To preface: 1) I’ve been having a grand ol’ time of late writing fables, bits of folklore, and religious and academic fragments for the sake of worldbuilding and also for the fun of it. 2) I only have vague ideas of “the narrative” of what would be novels, but I do have fragmented notes that could pass as outlines for smaller narratives. 3) the mood I’m going for is more a fairy story world - think Lord Dunsany - but with the stakes ramping into something more akin to Michael J Sullivan or Pierce Brown.
To pose a question:
First: yes, I know: write what I want to write and don’t fret too much on aspirations for publishing.
You as a reader - how keen would you be on a collection of short stories set in the same world, written from and highlighting different cultures of the world? Some of said shorts would be the fables, folklore, fragments of academic or religious texts, but mostly it would be narrative short stories, some of which with a straight old school fairy story feel. Many of the narratives include ancestors of the novel series I’m working on (the one I mentioned that currently lacks “the narrative”).
Thoughts on this as a writing approach? Would you as a reader read such a thing?
I’m trying to decide how to polish the short bits or if i should think of it more as a “behind the scenes” sort of thing.
Ask if any questions. Thank you for the conversation.

In the dynamic realm of fashion and self-expression, custom t-shirts have emerged as a vibrant medium for personal storytelling. Whether you're an artist showcasing your talent, a brand making a statement, or an individual with a penchant for unique fashion, Ideann offers a seamless platform for designing custom t-shirts online. Here's a comprehensive guide to crafting your personalized t-shirts from the comfort of your own home.
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Designing custom t-shirts online with Ideann is an exhilarating journey of self-expression. With a plethora of customization options at your fingertips, Ideann empowers you to create apparel that is as unique as you are. Don't wait any longer—start designing your custom t-shirt with Ideann today and unleash your creativity!

In the ever-evolving landscape of fashion and self-expression, custom t-shirts have become a canvas for personal storytelling. Whether you're an artist showcasing your creativity, a brand making a statement, or an individual seeking unique fashion, Ideann offers a seamless platform for designing custom t-shirts online. Here's your guide to creating your own personalized t-shirts from the comfort of your home.
With Ideann, you're the architect of your style narrative. Craft shirts that mirror your passions, interests, or unique identity, ensuring each garment is a reflection of your individuality. For businesses, Ideann serves as a powerful branding tool, allowing you to amplify your message and foster team unity. Custom t-shirts also add a personal touch to special occasions, transforming them into memorable experiences.
To begin your creative journey, simply navigate to Ideann's intuitive platform. Explore a diverse array of t-shirt styles and colors, ranging from classic crew necks to modern v-necks, to find the perfect fit for your vision.
Once you've selected your preferred style, let your creativity flourish. Utilize Ideann's user-friendly design tools to create or upload your own artwork, enabling seamless customization with text, graphics, or logos. With Ideann's real-time preview feature, you can refine every detail of your design, ensuring it captures your vision perfectly before finalizing your creation.
Once satisfied with your design, select your desired quantity and sizes, then proceed to checkout. Ideann offers convenient bulk discounts, making it easy to order for groups or events. Sit back and relax as your custom t-shirts are meticulously printed and delivered to your doorstep.
To ensure your design makes a lasting impact, prioritize simplicity and clarity. Choose designs that are visually striking and effectively convey your message. Opt for high-resolution images to ensure impeccable print quality and attention to detail.
Designing custom t-shirts online with Ideann is a liberating experience in self-expression. With endless customization options at your disposal, Ideann empowers you to create apparel that is as unique as you are. So why wait? Start designing your custom t-shirt with Ideann today and let your creativity soar!

Maximizing the impact of your Instagram Reels involves leveraging techniques that captivate and engage your audience. Here’s how to make your Reels more effective and attention-grabbing.

1. Start Strong: The first few seconds of your Reel are crucial. Use a compelling visual or hook to grab attention immediately, like an intriguing question or a surprising fact. For example, "Did you know this simple trick can boost your productivity?"
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3. Tell a Story: Structure your Reels with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Whether you're showing a process, sharing a tip, or narrating a journey, a coherent storyline keeps viewers hooked. For instance, a chef might show the step-by-step creation of a dish from raw ingredients to the final plated meal.
4. Add Text and Captions: Enhance your Reels with on-screen text and captions. This not only makes your content more accessible but also highlights key points and keeps viewers engaged. A fitness instructor could use text to emphasize important steps in a workout routine.
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Smart Reel techniques can significantly boost your Instagram engagement and reach.
To enhance your Reel strategy, consider using Boost App Social. It provides trending sounds, creative captions, and effective hashtags to elevate your content. With Boost App Social, ensure your Reels are not only seen but also loved and shared, helping you grow your Instagram presence effectively.

Examples of Wikipedia becoming less neutral and more biased against Israel since Oct 7
Historically, I used to always consider Wikipedia one of the best sources for anything Israel-Palestine related. It was not heavily politically biased, used fairly neutral language, and seemed to offer reasonable perspectives. (This was only true for the English wiki, the Arabic version was always exactly as you'd expect). However, I've been noticing a shift recently every time I read Israel related Wiki articles.
So I decided to check if it's all in my head. I looked at some wiki articles and compared their version today vs the last version before Oct 7 to see if there were any differences in narratives. Most articles are very long and it's very difficult to look at all the changes in huge amounts of text, so I decided to only look at the first 2-3 paragraphs in each article.
This mini investigation does show me that Wikipedia no longer holds the status of a neutral source, as there's a clear attempt to subtly rewrite history and insert anti Israel propaganda.
Israel
Today vs Oct 5
This was an easy choice to try first. Even just comparing the first few paragraphs, there are A LOT of changes. Most of the changes involve removing some information, condensing information, and paraphrasing. Two noticeable differences:
• First sentence in second paragraph: describing where Israel is located: they removed that Israel is in a region that historically was called "Land of Israel" (but they kept "Canaan, Palestine and the Holy Land") Source
• Today, the article claims that the 1947 UN partition plan triggered a civil war that resulted in "expulsion and flight". This is a completely false narrative. The pre-Oct 7 article is correct, saying that during the 1948 war - after declaring independence and 5 armies declaring war on Israel - Arabs were expelled or fled (it was not the partition plan that caused it) Source
israel war of independence
As an aside, I found it strange that in the article about Israel, it did not mention even once the word "War of Independence". So I Googled "Israel war of independence", and I was very surprised to see that it redirects me to a wiki titled "1948 Arab–Israeli War". I'm 100% certain that last year there was a wiki with the title "Israel War of Independence" because I remember reading it many times. Our independence has been rewritten as just a war.
First intifada
Today vs Aug 9
• Changes "violent riots" to simply "riots" (we all know how pro Palestinians always argue that molotov cocktails and slingshots are peaceful) Source
• Changed that Israel took control of Gaza+WB "after Israel's victory in the war" to "in the wake of the war" (it's not wrong, but it's interesting that they chose to explicitly change the language to not show the Israel won a war) Source
• Changed "Palestinian territories" to "Israel-occupied Palestinian territories" - I've noticed this specific change in almost every Wikipedia article that mentions the territories or Gaza Strip. There seems to be a concentrated effort to insert "Israeli-occupied" into many texts Source
palestinian violence
Today vs Sep 22
• First sentence: "acts of violence perpetrated for political ends" vs "actions carried out by Palestinian people with the intent to end the Israeli occupation ... which can use force/terrorism" (firstly, they moved from saying that violence is "violence" to saying that violence is "actions" which "can" be involve force. Secondly, the claim that it's all in the name of "ending the occupation" is being pushed again... If that's all they want then why was there palestinian violence before 1967 when there was no occupation?) Source
Nakba
Today vs Sep 20
This word has become a favourite in the anti Israel crowd (here in a suburb of Toronto they've even officially added "Nakba Remembrance Day" to the schools calendar). Even though this is an article about something that happened 75 years ago, so supposedly it should be pretty set in stone by now, the length of the article tripled since Oct 7. It's impossible to compare to the old version because it's been entirely rewritten. A few notes:
• The first sentence says all you need to know about the propaganda push. It used to be "The Nakba was the destruction of Palestinian society and homeland in 1948, and the permanent displacement of a majority of the Palestinian Arabs." that was already biased and very politically charged, but it's nothing compared to what it says now: "The Nakba was the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians ... through their violent displacement and dispossession of land, property and belongings, along with the destruction of their society, culture, identity, political rights, and national aspirations." This paragraph looks 100% like it's taken from Al Jazeera... Source
• There's a new metadata section, and it's complete Palestinian propaganda. It describes the Nakba as an "attack", the attack type is all sorts of buzzwords ("ethnic cleansing", "mass killing", "settler colonialism", "biological warfare", "dispossession"), the victims says "750k expelled" (the word "fled" does not appear there - it just claims 750k was expelled) Source
• A new article was created after Oct 7 that branched off the "Nakba" article. It's called "Nakba denial", and it basically says that any Israeli narrative on the war of independence or any debate about what happened in 1948 and any Israeli viewpoint on history is decidedly lies and denialism, and what Palestinians say is the absolute undebated truth. They are changing what the term Nakba means and based on that they're building a new term to make Nakba denial sound as if it's the same as holocaust denial. It's weird to see how history is literally being rewritten. That's akin to me writing a "War of Independence denial" article which will gaslight anyone who says anything related to Nakba is just partaking in denial.
Israeli-Palestinian peace process
Today vs Sep 19
• They added an entire paragraph claiming that the international consensus is for "a Palestinian state in pre-1967 borders including East Jerusalem and a just resolution to the refugee problem based on the palestinian right of return". As far as I know, the Western world does not really talk about the right of return, and there's certainly no consensus that East Jerusalem (which includes the Wailing Wall) is going to be given to a Palestinian state. Since Oct 7, they essentially added all the Palestinian demands as if they're agreed upon by the world, but completely neglect to mention any of the Israeli demands, like security and control over their holy sites Source
Irgun
Today vs Sep 20
• Removed a sentence that said they avoided harming civilians, and without this sentence it sounds like their only objective was to kill anyone Source

