning: Choose a compelling starting point that grabs the reader's attention and hooks them into the story from the very first sentence.
• Concise Plot: Craft a tightly woven plot that can be fully developed within one page, with an introduction, rising action, climax, and resolution.
• Strong Characterization: Develop distinct and memorable characters, even within the limited space, by providing key details that bring them to life and make them relatable to the reader.
• Descriptive Language: Use vivid and sensory language to paint a clear picture of the setting, engage the reader's imagination, and create an immersive reading experience.
• Resolution or Twist: Provide a satisfying resolution to the story or introduce an unexpected twist that leaves the reader intrigued and wanting more.

Protagonist Character Profile:

1. Name:
2. Age:
3. Gender:
4. Physical appearance:
5. Background:
6. Personality traits (list at least five):
7. Core values and beliefs:
8. Motivations and goals:
9. Biggest fear:
10. Internal conflicts:
11. External conflicts:
12. Strengths:
13. Weaknesses:
14. Childhood experiences and their impact:
15. Education and professional background:
16. Relationship status and dynamics:
17. Quirks or peculiar habits:
18. Psychological disorders, if any:
19. Familial relationships and dynamics:
20. Support system (friends, mentors, etc.):
21. Traumatic experiences and their effects:
22. Coping mechanisms:
23. Emotional vulnerabilities:
24. Resilience and determination:
25. Personal growth throughout the story:

Protagonist Character Questions:

1. What drives the protagonist to take action and pursue their goals?
2. How does the protagonist's childhood shape their behaviors and choices?
3. What values does the protagonist hold dear, and how do they influence their decision-making process?
4. What inner conflicts does the protagonist face, and how do they attempt to reconcile them?
5. How does the protagonist's education and professional background contribute to their strengths and weaknesses?
6. What traumatic experiences has the protagonist overcome, and how have these experiences shaped their worldview?
7. How does the protagonist cope with stress or adversity?
8. What relationships and dynamics are most significant to the protagonist, and how do these relationships evolve throughout the story?
9. In what ways does the protagonist exhibit resilience and determination in the face of challenges?
10. How does the protagonist approach personal growth and self-improvement?
11. What psychological disorders, if any, does the protagonist struggle with, and how do these disorders impact their thoughts and actions?
12. How does the protagonist's physical appearance contribute to their self-perception and interactions with others?
13. What unique quirks or habits does the protagonist possess that make them stand out?
14. What are the protagonist's primary desires and aspirations?
15. How does the protagonist's internalized fear drive or hinder their actions?
16. How does the protagonist navigate and resolve external conflicts?
17. What coping mechanisms does the protagonist rely on during times of stress or emotional turmoil?
18. How do familial relationships and dynamics influence the protagonist's actions and decisions?
19. What significant life choices or dilemmas does the protagonist face throughout the story, and how do they respond?
20. In what ways does the protagonist's support system impact their growth and resilience?
21. How does the protagonist's personal development and self-discovery contribute to the overall narrative arc?
22. How does the protagonist's background and experiences shape their perception of the world?
23. What are the protagonist's core beliefs and values, and how do these impact their interactions with others?
24. How does the protagonist handle setbacks or failures, and what lessons do they learn from these experiences?
25. What external influences or societal pressures affect the protagonist's decision-making process?

Antagonist Character Profile:

1. Name:
2. Age:
3. Gender:
4. Physical appearance:
5. Background:
6. Personality traits (list at least five):
7. Core values and beliefs:
8. Motivations and goals:
9. Biggest fear:
10. Internal conflicts:
11. External conflicts:
12. Strengths:
13. Weaknesses:
14. Childhood experiences and their impact $ Go on

1. Education and professional background: 16. Relationship status and dynamics: 17. Quirks or peculiar habits: 18. Psychological disorders, if any: 19. Familial relationships and dynamics: 20. Support system (friends, mentors, etc.): 21. Traumatic experiences and their effects: 22. Coping mechanisms: 23. Emotional vulnerabilities: 24. Strategies for achieving their goals: 25. Methods they employ to antagonize the protagonist:

Antagonist Character Questions:

1. What drives the antagonist to oppose the protagonist and act as an obstacle in their journey?
2. How does the antagonist's background and upbringing contribute to their negative behaviors and motivations?
3. What core values and beliefs does the antagonist hold that align with their antagonistic actions?
4. What personal goals or desires does the antagonist seek to fulfill?
5. What is the biggest fear or insecurity that drives the antagonist's actions?
6. How does the antagonist's internal conflicts manifest and impact their decisions?
7. What external conflicts arise as a result of the antagonist's actions, and how do they handle these conflicts?
8. In what ways does the antagonist exhibit strength and power, and how do these traits affect their interactions with others?
9. What are the antagonist's weaknesses or vulnerabilities that can be exploited by the protagonist?
10. How have childhood experiences shaped the antagonist's worldview and motivations?
11. How does the antagonist's education and professional background contribute to their methods and strategies?
12. What familial relationships or dynamics influence the antagonist's actions and choices?
13. What unique quirks or habits does the antagonist possess that make them distinct or memorable?
14. Are there any psychological disorders or conditions that contribute to the antagonist's behavior?
15. How does the antagonist cope with stress or emotional turmoil?
16. What strategies or tactics does the antagonist employ to achieve their goals and antagonize the protagonist?
17. How do the antagonist's actions impact their relationships and interactions with other characters in the story?

18.How does the antagonist perceive and justify their actions, even if they are considered morally or ethically wrong?

1. What external influences or societal pressures contribute to the antagonist's motivations or actions?
   
2. How does the antagonist's physical appearance contribute to their demeanor and portrayal in the story?
   
3. What significant life choices or dilemmas has the antagonist faced, and how have these shaped their character?
   
4. What is the antagonist's reaction to setbacks or failures, and how do they adapt their strategies?
   
5. How does the antagonist's support system or lack thereof impact their actions and decisions?
   
6. What past traumatic experiences or events have influenced the antagonist's worldview and behaviors?
   
7. How does the antagonist's emotional state or emotional vulnerabilities influence their actions and interactions with others?
   

If you have someone you don't like, a good way to ruin their day/evening is getting them a restaurant gift card that has a $0 balance but physically write in an amount in the box where you declare the value. EX: A $100 Steakhouse gift card. I used to do this when I was a kid for teachers I didn't like and put them in thank you cards and sign them using names of other kids or bullies in my school I didn't like. The main school office had mailboxes for the teachers so students/staff members could give them notes/gifts and I would sneak them in when nobody was looking. If they don't check the balance, they will probably take their family out to dinner at a place they would have never planned on going, rack up a big bill, and be stuck with it after the waiter tells them there's a $0 balance.

Hey all, I've finally mustered the courage to post on this sub, since the silliness is spreading to my lungs and made me delirious with slight confidence ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ . I'm 25, turning 26 soon, pansexual and non-binary (AFAB), although any pronouns are fine!
A little bit about myself, and by a little, I mean a novel. I couldn't write a short bio even if my life depended on it.
I have two partners currently, my nesting partner of 10 years, and my long distance partner of 2 and a half years. I've been practicing polyamory for around 7 years, with several dynamics. We all date separately, and I'm also open to just making some friends! While I’d heavily prefer to find someone in Tennessee or close by, if you're open to travelling or being online, that's also okay.
I'm heavily into writing, whether it's fanfictions, books I'm working on, my D&D campaign lore, or just some poetry. I just started a campaign with 4 players, but if you're local, would love to add people to it!
When it comes to gaming, I prefer horror-survival. Games like 7 Days to Die, Green Hell, Project Zomboid, and The Forest/Sons of the Forest. Point and click's RPG's, rhythm, VR, you name it I've probably played some of it. (Bonus points if you're into Undertale)
I'm a complete menace in the kitchen, so be ready to eat. I love cooking, grilling, baking, you name it. Always trying new recipes, making my own pasta, homemade bread, etc. I love hotpot, sweets, and anything chicken.
In terms of my appearance, I'm 5'9", and around 220lbs. A thicc girl, if you will. I've lost about 25lbs since the start of this year and want to continue improving my health, but I do like being a bit curvy. I've got long black hair, with a hime hairstyle. I fluctuate between slightly pale and very tan, since I'm half white, half Native American. I have a few tattoos, and a few piercings, but had to remove a lot of my facial ones due to one of my medical conditions.
Speaking of medical conditions; I am disabled, and am currently on SSDI. I have a few conditions that I won't completely list here, but the main factor is a type of seizure disorder and neurological disease that can give me flare-ups. These flares impair my ability to walk, speak, or use my arms/hands at times. While I'd be happy to disclose more in private, I feel it's necessary to be at least a little upfront beforehand. Not everyone wants to date someone who is disabled, and that's okay! I do have limitations in what I can do/where I can go during a flare up, and navigating a relationship with someone who is disabled can be different if you've never experienced it before, so no hard feelings. However, I don't let this stop me from still trying to enjoy myself and have a good time. I still try to stay active, go to the pool, and practice my hobbies!
What I'm looking for? Preferably someone local or close, but online works as well. A person who loves laughing at shit posts, dumb memes, playing videos games, D&D 5e, and is at a point in their life where they are comfortable emotionally. You'd be able to clearly communicate with me, your needs, boundaries, wants, desires, and of course your interests! For age, preferably between 25-40, but I don't have a big preference on appearance. I would love to meet someone taller than myself considering I've been taller than most of my past and current partners, but it's not super important haha. Gender does not matter to me, so shoot your shot!
All in all, I'd like someone I can laugh like an idiot with, game with, eat good food with, and maybe have deep discussions with while sitting around a bonfire, sipping on some drinks.
Thank you for coming to my hour long ted talk, and if you're interested, feel free to shoot me a DM!