I wanted to also look up some of the common old anti Israel propaganda that predated this war, to see how they changed. Here are the results:
Israel and apartheid
Today vs Oct 5
• Difficult to compare because the first few paragraphs are entirely rewritten. Pre-Oct 7, the entire third paragraph was dedicated to arguments against calling Israel an apartheid. Now, they softened and shortened the wording dedicated to that, and instead of having its own paragraph, it's just two sentences that got appened to the end of the last introductory paragraph.
• I found it strange that except for these two sentences, there was no other sections in the entire long article that discuss opposing views. Usually on wikipedia, there are always sections that show "the other side". So I checked the article in other time points going back several years, and I noticed that over time the amount of text describing the Israeli position is being removed. Until 2017 there was a section about "Criticism of the apartheid accusation" (which you would expect to have!), but since then it's been removed and now we're left with a mere two sentences.
• Just for fun, I wanted to see how Arabic wikipedia talks about this. You're going to love this! This is the first sentence in the Arabic version: "Apartheid in Israel or Israeli racism is a proven fact in Israeli politics , as it is a policy of apartheid carried out by the government against the indigenous Arab population of the region." Yep, it's a proven fact! Source
• Even in Arabic, this "fact" was only proven recently. On Oct 22, the Arabic article had this as the first sentence: "Apartheid in Israel or Israel's racism is an accusation directed against Israeli policy" Source
Dahiya doctrine
Today vs June 24
I never heard of this term, but recently I've been seeing many comments on islam talking about this and saying that this is Israel's tactic of attacking innocent civilians to get leverage against an enemy. Again, I never heard of this, I had no idea what this is, but what they claimed seemed very suspicious to me so I looked if that's true... from my research, it's a military strategy of not shying away from attacking civilian infrastructure if it's used by combatants, and it was devised after a war with Lebanon where the IDF failed because they treated Hezbollah-infested areas as civilian areas, which was ineffective in fighting Hezbollah.
• Since Oct 7, the first sentence on the wiki article changed from "destruction of the civilian infrastructure of regimes deemed to be hostile as a measure calculated to deny combatants the use of that infrastructure" to "destruction of civilian infrastructure in order to pressure hostile regimes." This new definition is exactly what the online community seems to use! It might seem like a small change, but this is the type of subtle changes that accumulate and give anti Israel people so much misinformation to accuse Source
• Again, for fun, I wanted to check out what Arabic wikipedia has to say about this. The first two sentences claim: "The Dahiya strategy ... approved by the Israeli government. The strategy states that "Finally, Israel has realized that the Arabs must be responsible for the actions of their leaders." ". Of course it seems very unlikely that the Israeli government stated such a strategy, so I followed the "source" for that quote, and of course it came from an opinion piece. So they took some person's opinion and are passing that as if it's an IDF official position. Source
ethnic cleansing
Today vs Sep 29
• Before there was no explicit mention of "Israel" in the article. Since Oct 7, they added a one-sentence paragraph, devoid of any context: "Israeli herders have engaged in a systemic displacement of Palestinian herders in Area C of the West Bank as a form of nationalist and economic warfare."
organ theft
Today vs Oct 6
A few months ago, Al Jazeera and the anti-Israel world at large were accusing Israel of harvesting organs from Gazans. Many of you probably remember this. I remember that such accusations have happened in many previous conflicts (always with 0 evidence), so I wanted to see if these "facts" reached wikipedia.
• Before Oct 7, there was no mention of Israel in this article. Today they added a subsection dedicated to Israel under "Suspected occurrences". It's about a story from 2009 about incidents from the 90s, so adding it now is very likely another attempt to add negative associations to Israel anywhere possible.
• The accusation in this article is also very biased itself - it claims that Israeli troops harvested organs from Palestinians. The real story seems to be that a specific Doctor and his lab did in fact remove organs from some corpses that arrived to their forensic lab without getting family permission. This was done to many Israeli victims of terror attacks, as well as Palestinians. It did not focus on Palestinians, and it was not done by the military. It was obviously illegal, but the wiki article paints it in a very different light to make it seem anti Palestinian.
• If you look at the other 3 coutries/cases mentioned on the Wiki page, those stories are much more widespread/organized and involved either killing people for their organs or stealing them from live people. The story that happened in Israel is much less extreme than that. I'm sure you can find stories of organ harvesting in many places. For example, I live in Canada so I just googled for "Canada harvesting organs indigenous" and the first link talks about how in Alberta, they have a law that allows harvesting organs from children who die in provincial care without asking for family approval, and 78% of those children are indigenous. There is no wiki article about it, it's not world news, you don't see masses of people trying their hardest to take facts from this story and twist it to completely demonize Canada. I'm sorry to end on such a note, but it really bugs me how much the world takes any story coming out of Israel and twists, magnifies, and spreads it and acts as if Israel is the only place where bad things happen :(

Remember that all my comparisons were only looking at the first 1-3 paragraphs of each article. Who knows how much details are removed/added/modified in the body of the articles.

So I'm looking for text based narrative rpgs just like "The life and suffering of Sir Brante", not like strategic games like suzerain or that stuff, more narrative and based on choices, which makes their gameplay immersive. Any suggestions?

Hello audioengineering!
I'm looking for any help anyone can provide in helping get higher quality audio. I think I've been able to get a pretty good "podcast" sound, but I'm actually hoping to get something that's higher quality and better suited to voice-over recordings for character work and narration (audiobooks, etc) and other professional voice work.
I am very new to audio mixing and recording from home, and I've done my best to follow advice I've found online through google searches etc. But I've hit a bit of a wall in terms of how to use various mixing tools such as compression or EQ properly. I also am struggling to troubleshoot hardware problems -- for example, I only own one pre-amp, so I don't have the option of doing the simple thing of trying a different one. I also don't know what to look for in a pre-amp so there's no guarantee I would compare mine to a good one anyway :P
The setup is:

• Audio-Technica AT2035 w/ ..some pop filter, no idea what the brand is
• Focusrite Scarlett Solo (2nd gen) preamp (an older preamp)
• Recorded directly into Audacity (or Reaper, which I started learning today)
• In a home-treated closet with lots of blankets, laptop sits just outside of the 'booth.'
• Audio-Technica MX40 headphones for monitoring

I'm insure whether the increase in quality will come from hardware, or if it's just.. my vocal technique lacking. Or if what I'm trying to achieve is usually just done via mastering and processing and I just need to know how to do that.
If you're willing to help me out, I've uploaded two versions of me just talking to soundcloud (so you don't have to download anything). There is a mastered and unmastered version; the latter is just the raw audio recording. The master is my attempt at getting what I want.
https://soundcloud.com/superselty/sets/sound-tests?si=b3452d70260148458c9c1e6149193d22&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
Thank you so much for anyone willing to help me out!!

Hi all,
I'm Sefa, 33 years old developer from the Netherlands. I have 10+ years development experience, mostly in backend development. I recently picked up React Native to develop the project I'm going to talk about here.
I'm aiming to build a few text-based mobile games, before I talk about the game itself I would like to focus on the text-based choice.
What's a text based game?
In a text based game world around the character, actions, results etc. are described with text instead of real time visuals. Emphasis on real-time visuals here, games I'm designing are not without any visuals. There will be static visuals to help players understand where they are, what their character might be doing etc.
Why a text based game?
Text-based browser games were quite popular when I was younger, but they didn't transition well to the mobile gaming market. Despite this, I believe there's still a niche market for these types of games on mobile platforms. My goal is to revive this genre, appealing to both nostalgic veterans and new players.
Challenges to Consider:

• Niche Market: These games won't compete with top mobile titles; they cater to a specific audience.
• Limited Research: My belief in the market potential is based on basic research and personal intuition rather than extensive market analysis.

Current project status
I am working on documentation to make all details of the game clear. I also started with the code base, I have basic GraphQL API and React Native application.
About the game
If you are still interested, let's talk about the game itself.
I'm developing a life-simulation role-playing game where players manage a virtual character's life, making choices about their careers, social interactions, and personal goals.
I am planning to launch with a few career options that offers different play modes:
Gameplay Modes:

• Competitive: Strive to be the best in fields like music or acting.
• PvP: Engage in competitive activities with real consequences, like crime and punishment.
• Collaborative: Work together to solve puzzles or achieve common goals.

Features:

• Skill Progression: Develop skills over time with in-game achievements and career options.
• Social Interactions: Engage with other players and characters in a dynamic online world.
• Persistent World: The game world evolves continuously, even when you're offline.
  
• Appeal:
  
  • Deep Role-Playing: Extensive character development and story progression.
  • Social Interaction: Strong community elements with player collaboration and competition.
  • Persistent World: Continues evolving even when the player is offline.
• Target Audience:
  
  • People who enjoy narrative-driven experiences and long-term character progression.
  • Fans of life simulation games and social interaction within a game.
• Strengths:
  
  • Rich, evolving storyline and character interactions.
  • Comprehensive social and community features.
  • Flexibility in play style and goals.

Game world will mostly be governed by the backend system at launch. I plan to hand it over to the players gradually over time with these changes:

	At launch	Final version
Politics	Non existent	Player driven politics system, city planning and management
Manufacturing and commerce	Fully stocked, game managed stores	Players full own all stores and manufacturing chains
Item availability	Standard, non customized items	Ability to craft higher grade, specialized items
Skill progression	All skills learned from skill books	Character can train other, education and specialization in place

There is much more to the game however I'm trying to keep it simple for launch and expand as it goes.
What else?
If the project above is successful I have few more ideas around this. I expect to end up with a few text-based games in different genres.
What am I looking for?
I want to have people to work with for motivation, companionship but also to increase speed of development. Having a click with you is the most important part, otherwise I don't really care how much experience you have with programming, game development etc.
If you think this is something you might be interested in feel free to get in touch! :)

In the exploration of the Bible's reliability, I would like to delve into five key areas of evidence: Manuscript, Archaeological, Prophetic, Statistical, and Internal Cohesion. These pillars provide robust support for the Bible's historical accuracy, divine inspiration, and internal consistency. Through the meticulous examination of ancient manuscripts, the confirmation of archaeological findings, the fulfillment of prophetic predictions, the statistical improbability of chance, and the seamless cohesion of its contents, we uncover compelling reasons to trust the Bible as a faithful record of God's revelation to humanity. Let us embark on this journey of discovery, guided by evidence and reason, to illuminate the enduring validity and significance of the Holy Scriptures.

1. Manuscript Evidence. Ancient copies of the Bible, whether fragments or complete texts, are referred to as manuscripts. These manuscripts allow us to compare their content with modern Bibles, providing substantial evidence for textual consistency.
a. New Testament Bible Manuscripts:

• Approximately 5,800 Greek manuscripts exist.
• Including translations into Latin, Coptic, and Syriac, the total number is approximately 24,000.
• The oldest fragment, the Rylands Library Papyrus P52, is dated to around 125 AD, approximately within one generation of the completion of the New Testament texts.

In contrast:
b. Manuscripts of Caesar's "Gallic Wars":

• About 10 known manuscript copies.
• The oldest surviving manuscript dates to around 900 AD, approximately 1,000 years after Caesar's time, allowing substantial time for potential textual changes.

c. Manuscripts of Aristotle's Works:

• Around 49 extant manuscripts.
• The oldest manuscript is from around 1100 AD, about 1,400 years after Aristotle's lifetime, providing ample time for variations and changes in the text.

d. Given the overwhelming manuscript evidence, which far surpasses that of any other historical work, it is clear that the Bible has been reliably preserved through the millennia. See some quotes from prominent Bible scholars supporting this in this link.

2. Archaeological evidence. Archaeological findings consistently support the historical accuracy of the Bible, verifying dates, cities, locations, and buildings mentioned in the scriptures.
a. John 5 details Jesus healing a man by the pool of Bethesda, located near the "Sheep Gate" in Jerusalem. The text mentions that the pool had five roofed colonnades. Scholars once doubted these details, but in 1951, archaeologists discovered a large pool near the Sheep Gate with five covered porches, confirming John's account.
b. Archaeology often corroborates biblical narratives, making it a valuable tool for biblical studies.
c. The Bible provides historically accurate details, as supported by numerous archaeological discoveries. Some more examples can be found in this link.

3. Prophetic evidence. Prophecies concerning Jesus and others have proven that the Bible is the work of God.
a. Conservatively, at least 300 prophecies about Jesus in the Old Testament have been fulfilled perfectly in the New Testament. For example:

• Psalm 22, written around 1000 BC, was fulfilled during Jesus' crucifixion, when He was "pierced," His clothes divided, lots cast for His garments, and darkness covered the land.
• Isaiah 53, written in 700 BC, details the suffering servant and the crucifixion of Jesus.
• See many more examples in this link.

b. The perfect fulfillment of such a great number of prophecies is evidence of the Bible's divine inspiration.

4. Statistical evidence. The probability of over 300 prophecies being perfectly fulfilled in Jesus is colossal.
a. Statistically speaking, it's more likely for someone blindfolded to randomly select one specific grain of sand from all the beaches around the world on their first try, than for all the prophecies of Jesus to be fulfilled in a person by chance.
b. The vast multitude of fulfilled Bible prophecies provide a strong basis for belief in its divine inspiration.

5. Internal Cohesion. The Bible is non-contradictory and internally cross-referenced. It was written over a period of approximately 1,500 years, from around 1400 BC to 95 AD. The oldest book of the Bible, Genesis, or Job, is thought to have been written around 1400 BC, while the newest book, Revelation, was written around 95 AD. The Bible was written by approximately 40 human authors on three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe. These authors came from diverse backgrounds, including shepherds, fishermen, kings, and priests. Despite the differences in their writing styles and personalities, the authors were guided by the Holy Spirit to record the words and events of God’s revelation.
a. There are no contradictions in the Bible. The authors wrote from their own perspectives and experiences, but the Holy Spirit ensured that their writings were consistent with God’s ultimate message. The Bible is a unified book that presents a cohesive and harmonious account of God’s relationship with humanity.
b. There are some copyist errors in the Bible due to mistakes made by scribes and copyists when copying manuscripts of the Bible over the centuries. These errors can include simple spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, and even changes in the meaning of the text. However, despite these errors, the Bible has been preserved with remarkable accuracy.
c. There have also been attempts to tamper with God’s word over the centuries, involving additions, alterations, or omissions in numerous copies and translations. However, when cross-examining these against the thousands of comparative manuscripts, these can be quickly identified and eliminated.
d. Some apparent contradictions can be explained by differences in the authors’ focus, audience, and purpose. For example, the accounts of the centurion’s statement about Jesus in Matthew and Luke can be seen as complementary rather than contradictory, as they highlight different aspects of Jesus’ character and mission.
e. The Bible’s internal consistency is a testament to the divine inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Featuring some 63,779 cross-references (see an impressive depiction in this link), the authors’ human limitations and biases were overcome by the Spirit’s work, resulting in a book that is both historically accurate and theologically rich.

(I am SO sorry for the needed lengthy) Back Story & Context Leading To My Decision:
I (33F) have 1 sister, “Sam” (38F). Although we share the same parents, our childhood & the way we were treated was incredibly different. Mainly because Sam had always been favored & treated far better than me. A fact that Sam refuses to acknowledge to this day.
Before & after my parents got married, it was agreed upon that they would not have children, until one day my mother “Susan” (66F) came up with the bright idea that if she gave her parents (“Norma & Gene”) a grand-baby they would finally love her. She went off the pill without telling my father, got pregnant, then had Sam. To no one’s surprise, Susan hated being a mom. So she would ship Sam across the country to Norma & Gene’s constantly, so much so, they saw her as THEIR child. And they showered her with love that Susan never even got a taste of. This led to Susan being aggressively jealous & resentful of her child.
Years later, my dad was tricked again into having me to “save their marriage.” They divorced when I was 3. All Sam ever knew from Susan was neglect, emotional & mental abuse from Susan, which only became worse when she could use “favoring” me as another way to hurt Sam. This was NOT a secret in my family, resulting in maltreatment towards me (either subconsciously or intentionally).
Abuse toward Sam turned physical. My father was given full custody of her when I was 8, and I was left with Susan for the next 2 years until she decided she wanted to move to San Francisco because she “deserved” a more glamorous life. I do not remember the years living with Susan, but recently one of my closest friends (of 25 years) said to me I practically lived at her house & she barely interacted with Susan throughout the entirety of our friendship.
To make up for Susan being an awful parent, Norma & Gene would dote on Sam & shell out a lot of $$$ to give her a very nice life which includes but not limited to; taking her on luxury trips around the world (I was only invited on 1 in the times we lived together), Norma would write her lengthy letters to continue growing their bond, has had so much money spent on her such as down payment on her first house & paid for extravagant events such as majority of the bill for her $50,000 wedding @ 21yo, the rest my father paid for. The only time she worked before graduating with her degree was part time ONE semester in college then quit because it was “so tiring” to work & study. Want to guess who paid her bills & gave her an allowance the rest of the time? Compare this to me when I barley received a kind word. They offered me money ONCE in my early 20’s to pay off my credit card & medical debt I accrued in college as I had to pay all my own bills while working full time (I have been working since I was 15) and going to school full time. I am the only one in the family who worked in college, yet I am still the only one to graduate with honors. I accepted with the condition it would come out of my “inheritance.” I have never asked or been offered money since. I have paid for ALL my own bills since I left home @ 18 years old.
Despite the obvious disparities and constant hurt they put me through, I was an active member of the family who mainly kept her mouth shut. I attended family events unless I could not afford to go, I sent holiday gifts, called between 1-2x per month for an 1 hour+ phone call in which I most often bit my tongue unless it was to defend Sam as Norma & Susan did not agree with her parenting.
Something to note, in May 2021 my father had an accident that would lead to his passing in December 2021. The disagreements & Sam’s nastiness toward me after the accident and then his death further strained our relationship.
Fast forward to March 2023. An explosive incident at Susan’s home. Susan started berating Sam for not allowing Susan to take my oldest nephew cross country for a week. When Sam confronted her on the abuse she endured growing up, and will not subject her kids to that, Susan lost it. Not only did Susan say that Sam made that up (I have the court documents in my possession) she screamed at Sam until she began sobbing in ear shot of her 3 young kids, husband, and my step father. I stood up for Sam as always, which resulted in Susan screaming in my face “I don’t want a relationship with you” with Sam as a witness. I cut ties with Susan in that very moment, then made the family aware of my decision, and everyone, including Norma agreed to respect my decision which she later went back on.
By August 2023, my physical health that had been on a rapid decline since 2019 including 18 out of 23 (78%) of my spinal discs deteriorating without a known cause had become unbearable to manage + time I had to take off because of migraines & doctor’s appointments, I had to quit my corporate desk job. I had enough money saved to tide me over for some time, but as any US adult in their 20’s & 30’s know, it’s been rough the past few years, add in physical disabilities & limited mobility + regular migraines, I was running low on money & needed help. So at the end of December, at the encouragement & insistence of my aunt “Elizabeth” (61F & Susan’s sister) who I had become quite close with over the past few years, I went to Norma & Gene to ask for a LOAN. They had donated $25,000 to Sam’s place of worship on her behalf a few months prior, offered to buy Sam & her husband a house the year prior, paid for Elizabeth’s bills & expensive lifestyle for the last year when she was soul searching on what line of work she wanted to do next, this was after putting a down payment on Elizabeth’s new $470,000 condo + $70,000 of renovations it needed, not to mention the literal hundreds of thousands of dollars that they have given Susan over the years just to pay off her credit card debt (none of which is coming out of their inheritance might I add) she assured me they would absolutely loan their granddaughter with serious health issues money. Elizabeth would talk to them personally about it, just to seal the deal while Sam would help me find cheaper alternatives to my current necessities such as Medicaid.
I make the request, and to my surprise they are more than happy to help me with a loan. But one week later & their phone calls with Susan, they say by email they “love me but cannot continue to financially support my poor decisions.” I call Elizabeth who says, it was not in her best interest to talk to them about helping me as I am “worthless to this family and society while being disabled.” Then adds that she will not let her “mental health deteriorate just to emotionally support me.” I then immediately reach out to Sam who does not even have the guts to talk by phone only text, and says she called Susan to explain my circumstance but “wasn’t going to argue or pick a fight” to help me and that she is sorry that that she “can't show up for me the way I want her to because she needs to maintain her own mental health, relationships and boundaries.” She also threw in that I have “made up this narrative in my head” that they treat her & I different, that she is treated better. This is literally in the same conversation where I already listed how she was treated better.
That day I fully cut contact with Norma, Gene, and Elizabeth. I told them they will not be hearing from me again, and I will not be attending theirs or Susan’s funeral. And I stopped speaking with Sam for the time being. Ironically, what led us to speaking was last month (April 2024) I had begun working on an article about going No Contact with family members. I asked if I could discuss her childhood abuse in a few sentences as part of the article. She agreed and offered to give me quotes. I accepted then interviewed her. From there we began rebuilding our relationship.
Then Wednesday, May 8, Norma passes. I do not attend the funeral that happened on Friday, May 10. My two cousins who I have become very close with in the last 6 months understood why, and supported my decision. I made it clear to Sam, who told Susan I would not be attending and I had made it clear in January that when the time came, I would l not be attending their funerals. Which clearly they saw as an empty threat. But even though I did not go, I continually checked in with them & Sam to ensure they were okay. Not once from Wednesday to yesterday (Tuesday) did Sam reply to a single message. As I was concerned about this, I reached out yesterday morning. She replied in the afternoon. I was incredibly hurt by her very lengthy message. Here are 2 excerpts that led me to full NC.

1. “Your perspective on the situation was clear, you werent coming to be with the family and you arent grieving [Norma’s] death at least in the conventional sense. I had to be the one to answer from most of the family why you werent there, it was incredibly awkward and uncomfortable for me.”
2. “Since late January/Early February things have already been really strained between us. I know that most that comes from my point of view and actions were really hurtful to you. I hate that I hurt you and Its been difficult for me to reconcile that I can't show up for you the way you want me to while also maintaining my own mental health, relationships and boundaries.”