Hello everyone, my name is Rick and I am a 23 year old college student from New York. When I was about five years old I was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Growing up was very different because I was never really integrated into social settings, I had a few friends similar to me years ago and things seemed fine. When I was 17, I was transferred out of special education and I did 4 years of general high school, my experience was much more positive than most because I was in an inclusive setting that felt like a community rather than a school where everyone goes to. I made a best friend and I am thankful for him from the bottom of my heart.
I suffered through Depression and Anxiety throughout my teenage hood and I'm still dealing with this in my adulthood. I have had unfortunate luck when it comes to dating and romance, I've never had sex and I'm a 23 year old virgin. I'm currently taking care of my grandmother and I'm in a rut right now where I don't feel like doing anything, I have no motivation. I have no drive. I just feel like I'm not good enough for anyone because I feel so depressed. One year, I played Red Dead Redemption 2 and got into the Sonic franchise, Red Dead Redemption 2 changed my life because it is a special game that taught me the value of empathy. Arthur Morgan made me want to help others and expect absolutely nothing in return, I feel so sad right now because I don't have a girlfriend. If I did? I'd help her as much as I can and spend quality time with her. I felt afraid to post here because people can be judgmental.
If you will ask me why don't I go out currently and meet people is because I am so tired of being rejected, I was rejected a few times in college and I didn't get the girl, it hurt me so much feeling that kind of pain. I don't want to cry again. I don't want to feel worthless again. I have this idea in my head that humanity is inherently evil and that I should close myself off from everybody. I feel like they'll hurt me again and I'm running away from that pain. So I stay inside playing video games, listening to music, spending time with my family, never getting laid (as they say) or spending time with any women.
Sometimes it feels like the world is trying to hurt me and I'm just protecting my family and my own sanity at this point. I just feel so unhappy as a person and I can't seem to shake this feeling of missing when my life was happier and simpler. Sometimes I stay up until 6AM watching YouTube videos because I don't even want to sleep at night, I woke up at 4PM yesterday because I didn't go to bed until 7AM. My mind tells me that I am worthless sometimes and I have a tendency to be way too hard on myself.
As I write this, I feel defeated, depressed, and regretful that I feel the way I feel. I can't help but feel like I hate myself because of the way my life was went. The rejections. The time when a shooting broke out when I was out with my father, I feared for our lives and it hurts so much thinking about. My fear is being abandoned because it'll show that the belief that I am worthless may be true, I can't let that happen. I have to help as many people as possible because it is the right thing to do. I must find a way to overcome this ordeal that I have found myself in. I feel like if I go out there and try to find love, or join something, another disappointment will come my way and it will serve as a reminder of everything that has gone wrong in my life. I'm just tired of feeling physical and mental pain that I isolate myself just to avoid it altogether. Yet I want companionship and connection with a woman, but what I'm running away from is being rejected again and feeling hurt again. I just want to run away from the agony and life is telling me that I'm running away from the truth, what really matters.
I hope that someday I meet someone that likes me as much as I like them. Because going through life without experiencing that seems so painful.
It seems like some people's days are filled with sunshine, but mine are overcast, waiting for additional clouds to roll in and then a storm rages.