She continually says that she cannot show up for me the way I need without affecting her mental health, jeopardizing her relationship with Susan, Gene or Norma, crossing boundaries (boundaries she never clarified or explicitly said to me ONCE) and I am not someone that would ever want to hinder someone else’s life by my presence or cause inner turmoil by associating with me. I let her know this and said I will stop trying to cultivate a relationship and I will step away for good. I said it as kind as possible, taking an hour to craft a message that can only be seen as kind. I told her if she responds I will not be reading it.
I work very hard to stay positive as it’s just me to lean on. When there is something eating at me emotionally, it will drain my energy & have me spiral until it is resolved. I did not want to waste another moment feeling hurt especially when I wasted hours being angry & upset after receiving her text before crafting my reply.
My dad always preached that Sam is “far more sensitive” than me & needs to basically be treated with kid gloves despite her being almost 5 years older (he held this stance until his passing). He would have surely wanted me to apply that rule to this situation by waiting a few weeks to cut ties once she had time to process her grief. As Norma was the closest person to a loving mother Sam consistently had, I cannot help but compare it with my experience of losing my dad. If someone who always supported me esp. with any family issues, cut contact the same week he passed, it would have added a whole other layer of devastation & loneliness to an already difficult time
So, I am torn on whether it was right of me to put myself first or if I should have done what I am known & expected to do which is making Sam’s feelings the priority over mine.
ADDITIONAL ADVICE REQUESTS: 1. If anyone else has gone through a similar situation or has no immediate family, how do you handle it when having to discuss it with others? Such as explaining it to a new S/O’s, or the least complicated version to their family members or my friends who do not know the full back story but will eventually pick up on me not mentioning my sister or my nephews & niece. 2. If anyone is not able bodied or is limited to working options due to health, what you do for your full or extra income (outside of any government assistance)?
TY to all who comment &/or upvote!☺️

Saturday, May 11 - Friday, May 17, 2024

Top 5 Posts

score	comments	title & link
839	115 comments	[Discussion] Making Skyrim in Excel
360	281 comments	[Discussion] What's the right response to the "Excel sucks" and "just use a real business software" narratives?
280	162 comments	[Discussion] What is the most complex Excel formula you've see
184	79 comments	[unsolved] I found a formula to remove number from a text strings in excel. Here is the formula: =SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(A1,0,""),1,""),2,""),3,""),4,""),5,""),6,""),7,""),8,""),9,"") i need a way to shorten this.
120	203 comments	[Waiting on OP] (Finance-Excel) What department/job uses Excel the most in finance? (That you know of at least)

 

Unsolved Posts

score	comments	title & link
57	74 comments	[unsolved] I have office 365 and excel is just slow slow slow. 2016 or earlier excel was god tier. What happened? What can I do to make it fast again?
39	27 comments	[unsolved] Is there a Reverse sumif formula? Or something like it?
31	31 comments	[unsolved] How to Remove Comma and Middle Name Initial at the End of Name
21	17 comments	[unsolved] What function would I use to figure out total spending of different groups of people. I have already divided 255 people into groups of the ages 10-20,-70-80. And now i want to calculate how much each of those groups have spent individually.
17	10 comments	[unsolved] Sumif in Power Query

 

Top 5 Comments

score	comment
670	SkankOfAmerica said I think it depends on context... Excel really sucks as a database, and even worse as an email program. SQL really sucks as a spreadsheet, and don't even try to use formulas in Outlook..
513	bradland said Everyone with "Analyst" in their job title. That job title is code for the person who listens to humans talk about desired outcomes, then builds Excel-based solutions.
271	ExoWire said If you exclude PowerQuery and some Vba formulas, it could be this one, I saw in this subreddit: ``` =LET( sourceTable, Table1[#All], tableWithoutHeader, DROP...
227	PaulieThePolarBear said Why do you "need" a way to shorten the formula? If it ain't broke, why fix it? Anyway, assuming you are using Excel 365 or Excel online =REDUCE(A2,SEQUENCE(10, ,0), LAMBDA(x,y, ...
209	EatMeButWhere said People don’t start formulas by typing that, if you click “+” while in an empty cell, it starts an equation for you (I.e. automatically puts the equals sign for you). This was done so on a 10...

 

Current:
Patrick Weekes, Lead Writer: Writers Mass Effect: They wrote several side quests, including Citadel: Family Matter and Presidium Prophet.
Additional Design Dragon Age: Origins
Writers Mass Effect 2 and Writers and Manager on Lair of the Shadow Broker: They co-wrote Miranda, and I believe also Garrus, co-wrote Liara during LOTSB. They wrote Tali, paraphrased Thane's romance dialogue, and contributed writing to other characters. They also contributed to the ending content for the game.
Senior Writer Mass Effect 3: Alongside John Dombrow, they assisted Lead Writer Mac Walters in managing the rest of the writing team. They co-wrote From Ashes and served as Senior Writer for Leviathan. They were also the Senior Writer Manager, working with John Dombrow as a co-lead (Basically) on Citadel. They wrote Kasumi, Tali, Mordin, Jack, Traynor, Joker, and Jondum Bau, and co-wrote Legion. Additionally, They wrote Liara's conversation with Matriarch Aethyta and Priority Eden Prime. They co-wrote Priority: Tuchanka and wrote Priority: Rannoch.
Senior Writer Inquisition, Lead Writer Jaws of Hakkon, Consultant The Descent, Lead Writer Trespasser: They wrote The Bull's Chargers, Cole, Krem, The Iron Bull, Solas, and Svarah Sun Hair. They also wrote the majority of Here Lies the Abyss.
Lead Writer Canceled Project Joplin DA4
Dragon Age Finaling Team Mass Effect Andromeda: Wrote several note texts.
Short stories: Dragon Slayers, Glass Beads, I Am Looking for a Book..., Why the Elders Bare Their Throats, When She Grows a Soul, Injure the Corners, Release the Knot, Shepard Off-Duty and Unleashing the Flyers of L
Comics: They co-wrote the story for Mass Effect Homeworlds #2 with Mac Walters.
Books: They are the writer of the Rogues of the Republic Trilogy, which consists of The Palace Job, The Prophecy Con, and The Paladin Caper. They also wrote Dragon Age: The Masked Empire and contributed to The World of Thedas Volume 2. Additionally, they served as both writer and editor for Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights, writing Three Trees to Midnight and The Dread Wolf Take You. They also wrote the novel Feeder.
John Epler, Franchise Creative Director since January 2022, formerly Narrative director until December 2021:
Prior to joining Bioware, he spent several years volunteering for various fan sites and dabbling in the modding community for various games.
QA Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood
Term Testers Dragon Age: Origins and Cinematic Designers for Witch Hunt
QA Story Team Mass Effect 2, additional QA on Normandy Crash Site, Zaeed - The Price of Revenge, Firewalker Pack, Kasumi - Stolen Memory, and Overlord.
Cinematic Designers Dragon Age II, Cinematic Designer The Exiled Prince, Cinematic Designers on Legacy and Mark of the Assassin
Cinematic Designers Dragon Age: Inquisition, Lead Cinematic Designer on Jaws of Hakkon and Trespasser: Working with the animation team, he worked to remove the race-gating on Iron Bull's romance
Dragon Age Finaling Team Mass Effect Andromeda
Animation Systems Designers/Storyboard Supervisor for Anthem
Executive Producers Dragon Age: Absolution
Books: Writers Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights, wrote The Horror of Hormak and Half Up Front
Sylvia Feketekuty, Senior Writer:
Writers Lair of the Shadow Broker: Wrote Feron and Glyph, wrote Liara from the beginning of the DLC until the scene after the defeat of the Shadow Broker, and wrote a few lines of her dialogue after that.
Writers Mass Effect 3, also the Resurgence, Rebellion, Earth, Retaliation, and Reckoning Multiplayer Expansions: Wrote Glyph, Liara, and Samara. Also, she wrote the final version of Kallini: Ardat-Yakshi Monastery, wrote Rannoch: Admiral Koris and Geth Fighter squadrons, contributed to much of the content on the Citadel, including various quests, the refund guy, and various other background material. she also co-wrote Legion.
Writers Dragon Age: Inquisition, also on Jaws of Hakkon and Trespasser: Wrote Josephine, Champions of the Just, and the final versions of Before the Dawn and Under Her Skin.
Writers/Narrative Designers Anthem
Short Stories: The Flame Eternal
Comics: She co-wrote the story for Mass Effect Homeworlds #4 with Mac Walters.
Books: Writers The World of Thedas Volume 1-2, Writers Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights, wrote Down Among the Dead Men and Luck in the Gardens
Sheryl Chee, Senior Writer:
Writers Dragon Age: Origins, also co-writer for The Stone Prisoner, Return to Ostagar, and Awakening, and the writer of Golems of Amgarrak. Writers Witch Hunt, Wrote Cullen, Dog, Leliana and Wynne, as well as Oghren, Sigrun, and Velanna during Awakening. Also wrote the Magi Origin, Broken Circle, and the Urn of Sacred Ashes.
Writers Dragon Age II, also on Legacy and Mark of the Assassin: Wrote Isabela and All That Remains
Writers Dragon Age: Inquisition, also on Jaws of Hakkon and Trespasser and writer for the Multiplayer: Wrote Blackwall, Leliana and the multiplayer characters
Writers Mass Effect Andromeda: Wrote Vetra and Suvi
Writers/Narrative Designers Anthem: Wrote Mathias
Short Stories: Isabela, Minrathous Shadows
Books: Writers The World of Thedas Volume 1-2
Brianne Battye, Senior Writer:
Assistant Writer Leviathan credited as Additional Design
Writers Citadel
Writers Dragon Age: Inquisition, also on Jaws of Hakkon and Trespasser: Wrote Cullen
Writers/Narrative Designers Anthem
Short Stories: The Next One, Won't Know When and Each Minute Closer
Books: Writers The World of Thedas Volume 2, Writers Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights, wrote Hunger and The Streets of Minrathous, and the writer of wholehearted (poetry collection)
Poems: Short Poems
Former:
Lukas Kristjanson, Senior Writer until September 2023 laid off:
Lead Writer Baldur's Gate and the Tales of the Sword Coast expansion: Wrote Minsc, Jaheira, much of the main story and main campaign, and many of the side quests Also contributed manual editing and compilation.
Writers MDK 2
Designers and core design team for Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn and additional design on Throne of Bhaal: Wrote Jon Irenicus and also contributed manual writing/editing.
Designers, Core Design Team, Manual Writers and additional programming on Neverwinter Nights
Designers Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic: Wrote parts of Taris, Manaan, and Korriban, much of Tatooine and Kashyyyk, and also contributed manual writing.
Lead Writer, later Co-Lead on Jade Empire.
Writers Mass Effect: Wrote Kaidan and Joker, co-wrote Kirrahe, wrote Feros, and co-wrote Virmire.
Writers Dragon Age: Origins, and the Writer of Leliana's Song: Co-wrote A Paragon of Her Kind
Writers Mass Effect 2: Wrote Jacob and Joker, contributed writing to other characters, wrote Joker's Mission on the Normandy, contributed to the game's ending, and advised Dusty Everman in the writing of the non-companion NPCs on the Normandy.
Writers Dragon Age II, also on Legacy and Mark of the Assassin: Wrote Arishok, Aveline and Carver
Senior Writer Dragon Age: Inquisition: Wrote Sera, In Your Heart, and several codex entries.
Writers Mass Effect: Andromeda: Wrote Liam
Comics: Co-wrote the Baldur's Gate promotional comic.
Short Stories: Aveline and As We Fly
Books: Writers The World of Thedas Volume 1-2, Writers Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights, wrote Callback and Genitivi Dies in the End
John Dombrow, Senior Writer left in August of 2023:
Writer Universe at War: Earth Assault
Petroglyoph Studio staff on Panzer General: Allied Assault
Writer Overlord
Senior Writer Mass Effect 3: Alongside Patrick Weekes, he assisted Lead Writer Mac Walters in managing the rest of the writing team. He co-wrote From Ashes and served as Supervising Writer for Leviathan. He were also the Senior Writer Manager, working with Patrick Weekes a co-lead (Basically) on Citadel. He wrote Wrex, Garrus, Javik, Padok Wiks, Wreav, Eve, and Victus. He also wrote Liara during From Ashes and contributed writing to Kai Leng and The Illusive Man. He wrote Priority: Sur'Kesh, co-wrote Priority Tuchanka, and wrote Priority Thessia. Additionally, he developed the initial Grissom Academy mission and wrote the first draft. He also edited Garrus and Javik.
Senior Writer Bioshock Infinite: Burial at Sea
Writer Telltale's Game of Thrones Episode 3 and additional writing on two of the other episodes
Writer and associate producer Mytheon
Writers and later co-lead for Mass Effect: Andromeda following the departure of original lead writer Chris Schlerf: Wrote Prologue Hyperion, Planetside, and the Salarian Ark Mission.
Senior WriteNarrative Designer Anthem
Short stories: Ruins of Reality
Comics: He co-wrote the story for Mass Effect Homeworlds #3 with Mac Walters and the story for Mass Effect Discovery
Books: Oversaw the development of the Andromeda novels.
Films: Production Assistant Sliver, Writer Control Factor, Screenwriter Deadly Swarm
Writer and developer The Sixth Extinction (Unproduced
Writer original screenplay The Hills Run Red
Films: Production Assistant Sliver, Writer Control Factor, co-screenwriter Deadly Swarm. Also, writer and developer The Sixth Extinction (Unproduced). Additionally, wrote the original screenplay for The Hills Run Red.
Left to go join Sucker Punch Productions as a Senior Writer
Mary Kirby, Senior Writer until September 2023 laid off:
Writers Dragon Age: Origins: Wrote Cauthrien, Sten, Loghain, much of the Qunari lore and the Chant of Light, and most of the Landsmeet.
Writers Dragon Age II, also on Legacy and Mark of the Assassin: Wrote Merrill and Varric
Writers Star Wars: The Old Republic: Wrote the companion conversations for Fideltin Rusk
Writers for Dragon Age: Inquisition, also on Jaws of Hakkon and Trespasser: Wrote Varric, Vivienne, and In Hushed Whispers
Writers/Narrative Designers Anthem: Wrote Max
Short Stories: Merrill, Varric and The Wake
Books: Writers and editors The World of Thedas Volume 1, writers Volume 2, Writer for Dragon Age: Hard in Hightown
Courtney Woods, Writer left in February of 2020:
Prior to joining Bioware, she worked as an Editorial Intern at DC Comics for 3 months and as a Contributing Writer at Newsarama where She specialized in video game journalism, including previewing and reviewing video games and related projects. She provided written and photographic coverage of pop culture conventions such as Star Wars Celebration V, New York Comic-Con 2010, and E3 2011
Community Coordinators Star Wars: The Old Republic also on the Rise of the Hutt Cartel and Galactic Starfighter expansions. Lead Community Coordinator on Galactic Strongholds and Shadow of Revan. Writers on Knights of the Fallen Empire
Co-writer The Descent
Writers Mass Effect: Andromeda: Wrote Lexi, Reyes and much of Kadara
Senior WriteNarrative Designer Anthem
Books: Writers Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights, wrote The Wigmaker Job and Eight Little Talons. She also contributed to the Development of the Mass Effect Andromeda: Nexus Uprising Novel
Left to work on the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic as the Lead writer left in September of 2022
Currently a Senior Writer as Sucker Punch Productions
Arone Le Bray, Narrative Quality DesigneAnalyst left in April of 2021:
Contact Testers Jade Empire: Special Edition
QA Term Testers Mass Effect
QA Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood
QA Analysts Dragon Age: Origins
QA Story Team Lead Mass Effect 2, additional QA on Normandy Crash Site, QA Zaeed - The Price of Revenge, additional QA Firewalker Pack, QA Kasumi - Stolen Memory, and Lair of the Shadow Broker.
Additional QA Star Wars: The Old Republic
Content Analysts Mass Effect 3
Analysts Dragon Age: Inquisition, also on Jaws of Hakkon and Trespasser
Analysts Mass Effect: Andromeda
Analysts Anthem
Books: Writers Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights, wrote An Old Crow's Old Tricks
Theatre: Founders Basic Acid Theatre company. Director and an Actor in Finer Noble Gases, Writer and Director of Occupied.
Left to join THE CHINESE ROOM LTD as a Narrative Designer on Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2. Currently serving as a Principal Narrative Designer on the game.
FormeUnknown:
Alexis Kennedy, Freelance Writer:
Founder and former CEO Failbetter Games Left in August of 2016
Original developer and lead writer Fallen London
Creative Director Tales of Fallen London: The Silver Tree
Creative Director Machine Cares!
Creative Director Dragon Age: The Last Court
Creative director, lead writer and Designers Sunless Sea
Co-founder Weather Factory
Writer and Designers Stellaris: Horizon Signal
Writer, designer, and coders for Cultist Simulator and its DLC."
Initial Concept Sunless Skies
Writer and Designer Book of Hours
He also worked on an unspecified research and development project with Telltale Games
In August 2019, he was accused of harassment by Meg Jayanth and Olivia Wood, a writer at Failbetter. Bioware has cut all ties with him.
Unknown
Ben Gelinas, Consultant:
Prior to joining Bioware, he worked as a staff writer for Guelph Mercury, Multimedia Reporter for The Waterloo Region Record, Crime Writer, and later Arts Writer for the Edmonton Journal, and as a Freelance Journalist.
Writing Special Thanks Mark of the Assassin
Editors and Additional Design for Mass Effect 3 and From Ashes. Editors on Leviathan and Citadel. He collaborated with the programmers to design the games Kinect voice command system
Editors Dragon Age: Inquisition, also on Jaws of Hakkon and Trespasser: Product owner for the game journal
Editors on Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire and Knights of the Eternal Throne
Editors and Writers Mass Effect: Andromeda: Some writing for Drack and additional story content.
Founder Copychaser Games Inc.
Writer and Designer Speed Dating For Ghosts
Game Design Instructor Sheridan College Jan 2018 - Apr 2018
Narrative Designers Control, Co-writer Control Expansion 1 - The Foundation."
Writers Gotham Knights
Writer and Designer Times and Galaxy
He is also working on a game about sleep paralysis
Books: Lead Writer and co-project Lead The World of Thedas Volumes 1-2, contributed an essay to Shy: An Anthology, Writer The Art of Dragon Age: Inquisition, worked on the English language version of The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia, and wrote BioWare: Stories and Secrets from 25 Years of Game Development. He also contributed to the Development of the Mass Effect Andromeda: Nexus Uprising Novel

1. Device Identification Exercise:

• Provide excerpts from various texts and ask students to identify and annotate instances of specific literary devices.
  
• Discuss their findings as a class, exploring different interpretations and applications of the devices.
  

1. Creative Writing Prompts:

• Assign each student a specific literary device and ask them to craft a short story or poem that prominently features that device.
  
• Encourage creativity and exploration of the device's nuances in their narratives.
  

1. Literary Analysis Essays:

• Assign students a literary work (poem, speech, or prose) and ask them to write an essay analyzing the author's use of a chosen literary device.
  
• Emphasize the impact of the device on the overall theme and tone of the work.
  

1. Collaborative Storytelling:

• Divide the class into small groups and have each group create a collaborative story.
  
• Assign a different literary device to each group, instructing them to incorporate it seamlessly into their narrative.
  

1. Speech Writing and Delivery:

• Have students choose a social or political topic and write a persuasive speech using anaphora or epizeuxis to enhance their rhetorical impact.
  
• Organize a speech delivery session where students showcase their use of repetition for emphasis.
  

1. Literary Device Showcase:

• Assign each student or group a different literary device and ask them to prepare a presentation showcasing its historical origins, notable examples, and contemporary usage.
  
• Encourage multimedia elements such as visuals or short video clips to enhance engagement.
  

1. Rewriting Exercises:

• Provide sentences or paragraphs containing common expressions and ask students to rewrite them using more complex literary devices.
  
• Discuss the impact of the changes on tone, mood, and overall meaning.
  

1. Debate on Stylistic Choices:
   • Organize a debate where students defend or critique an author's use of a specific literary device in a given text.

• Encourage students to articulate how the device contributes to or detracts from the effectiveness of the work.

1. Literary Device Scavenger Hunt:

• Provide a list of literary devices and have students search for examples in books, articles, or online.
  
• Discuss their findings in class, exploring how different authors use the same device in diverse ways.
  

1. Themed Poetry Slam:

- Task students with creating a thematic poetry slam where each participant focuses on a different literary device. - Host a class poetry slam event where students perform their pieces and discuss their choices. 

1. Interactive Online Quizzes:

- Curate online quizzes or interactive activities that allow students to self-assess their understanding of literary devices. - Provide instant feedback to reinforce learning. 

1. Peer Review and Feedback:

- Implement peer review sessions where students exchange their creative writing assignments and provide constructive feedback on the integration of literary devices. - Encourage discussions on the effectiveness of different approaches. 

1. Literary Device Journal:

- Assign students a literary device to track in their personal reading over a set period. - Have them maintain a journal documenting instances of the device, their interpretations, and reflections on its impact. 

1. Literary Device Bingo:

- Create bingo cards with different literary devices - As students encounter instances of these devices in class readings or discussions, they mark off the corresponding squares on their bingo cards. 