“The surrounding terrain that he finds himself in, all laid in ruin, grand buildings turned into dust and rubble by a creature hellbent on destruction.
A being finds himself trapped under rubble of a tower that stood within a fine city.”
A pipe is currently in my leg… I say I can heal from it in a couple of minutes, but due to mana damage and adding the other factors of being reawakened, and basically being in a weaker state of being.
It’s not gonna be fully healed for two hours, and judging by the wind and noise it’s exactly 2:00 pm.
Okay….. I’m gonna have to rest here for now…. What to do, what to do when you find yourself trapped under rubble…..
I probably still have to do paperwork after this, also do I still have to clock out?
Like theres no way to clock out now, also actually since there hasn’t been the daily update to Scotch Inc. main database from this branch.
Kinda hoping they send a team to investigate, possibly find me…….
So now I’m just gonna wait…..
“Some time later, the dragon decided to pull out the pipe, taking some time, leaving behind a fleeting moment of pain before reliving no longer having a pipe lodged into your left leg.”
Jesus fucking Christ!…..
Oh man… guessing by the wind temperature, moisture in the air now….. it’s 8:00 pm….
And the daily reports are scheduled for 10:00 pm, and still in a weakened state………
Fuck, and I’m starving since I haven’t ate for a bit………
“Taking some time later, his leg fully healed now but yet still trapped under rubble of a collapsed building.”
It’s 11:00 pm…. Oh god who’s in charge of actually making a schedule for Scotch Inc……. And that’s my job…
Okay, escape plan and I can use the pipe to lodge that piece of brick and use it as a starting point for a chain reaction of creating an opening wide enough for me to crawl through.
Using the correct speed and strength, thinking as a straight line of one through ten.
Six is the weak point.
“A quick strike with the force of a train at full speed, creating a massive chain reaction of movement within the rubble creating a gap enough for the man to crawl through, with him eventually being able to breathe dusty air.
Allowing him to get a true grasp of what Asfelaeia had become, all to ruin, dust, rubble and some may say extinct.
The grand engine of a beautiful city finally ran out of its oil, exhausted and the flame within that engine has been extinguished and shattered.
Stumbling through eventually an arrow landed solidly into his right shoulder, letting out a scream of anguish.
Turning around to see some bandits.”
Bandit 1: Looks like we got some easy prey here BOYS!!
Bandit 2: So what’s the plan boss, gonna pick him off from here or go stabby stabby?
Bandit 3: I wanna do some nice stabbing.
Bandit 1: You, me and you let’s go stab a wounded animal!
Bandit 4: Staying back once again, looks like I’m gonna stab from a distance!
“Before Bandit 4 could realize something, they felt a small pinch on their chest, looking down realizing that the same arrow had been thrown right through their chest, directly taking out their heart.”
Bandit 4: I don’t feel so well….. “falling limp to the ground without a pulse.”
I would like to ask you of the remaining three, to simply give up this life and leave before I use any more of my abilities.
Bandit 2: George?….. no….. no….
“Without hesitation Bandit 3 rushes at the draconic man, wielding a butcher's knife attempting to slash at the man.”
An ability of mine makes an imaginary line of one through ten, with a weak point being assigned randomly to a point and the current weak points on your legs are five and two.
“A quick side step followed by a Russian leg sweep, disarming bandit 3 and using the butcher's knife hitting both weak points, causing a destabilizing effect stopping bandit 3 from getting back up.
And a quick guillotine speed chop, lunging bandits 3 head off.”
What about you two? Gonna do anything? Or now that I have proved my point of you being outclassed by a smarter opponent?
Bandit 2: I CAST DRAGON FIREBALL WRATH!!!
(Can’t dodge this, got 60% mana left, and the weak point on that wall is nine. Now with 2%, I can't use the ability anymore.)
“A quick nudge on the close rubble, causing it to collapse and absorb the dragon fireball wrath.
Creating a dust cloud allowing for the dragon to remain silent and moving closer.”
(The second is weakened from spending that much mana on that spell, while the leader probably took the crossbow from his dead companion, from assumption he’s not well versed in the crossbow and making sure he and the mage are from a safe distance of attack.
From the distance of trajectory of me lunging back that arrow, they bunked down on that rubble pile.
Still have the knife, can’t get a good hit on them though.”
“An arrow is lodged into the wall nearby”
(Okay my assumption was wrong, he got too close.)
“A quick glance around his surroundings, getting a glimpse of where the remaining two have bunkered down, with another arrow almost hitting his horn.
Picking up a rock, waiting till the next arrow is shot, the man decides to use another of his abilities.”
Wanna know who I am?
The names Mareluxus, or Lux for short.
I was alive for a couple of 100 years give or take, kinda been in an egg, too busy restoring myself after one of the greatest battles I ever participated in.
An ability of mine allows me to make an imaginary line of one through ten, a random weak point is selected from one of the points.
Bandit 1: What are you trying to accomplish here! I’m not writing your memoir!
“Another arrow is launched, almost hitting Lux.”
(Getting closer)
Lux : No I’m actually using another of my abilities here, I like to call it the “Open Hand Policy”.
Here’s the thing about the Line technique, it uses a good amount of my mana, and I currently have a small mana pool, basically I’m already drained and cannot use it again.
Also I don’t know the weak point right off the bat, actually having to use more mana to get the number.
Bandit 2: Why are you rambling on about? Scared of death are you!
Lux : I’m not actually scared of death, their ways to get around it, I’m actually scared of taxes but hey everyone else is scared of that.
Actually the Open Hand Policy quota has been fully reached.
With revealing my ability and weakness I can use a charged version of it, and now the pile your on weak point is 10.
“A quick movement and throwing the butchers at the weak point caused the pile to collapse, swallowing both of the remaining bandits under it.
Walking over to the trapped bandits.”
Lux : The hunters have been turned into the prey, how does it feel?
Bandit 1: Go to hell bastard!
Lux : Been there already and had a good time, huh wondering how Python is doing nowadays?
He’s working on the recovery team, and should catch up with him some time.
Now, I’m just gonna put both of you out of your misery.
“Picking up one of the bandit’s 2 daggers, and quickly plunging into his head, and using the butcher's knife and cutting off bandit’s 1’s head.”
Lux : Now I’m covered in blood, also dirty… also I don't have enough mana to open up a portal to my pocket dimension, dammit.
And my new shoes are ruined……