1. Real-world Application Project:

- Challenge students to find examples of literary devices in advertisements, speeches, or news articles. - Present their findings, discussing how the devices are employed for persuasive or artistic purposes in the real world. 

I, (21M) have just finished my third year in college. It was by far the most stressful year of college, and I’m in the worst mental state of my life up to this point. I spent the past 2 months before school ended stressing about classes and what would happen if my grades weren’t stellar. I’ve been working since early March on getting an internship/pharmacy tech job over the summer. I’ve applied for at least 40 jobs and every time it’s the same response. Either “We’re not looking for anyone working over the summer” or “You don’t have experience in this field yet so we can’t do anything for you.” (Despite this being an entry level position and I have the certifications). Aside from this, part of my degree is working an approved internship for a semester. Based on how tough classes were this semester, there is no way I can work a job while in school, which only leaves this summer. I cannot get a different job, as this would not meet the requirements. My Dad lives on a farm, so I tend to stay with my Mom during summers as there aren’t openings in my college town or the nearest town to my Dad. I’ve been home a total of 4 days so far, and every day has been the same. I get a call/text from my Mom about how I am failing in life and need to work immediately. I have gone into detail at least 4 times to her about my situation and how I am trying my best, but there is nobody willing to hire. At first, I figured that she had good intentions and wanted her son to have a job that he could succeed in. After today, I have absolutely no idea what her intentions are. After stepping into my car after speaking face to face with a pharmacy employee about a job, I receive a call from my Mom. When I pick up, I can immediately tell that this was not a civil conversation, but one that was fueled by anger and dissatisfaction from her own day. It began with “Why have you not done anything with your summer?” As we went on, things got uglier as I could feel the disrespect and resentment through the phone. Eventually, one phrase made me snap. I stated that she had no idea how hard I’ve worked and the effort I put in every day to get one of these jobs. It simply amazes me how out of touch with the job market she is, especially when you consider she’s had the same job for over 2 decades, and it did not require the amount of work that this entry level job does. I’m not sure if it’s generational differences, but I’m over the “Gen Z doesn’t want to work” narrative. I’ve explained my situation day after day, and nothing gets better. I am genuinely doing everything I can. This fiasco combined with the existing stress from my semester of school has made my life a genuine hell and I’m considering seeing a doctor to determine if I’m anxious, depressed, or both. I’ve never had any symptoms or thoughts before these past few months, but I believe this has changed that. I’d do anything to go somewhere else.

1. Renga:

- *Definition:* A collaborative form of Japanese poetry, alternating three and two-line stanzas. - *Example:* Collaborate with a friend to create a renga exploring the changing seasons. 

1. Prose Poetry:

- *Definition:* Poetry written in prose form, blurring the lines between poetry and prose. - *Example:* Write a prose poem capturing the essence of a vivid dream or memory. 

1. Concrete Poetry:

- *Definition:* Poems that visually resemble their subject matter, often taking on unique shapes. - *Example:* Create a concrete poem reflecting the theme of unity or disintegration. 

1. Narrative Poetry:

- *Definition:* Poems that tell a story, often with characters and a plot. - *Example:* Craft a narrative poem based on a personal experience or fictional tale. 

1. Pastoral:

- *Definition:* Poetry idealizing rural life, nature, and simplicity. - *Example:* Write a pastoral poem celebrating the beauty of a countryside landscape. 

1. Elegy:

- *Definition:* A poem mourning the loss of someone or something. - *Example:* Compose an elegy reflecting on the passage of time and the inevitability of change. 

1. Aubade:

- *Definition:* A morning poem often focused on the parting of lovers at dawn. - *Example:* Write an aubade exploring the tender moments before sunrise. 

1. Ekphrastic:

- *Definition:* Poetry inspired by or describing a work of art. - *Example:* Craft an ekphrastic poem in response to a painting or sculpture you admire. 

1. Found Poetry:

- *Definition:* Creating poetry by rearranging existing texts or found materials. - *Example:* Create a found poem using newspaper headlines or fragments of a novel. 

1. Epigram:

- *Definition:* A brief, witty, and often satirical poem. - *Example:* Write an epigram commenting humorously on a contemporary social issue. 

1.Do you have mini-rituals before starting to work? Do you turn on music or is it important for you to sit in silence to immerse yourself in the world of Astraea and come up with new interesting plot twists?
Before work, I walk the dog and drink coffee) I prefer silence.
2.What did you do before joining the Romance Club team?
Before joining the Romance Club team, I worked as a narrative designer.
3. Have you made mood boards? Did you guide the artists and show examples of buildings/rooms/clothing, etc., or did you leave a lot to their will?
Visual examples, text descriptions - all this is part of our work. This is how technical specifications are drawn up. But it is only a direction followed by the artist's long journey. And very often the result turns out to be even better than I had in my head.
4.Which of the screenwriters do you keep in touch with, besides Alice?
We communicate very closely with Alexandra, the author of “Requiem.” We came to the Kyrgyz Republic almost at the same time, we both fell under Alice's wing, so we are walking side by side. She is wonderful and I worry about her story just as much as I worry about mine
5.Which view do you adhere to more in life: Is there something otherworldly or do you explain it more with logic?
I don't believe in the other world. But I'm ready to change my mind if I ever encounter something surprising.
6. Do you plan to reveal your appearance to players? And will you share the processes of creating scenes/cuts, etc.?
I don't plan to reveal my appearance
I will definitely try to share the processes of creating characters, cut scenes, etc.!
7. Is it difficult to write your first story and especially write down those moments that should be connected in future episodes?
As in any job: there are plenty of nuances. But what you see in the final is worth any effort and difficulty
8.Are you going through your own story and who are you planning to go along the branch with?
Yes, of course) While I haven't decided on the branch, I'm taking improvements from everyone.
9. How many seasons are you planning for your novel?
3 seasons are planned.
10. Will there be new characters as love interests? Or maybe there will be another female branch?
I'm afraid this is a spoiler
11. When will the branches be closed?
Not planned yet. Play calmly
12. In what year do the events of the story take place?
Events take place around our time.
13. Mikael said “Our Father” when mentioning the situation with Raphael. Is this "Father" a patron? Or someone else? Will this be mentioned further in the story?
Of course, we will definitely find out who their father is
14.Will they show the occult symbol that was found in the last update?
Yes, we will show the symbol a little later.
15. The main character's wardrobe looks unreal! Tell me, what inspires you when creating images for Audrey?
Thank you!We try to stick to the classics, like all Astrea employees
16.How much will stats influence Audrey's future worldview and the novel itself as a whole?
Stats affect not only her worldview, but also her character. And they, of course, will influence the finale.
17.Will any other stats and other paths not related to the character of the main character be added in the future?
No, there will be no more stats. But different endings will also depend on certain choices.
18. What are the favorite zodiac signs? — How old are each of the characters? — What is the height of each of the favorites?
I will answer these questions in more detail. We will prepare questionnaires for you or something like that
19. Will we be able to match the characters?
To be honest, there were no such thoughts. But I was very curious, who would you like to set our characters up with?
20.Which character is closest to your character and why?
Probably Mikael. He and I are both workaholics and it's hard for me, like him, to get emotional
21. In the update, almost all the choices with the guys were for romance. Is it possible to make paid friendship elections in order to get to know them better, but not make your main LI jealous?
So far, nothing fatal has happened in story. In the future, the paths of friendship and romance will differ more clearly.
22. Will we dress up our favorites?
We will
23. Also about the topic of family. From Audrey we already learn a lot about her parents. This topic is well raised in the disclosure of the MC itself. But will the theme with the favorites' parents also be revealed?
We will learn about the past of all our heroes. And we'll raise the topic with our parents, too, if it plays an important role for them, as, for example, it did for Audrey herself.
24. How was David created?
David was created easily. He had a lot of prototypes, which makes it difficult to single out just one.
Initially, he was conceived as a big rake, but as the chapters were written, the character himself made adjustments to his character
25. What about David's past relationships? Did they exist and if so, will you talk about it in the novel? Overall, is he ready for a serious relationship?
Whether he will be ready for a serious relationship depends on you and your choices
26. Why does David call Audrey “witch”?
Probably because she bewitched him
27. Has Mikael ever had a serious relationship in the past? It seems that it is in terms of serious love relationships that it is extremely difficult to hook him! It's like he's so inaccessible)
It seems to me that the players of the RC took even those who were not so inaccessible)) The main thing is not to lose hope!
28. What is Felonia's sexuality? Has she been in relationships with girls/boys before?
I think for Fel, the main thing is the person, not their gender.
29. About Cassiel: Will he show gentleness instead of the usual barbness?
Here everything depends on your choices) Everything is in your hands!
30. How was Raphael created? Who were you inspired by and are there any prototypes?
Raphael, by the way, is the only character who has only one prototype. To avoid spoilers, for now I can tell you that this is a character from the book. Perhaps after the first season, when the character is revealed more, I will share the name) And perhaps someone will guess it now
31. We have already learned that Ruth is quite close to Audrey. We also agreed to meet with her. She is somewhat important in the plot and perhaps a branch is planned with her?
She's important to the plot, but there won't be a branch with her
32. We could see the Wolf in the opening animation. How important is this animal in the plot and, perhaps, we can become its owner? According to the type of pet for the MC. Or is the Wolf not as simple as we think and hides within himself something more than an ordinary beast?
Yes, of course, the wolf is important to the plot. It will open additional scenes and become a good friend for him

A defense of Aldarion is more difficult, and thus will take longer than In 'Defense' of Erendis, which is recommended to read first. We know much less of Aldarion's tale as 'The Mariner’s Wife' is told primarily from Erendis’ side in Númenor, and at the same time, there is a much longer tale in Aldarion’s life during his voyages that we only get a peak of in Gil-galad’s letter that would greatly change our perception of events in ‘The Mariner’s Wife’, particularly during the crucial 877 voyage after Ancalimë is born, which was argued as a fault of Aldarion.
Within the context of the story, Lady Uinen, Maia of the Sea, and Lord Oromë, the Vala and Lord of Forests, could be read as central characters, and a defense of Aldarion is best shown as a tale between these two beings.

Meneldur and Aldarion's Early Years

From an early age, Meneldur likely stressed to his son Aldarion the importance of his duty as the Heir of the Sceptre. Meneldur did not share in his son’s passions, but certainly had his own:

(Meneldur) loved dearly the land of Númenor and all things in it, but he gave no heed to the Sea that lay all about it; for his mind looked further than Middle-earth: he was enamoured of the stars and the heavens.

From what little we can glean of Meneldur’s early life, the pursuit of his passions were cut too early for his liking:

When Meneldur received the Sceptre he removed, as he must, from the Forostar, and dwelt in the great house of the Kings in Armenelos. He proved a good and wise king, though he never ceased to yearn for days in which he might enrich his knowledge of the heavens.

Meneldur may have been constraining Aldarion’s passions the same way his own had been. In doing this, he tried to impart on Aldarion that a King’s duty was first to the public.
We can gather from the texts that Meneldur started to constrain his son’s voyages sometime within the period of 750, when Aldarion created the Guild of Venterurs and 800, when Aldarion was named Heir to the Sceptre. Aldarion was still quite young during this time especially by the standard of the Line of Elros, and Aldarion was within his right to pursue his passions.

Tar-Meneldur looked coldly on the enterprises of his son, and cared not to hear the tale of his journeys, believing that he sowed the seeds of restlessness and the desire of other lands to hold.
Tar-Meneldur ever opposed his son, and he set a curb on the felling of trees in Númenor for the building of vessels; and it came therefore into Aldarion’s mind that he would find timber in Middle-earth, and seek there for a haven for the repair of his ships.

As Meneldur began increasing preassures on Aldarion to constrain his voyages, this conflict would likely the the foundation of Aldarion’s land weariness, further driving him into the arms of Lady Uinen. By 816, he would be described as associating ‘life on land’ negatively:

Life on land was irksome to him, for aboard his ship he was subject to no other will, and the Venturers who accompanied him knew only love and admiration for the Great Captain.

Erendis gives Aldarion the Bough of Return

Before Aldarion would depart again in 816, Meneldur would act even more severely with his son’s Sea-longing and would deny Aldarion’s voyage the ‘Bough of Return’:

When a ship departed from Númenor over the Great Sea to Middle-earth a woman, most often of the captain’s kin, should set upon the vessel’s prow the Green Bough of Return; and that was cut from the tree oiolairë, that signifies ‘Ever-summer’, which the Eldar gave to the Númenóreans, saying that they set it upon their own ships in token of friendship with Ossë and Uinen.

This would likely be a hurtful act and a condemnation of Aldarion's passions by his father, but Erendis would enter Aldarion’s life at this critical moment:

Erendis came to Aldarion in Rómenna while he was preparing for departure, bearing the Bough of Return for Aldarion’s journey:
Erendis came there, little though she loved the noise and bustle of the great harbour and the crying of the gulls.
Aldarion greeted her with amazement and joy; and she said: ‘I have brought you the Bough of Return, lord: from the Queen.’
‘From the Queen?’ said Aldarion, in a changed manner.
‘Yes, lord,’ said she; ‘but I asked for her leave to do so. Others beside your own kin will rejoice at your return, as soon as may be.’
At that time Aldarion first looked on Erendis with love; and he stood long in the stern looking back as the Palarran passed out to sea.

Erendis would affirm Aldarion’s love of the Sea and Lady Uinen when his father was cold. When Aldarion came back from his voyage in 820, he uncharacteristically came back sooner than he intended, and with a generous gift for Erendis. And soon he would spend his longest known stay on Númenor for Erendis.
Bringing Aldarion the Bough of Return would have further significance to Aldarion in the context of Númenor at this time. When Aldarion was born in 700, the people of Númenor were a fairly reclusive society whose main point of contact with the outside world were Aman. Aldarion was a pioneer and had ventured where no other Númenórean had in Middle-earth, which was widely regarded as the land of the “Men of Darkness”.
Beside Aldarion’s own companions, most in Númenor likely sympathized with Meneldur, making Aldarion feel estranged from his own country.

Lady Uinen and Lord Oromë

In a sense, Aldarion and Erendis’ true partners were the Lady Uinen of the Sea and the Lord Oromë of the Forests, for Aldarion’s love of the Sea and Erendis’ love of trees. This becomes clear to them during Aldarion’s longest stay land after he arrives back in Númenor in 843 and seeks out Erendis:

‘I will not share my husband with the Lady Uinen,’ said Erendis.
‘That is a twisted saying,’ said Aldarion. ‘As well might I say that I would not share my wife with the Lord Oromë of Forests, because she loves trees that grow wild.’

A twisted saying indeed for Aldarion, for he also loved trees. His own name is likely to mean “Son of Trees” in Quenya, with the compound of aldar ("trees") and the suffix -ion ("-son"). Lord Oromë, who loves all trees, is known also as Aldaron. Aldarion cuts many trees for his vessels but is also shown to be a good steward of the forests, and it is not suggested that as a mariner he cut more than he planted.
Aldarion’s happiest days were planting trees with Erendis. As she brought him the Bough of Return, he in turn affirmed her love of Lord Oromë:

But Aldarion wooed Erendis in earnest, and wherever she went he would go; he neglected the havens and the shipyards and all the concerns of the Guild of Venturers, felling no trees but setting himself to their planting only, and he found more contentment in those days than in any others of his life, though he did not know it until he looked back long after when old age was upon him.

Aldarion and Erendis could certainly bond over a shared love of trees, though Erendis values them in a different way than Aldarion: Aldarion values them more for their use, while Erendis for their aesthetic value.
While Aldarion came to live with and embrace Erendis’ love of Lord Oromë, himself a lover of trees, Erendis realized during this time that she could never embrace the Lady Uinen:

(Erendis) determined that she must utterly defeat the Sea and the ships, or else be herself defeated utterly.

Erendis conceals her dislike of Lady Uinen

But before their marriage in 871, Erendis makes efforts to conceal this motivation to defeat the Sea in front of Aldarion. From their very first encounter, Erendis conceals her dislike of the atmosphere of the harbor of Rómenna to deliver him the Bough of Return.
Then in 850, for the centennial of the founation of the Guild of Venturers, Erendis goes on a small voyage with Aldarion to Andunië:

At length he sought to persuade Erendis to sail with him on a voyage about the Island in the ship Eämbar; for one hundred years had now passed since Aldarion founded the Guild of Venturers, and feasts were to be held in all the havens of Númenor. To this Erendis consented, concealing her distaste and fear; and they departed from Rómenna and came to Andúnië in the west of the Isle.

This voyage may have given hope to Aldarion that Erendis could be made to love the Sea eventually. Erendis also displayed an ability to compromise with Lady Uinen. Before Aldarion’s voyage in 863 after their betrothal, she refuses to come with him, but Erendis’ language is still sorrowful and ultimately conciliatory:

‘And, alas! if for love of you I took ship, I should not return. It is beyond my strength to endure; and out of sight of land I should die. The Sea hates me; and now it is revenged that I kept you from it and yet fled from you. Go, my lord! But have pity, and take not so many years as I lost before.’

Even so, Erendis’ dislike of the Sea comes off particularly strong at times, even for a woman of Númenor. In Andunië, after Erendis’ first voyage with Aldarion:

There Valandil, Lord of Andúnië and close kin of Aldarion, held a great feast; and at that feast he drank to Erendis, naming her Uinéniel, Daughter of Uinen, the new Lady of the Sea.
But Erendis, who sat beside the wife of Valandil, said aloud: ‘Call me by no such name! I am no daughter of Uinen: rather is she my foe.’

We get no reaction from Aldarion here, though we are unsure if he even heard this. Other signs of Erendis’ feelings would be harder to deny by Aldarion as they were made in direct conversation with him. One explanation for Aldarion to dismiss these signs would be that it was a common sentiment for a woman of Númenor to be wary of the Sea. Númenorean women seemed to defy conventions in many ways, being nearer to men in stature and strength, and skilled on horseback.

They did not, however, greatly love the Sea. They would journey in need in the coastwise craft from port to port; but they did not like to be long aboard or to pass even one night in a ship.

The Fall of Númenor. The life of Númenoreans: Of sports and pastimes (38-39)
Much like Erendis hoped to teach Aldarion the ways of Lord Oromë, Aldarion might have thought there was hope to teach Erendis the ways of Lady Uinen.

The 877 voyage after Ancalimë’s birth: Two interpretations

So after the 6-year voyage from 863-869, we arrive at the marriage of Aldarion and Erendis in 871 and the birth of Ancalimë in 873. Aldarion is certainly at fault for the interruption of their ‘Days of the Children’ (see In ‘Defense’ of Erendis).
So what drove Aldarion to the Sea so soon after their wedding and the birth of Ancalimë in 873? We know Aldarion was capable of spending at least 15 uninterrupted years on land in Númenor, and was happy spending them with Erendis. What could have driven him back on a voyage so soon, even if it was intended to be breif, after the birth of his daughter in defiance of the convention of the Eldar?
I will present two possible interpretations of the primary reason that drove Aldarion back into the Sea. The more obvious explanation has to do with the nature of his travels. Gil-galad’s letter to Meneldur is Aldarion’s best defense:

Long I have owed you thanks, for you have so many times sent to me your son Anardil Aldarion: the greatest Elf-friend that now is among Men, as I deem. At this time I ask your pardon, if I have detained him overlong in my service; for I had great need of the knowledge of Men and their tongues which he alone possesses.

Here is a breif account from Aldarion upon return of his travels in 882:

‘But the world is changing again. Outside nigh on a thousand years have passed since the Lords of the West sent their power against Angband; and those days are forgotten, or wrapped in dim legend among Men of Middle-earth. They are troubled again, and fear haunts them. I desire greatly to consult with you, to give account of my deeds, and my thought concerning what should be done.’

Aldarion has a long-standing relationship with Gil-galad and the peoples of Eriador by this point, and we know from the timeline that Sauron would begin to stir in Middle-earth starting around SA 500, well before Aldarion’s set foot on Middle-earth. There were likely conflicts and even wars being fought in Eriador. Aldarion was far from the conflicts increasing in severity of the people he had no doubt come to care for, and the ever-present threat of the Shadow consuming them, would no doubt cause worry for Aldarion. The peace-time demands of Númenor would pale by comparison.

Erendis causing Aldarion’s Sea-longing

The second possible interpretation is that Erendis’ own fear about Aldarion’s love for the Sea would began to reveal to Aldarion her own true feelings about the Sea and his work.
Sometime after Ancalimë’s birth, two things happened. Erendis began to fear the power of the Sea on Aldarion’s heart and Aldarion began to dabble again in ship building. But which came first: Aldarion returning to ship building, or Erendis’ own fear that Aldarion would soon leave again? In the course of the narrative, it would seem Erendis’ fear came first.

For in secret she still feared the Sea and its power upon his heart; and though she strove to hide it, and would talk with him of his old ventures and of his hopes and designs, she watched jealously if he went to his house-ship or was much with the Venturers.