Hey everyone,
I used to work at Rusty's Pizza Parlor in Bakersfield, specifically at the Rosedale location. I've kept quiet about my experience for a while, but I think it's time to share what I went through and ask for some advice.
I worked as a driver and was trained by an employee named Carlos. He has been with the company for years and knows how to exploit the system. Carlos works the morning shift along with his "co-worker," Sandra, who is also a driver. They do the easy prep work in the morning, handle the lunch rush, and often stay through the dinner rush even against the wishes of management. When they are cut early, they complain and cause a fuss. Carlos and Sandra stay through the dinner rush to take advantage of the busy hours and then leave, dumping all the hard closing work onto the night crew. This means they take money away from evening drivers who are left to handle the tough closing tasks.
Here's where it gets really unfair:
Supervisors are supposed to be the only ones who send drivers on orders, but Carlos and Sandra constantly overstep this rule. They send themselves and others out without consulting the supervisor, cherry-picking the best tipping orders and leaving the smaller tips for the rest of us. In my eyes, this is stealing from their coworkers. They scan all the receipts, looking for the highest tips, sending themselves out on those deliveries leaving the smaller tips for the other drivers, even if it is out of order.
There's also a widespread issue with drivers altering tip amounts on receipts. You read that right. THEY ARE ALTERING TIP RECEIPTS. For example, if someone tips $2, some drivers will write a 1 in front of it, changing it to $12. This blatant theft happens at the Olive location, too, and management is aware of specific individuals doing this but allows them to continue working.
When confronted, they lie about their actions, and the worst part is that management knows all about it. I've reported this behavior multiple times and have been ignored every single time. These two, among others, do it every day, get away with it, and are still working there. The franchise is owned by a woman named Cyndi, and even after personally talking to her about these issues, nothing has changed.
I’m at a loss here. Has anyone else experienced similar issues at Rusty's or any other workplace? How did you handle it? Any advice or support would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for reading.
P.S. If you've tipped a driver for a delivery from Rusty's Olive, you might want to check your bank statements!