Up until their marriage, there may have been few signs to Aldarion of the depth of Erendis’ dislike of the Sea, or he may have ignored them, instead focusing on their common passions. After their marriage, Erendis’ anxiety about Aldarion’s possible interruption of their ‘Days of the Children’ may have caused her to increasingly reveal a hatred and incompatability with Lady Uinen, in turn strenghtening Aldarion’s Sea-longing. His ship building in this sense could be seen as a retreat into comfort, eventually leading him to succumb into his Sea-longing.
Erendis’ dislike of Lady Uinen could also be seen as a betrayal in Aldarion’s mind of the shared harmony they had from their first encounter when she brought the Bough of Return to Aldarion in 816. Afterwards, they both of Lady Uinen and Lord Oromë dwealt in harmony for many years from Aldarion’s perspective, with Aldarion happily planting seeds with Erendis, and Erendis taking voyages with Aldarion.
When Erendis revealed that she actually shared more with Meneldur in condemning his love for Lady Uinen, and that their hopes were not in fact compatable, Aldarion was soon driven back into her arms.

Trying an experiment his month by changing the monthly "What Are You Reading" Thread into a weekly one. Alongside your comments as to what you're reading, please leave a remark as to whether you prefer the threads to be weekly or monthly. Depending on the response, the reading thread will remain monthly or change into a weekly format.
Share what manga you are currently reading and what you think about them. The more detail the better! ("Reading x" < "Reading x and liking it" << "Reading x and like how it does a, b, and c....")
To avoid unintentional spoilers, when getting into specifics developments (ex. character deaths, narrative reveals, pairings, etc.) note the specific volumes and/or chapters read and use spoiler tags. When in doubt of if something is a spoiler, it's best to exercise caution. To spoiler tag a text, highlight the appropriate text and click the spoiler button (exclamation point within a shape) on the formatting text toolbar.
If done correctly your text will show up like this. Thanks for participating in the community!

https://xenagoguevicene.wordpress.com/2024/05/18/old-genocide-joe-has-got-to-go-by-philip-giraldi-17-may-2024/
Embracing Netanyahu does not constitute a foreign policy
It is extremely difficult to discern what might be the thinking behind the clueless President Joe Biden and his Blinken-Austin-Mayorkas foreign-policy-plus national security team. Or rather, the problem is that there does not appear to be any thinking about it at all if one measures it by what benefits it brings to the American people. It all actually seems to derive from a desire to construct a narrative that will win the presidential election coming up in November, which will fortunately be run against a deeply flawed GOP candidate named Donald J. Trump. But look at what is on the Biden record: the country’s southern border with Mexico is a porous as a Swiss cheese, allowing literally millions of illegal immigrants into the USA since Biden took office; Washington is both de facto and de jure simultaneously fighting and losing two unnecessary wars involving nuclear powers which has cost a nearly bankrupt Treasury well into the hundreds of billions of dollars; and the White House is needlessly sanctioning non-hostile competitors like China while also making illegal popular social media sites like TikTok which have committed the sin of reporting and disseminating accurate narratives about good old “best friend and closest ally” Israel. Predictably, neither of the assertions about the value of the Jewish state is true, nor is it a democracy, but who cares when you’re having fun shooting people and spending someone else’s money?
Oh, and just try to exercise your first amendment free speech rights by demonstrating against Israel’s slaughter of upwards of 40,000 Palestinian civilians using US provided weapons and you will be hit on the head by a cop, possibly arrested, and even expelled from college! If you want to see where this is all going, check out reports of the recent FBI detention and interrogation of distinguished Israeli historian Ilan Pappe seeking to enter the US through the Detroit International Airport. Pappe is a critic of the Netanyahu government and of US policy so he was held, questioned in detailed about his contacts, and had his phone copied before being allowed to proceed. Meanwhile, a group of top federal judges have signed a letter stating that they will strike back against the demonstrating students by refusing to hire any graduates of Columbia University Law School as law clerks. And there even is a bill currently before Congress that would empower the government to label the foreign protesters “antisemites and terrorism supporters” and deport them, with some going to Gaza with the expectation that they would be killed, possibly by the mighty Israel Defense Forces (IDF)! It would be a startling new development to punish those whose crime consists mostly of trespass even given the rather loose ethical boundaries established by the war on terror and the Antisemitism Awareness Act! Or indeed one might follow the Senatorial route led by a chirping Lindsey Graham who recommends dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza to kill everyone who has survived the Israeli onslaught. The area then might be developed after the radiation dies down for those splendid seaside villas for Jews only suggested by the esteemed Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner.
To be sure, Joe sometimes mumbles something that might just be viewed positively, like his recent blocking on humanitarian grounds of a consignment of bunker buster bombs on their way to Israel due to Benjamin Netanyahu’s insistence that, no matter what, he would invade Rafah to completely destroy Hamas and whoever else might happen to get in his way. Joe predictably reversed that decision last Tuesday, approving a $1 billion supply of munitions after he came under pressure from the Israelis and their many friends in the US, to include a host of Israel-loving GOP congressmen who have carried their fight on behalf of the Jewish state to The Hague, where the International Criminal Court (ICC) is being directly threatened with American wrath lest it try to punish Israeli leaders for their genocide in Gaza. As Bill Astore put it “Last week, President Biden appeared to have strapped on a temporary spine in delaying shipments of ‘offensive’ weaponry to Israel for its murderous invasion of Rafah in Gaza. That spine had a short duration as Biden announced [Tuesday] renewed shipments of tank and mortar rounds to Israel.” Congress has also gotten into the game with the GOP controlled House of Representatives having passed a bill that would compel the White House to continue all arms shipments to Israel. Joe might also be thinking of political contributions, as American Jews donate the majority of Democratic Party funding, as well guaranteeing a friendly media in his campaign as they dominate both the news and the entertainment industries. See, Joe can figure some things out all by himself every once in a while!
Here’s the problem with Joe, apart from the roughly $12 million in gift-donations from Jewish/Israeli sources that he has obtained in his political career. His tactical thinking does not extend beyond his personal interests, to include his corrupt children, a trait very much like that which is possessed by his good buddy Netanyahu who is facing corruption charges of his own in Israel. Joe believes he is much cleverer than he actually is and thinks that an occasional mild verbal criticism of the Israeli behavior will convince his target audience of voters that he really is concerned about the continuing death toll in Gaza, where the Israelis have already been taking initial steps in their attack on Rafah by using their tanks to penetrate into the targeted zone to destroy and kill.
And as for the reported completion and initial functioning of the floating pier connected to Gaza constructed by US military engineers, it will not dramatically change reality on the ground even though Biden is claiming that it will enable the entry of much needed food and medical aid. Israel will still “security” control what is allowed to enter into Gaza proper while Netanyahu is seeing the pier as a bridge to nowhere, usable primarily to export excess Palestinians to foreign lands that are either willing or unwilling to accept them. And its existence creates some interesting possibilities. As it presumably will be logistically supported on the pier itself by US-based personnel, Netanyahu might well be tempted to stage a false flag attack blamed on Hamas to kill a few Americans and lock Biden into Israel’s right-wing Gaza policies from now on. Bear in mind that, in reality, Biden could care less if all the Palestinians might be “disappeared” just as he would like to see any and all critics of Israel be subjected to the harshest punishments, including prison and denial of basic rights as well as being stripped of government benefits. He has called the protesters “lawbreakers” and spreaders of “chaos” and congress is currently investigating the alleged “subversive organizers” of the “anti-Israel terrorists.”
Biden and company, as well as Trump, who is advising the Israeli government to “finish the job” with the Palestinians, clearly have no actual red lines that must not be crossed when it comes to Israel. The war of extermination of the Gazans has been accompanied by a more hidden war being conducted by the Jewish settlers on the West Bank, which has been largely under Israeli occupation since 1967. The frequently armed settlers have been attacking unarmed Palestinians, destroying their homes and businesses, ruining their crops and vineyards, and even killing them on occasion. Israeli police and army standing by do nothing to stop the fun and even frequently participate themselves by arresting and beating Palestinians who are guilty only of being Palestinian. Hundreds of Palestinians have been arrested without charges apart from “preventive detention” since the troubles began in October and the jails are overflowing. The clear intention, verbalized without any shame by senior Israeli government officials like Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, is to produce a Greater Israel cleansed of Arabs. And Biden, who pretends to favor a two-state solution to the unrest, helps the process along by vetoing UN resolutions that would help create separate sovereignty for Palestine.
Some of the most outrageous recent developments have been the settlers’ interfering with shipments of food and medicines entering into Gaza, a point that a faux-sympathetic Biden stresses repeatedly when pontificating regarding bringing aid to the starving people who are trapped with nowhere to go inside the enclave. The Israel clampdown even includes the Mediterranean Sea being blocked off by the Israeli navy which shoots any desperate Gazans who try to go close to the water so they can fish for food. In the most recent incidents, observed by the standing-by but inert Israeli army and police, truckloads of food were blocked, the drivers and aid workers removed and beaten, and the food was destroyed and burned before the trucks were treated likewise. In another incident settlers dumped huge boulders on one of the access roads to a checkpoint leading into Gaza, rendering it impassible and blocking any aid. Journalists and aid workers are meanwhile being killed by the army to prevent any reporting of what is going on while the US State Department refuses to condemn the activity. Biden called the interference with assistance convoys “outrageous” but has done nothing whatsoever about it, nor has he followed up on pledges to sanction Israelis who attack Palestinians or their property on the West Bank.
The whole problem is that Israel is a monster, an apartheid state that somehow feels it is empowered by God and the United States to kill all its neighbors and rob the American taxpayer to pay for and equip the slaughter. Israel is backed by an all-powerful US domestic lobby that includes unlimited Jewish money and activist Zionist groups like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) led by the hideous Jonathan Greenblatt and the venerable American Israel Political Affairs Committee (AIPAC), both of which are now busy raising money to defeat all congress critters who have ever criticized the Jewish state. ADL and AIPAC are also linked to “that old time religion” knucklehead Christian Zionists concentrated in the Republican Party who have their Scofield Bibles firmly embedded between their ears where their brains are supposed be. A partial solution would be to make the Jewish-Zionist groups register as foreign government agents directed by Israel under the the terms of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which is exactly what they are, but that will never happen. President John F. Kennedy tried to register the predecessor group to AIPAC and many believe he paid the ultimate price for that affront as well as for his bid to stop Israel’s nuclear weapons program.
So, my fellow Americans, what should we do? Well, we should do whatever we can, which includes speaking out about how we have been sold out by our leaders and opinion makers, and we should continue to do that even knowing that they will try to silence us by destroying free speech in this country. It is all we have left and we should continue to oppose what is happening. The first step however, is to get rid of politicians like Joe and Donald, who have been completely corrupted by more than fifty years in the “system” and are totally sold out and irresponsible in their behavior. There are honest politicians and journalists out there and we just have to find them, support them and get them elected and in positions where they will be able to bring about change in how things are done in Washington! One might call it the New American Revolution to restore our rights and free us from foreign oppression!